IN THE AIR

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 261, 6 December 1930, Page 8

IN THE AIR

GLIDER- CLUB IN HASTINGS. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. An enthusiastic meeting of about 50 young men was held in Hastings last night, and as a result, the Hastings Glider Club, has now been brought into being. Mr B. M. Kessell, a flying member of the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club, presided and explained that the reason for calling the meeting was that there had been a generally expressed desire to form a club, the purpose of which was to assist in the development of air-mindedness. He pointed out that gliding gave a great sense of touch and self dependence in the air and enabled a learner to handle a powered plane far more readily than otherwise would be possible. It was also a cheap and easy wav to learn flying. It was stated that a glider had been presented to the club by Mr E. W. Cole, of Waipawa, and this was now complete, except for the fabric and controls. The whole cost of completion would be about £5. Mr Cole himself explained that the glider was of the primary type and not a soaring machine. It would be capable of flights at from ten to twelve feet above the ground, lasting from ten seconds to half a minute. The machine would be available in Hastings towards the end of January. He pointed out that no one could come to harm with the glider, and in time the club could buy a secondary machine and later a soarer and thus members could learn thoroughly the whole principles of control in the air and of the use of air currents. Mr Kessell said that Mr Cole was a most enthusiastic glider and he had offered to put in any work necessary to finish the machine. Mr L. C. David pointed out that one of the chief purposes of gliding was to teach flying principles to youths who wished to become pilots of powered 'planes. He had already written to the Napier Club, asking their co-operation in establishing a scholarship, entitling the holder to free tuition in the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club for the purpose of qualification as an "A"- pilot. This scholarship would, of course, apply only to those who could not otherwise afford tuition fees in power flying. THE SUBSCRIPTION. The subscription fees were fixed at 10s 6d for schoolboys and apprentices and £1 1s for adults, the fee to be paid in four instalments if desired. A fee of 1s per flight will also be charged. It was pointed out that the name of the club was only a tentative one and would perhaps be altered as its scope widened. It was made clear that members from Napier and other towns would be welcomed. Mr Kessell offered a prize to be won outright by three wins in succession or outright at intervals, for the best model aeroplane designed by a member of the club. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were elected; — Patron, Mr Berhard Chambers; president, Mr Cecil Duff; vice-presi-dents, Messrs Hugh Chambers, Mason Chambers, J. H. Williams, Dudley Newbigin, K. Gould (Napier), C. H. Slater, W. A. G. Penlington, Nelson Smith, J. W. Shaw, A. Butler, FlightLieut. Lett, Sergeant-Major O'Leary ; club captain, Mr B. M. Kessell; vicecaptain, Mr E. W. Cole ; secretary, Mr L. C. David ; treasurer, Mr N. G. Doggett; committee, Messrs R. Porter, J. Stratton, C. Symons, C. J. Wright, Roberts, Ron. Jones and F. Sharpley.