December – January 2003
Black-and-white images of the Wright brothers’ experimental flights from the Kitty Hawk sand dunes are imprinted upon aviation’s collective memory. But the December 2002-January 2003 issue of Sailplane & Gliding brings those pioneering days to life in colour and with first-hand accounts from 21st-century pilots. For while we all know that December 2003 is the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight, S&G is marking perhaps an even more important centenary … that of the Wrights’ 1902 experiments. Their 1902 glider was a key development because it was controllable – if unstable – in yaw, pitch and roll, as demonstrated in October 2002 by the American enthusiasts who have built and flown a replica. Alongside Alan Self’s account of the Wright brothers’ achievements, S&G records in words and pictures what the ancestor of the modern aeroplane was like to fly.
That isn’t the only anniversary we’re celebrating. On December 27 the best-known instructor in the English-speaking world will be 80. S&G marks the occasion by asking Derek Piggott to reflect upon his life in gliding.
Also in this issue, Peter Jones explains how he got his Gold in just three weeks; Wally Kahn outlines his vision for a national libraryfor gliding; Adrian Emck asks if you’re sitting comfortably; while Jochen Ewald reports on the summer 2002 meeting of the German university flying groups – where a Ventus ctt, the first self-sustainer powered by a model jet engine, was unveiled.
Closer to home, Andy Bardgett describes one of those magnificent flights that you don’t have to thumb through your logbook to recall – over the North Sea in wave. We round off the UK racing year with Andy Holmes’ visit to the Juniors and Pete Harvey’s diary of the Opens, along with a full results listing, provisional ratings, next year’s comps calendar and the story of a competition won by a Capstan.
If you’re in the northern hemisphere, we hope you get plenty of ridge and wave soaring this winter … and, wherever you are, happy landings in 2003.
Helen Evans
Editor, Sailplane & Gliding
Push to use jet power
Jochen Ewald reports on the summer 2002 meeting of the German university flying groups, where a Ventus ctt, the first self-sustainer powered by a model jet engine, was unveiled
Who could ask for more?
On December 27 the best-known instructor in the English-speaking world will celebrate his 80th birthday. S&G marks the occasion by asking Derek Piggott to reflect upon his life in gliding
Here was a challenge
Andy Bardgett describes one of those magnificent flights that you don’t have to thumb through your logbook to recall – over the North Sea in wave
Sitting comfortably?
Product designer and pilot Adrian Emck spent two seasons thinking about glider seat design, comfort and safety. As a result he built a shell to wear between spine and parachute. He spent three more seasons testing it. Here are the results of his 800 hours’ flying research
Gold in three weeks
Peter Jones explains how, after a three-year lay-off and with just 30 hours’ solo beforehand, he got his Gold in one holiday
The record-breakers
S&G lists UK and National gliding records as at October 14, 2002. There have been 46 new records since S&G last published the list: the longest is 955km and the fastest is 176.64km/h around a 300km triangle
The Wright stuff
In October 1902 the Wright brothers launched an aircraft with a revolutionary three-axis control system – in yaw, pitch and roll. Their discovery was a key milestone in aviation history. But what was the primitive glider like to fly?
'This was great sport'
Alan Self explores a centenary often overlooked in anticipation of 100 years of powered flight
Dreams can come true
Wally Kahn, the leading light behind Lasham’s eventual purchase of its airfield, has come up with another scheme. Here he explains why he believes it’s important to preserve Britain’s gliding history … and suggests a possible way forward
The winner is a T-49
Mat Woodiwiss, aged 15, reports on this year’s two-seater comp, won by Peter Redshaw’s immaculate T-49 Capstan
A gentlemen's contest
Peter Harvey shares extracts from his Open Class diary…
Seriously fast
Andy Holmes was one of five Midland GC pilots who went to the Junior Championships at Hus Bos this year. He gives an overview of the comp … and describes his best flight
Also in this issue:
BGA and general news; BGA Development News; BGA Communications News; your letters; Gliding Gallery; Provisional ratings list; BGA Competitions Calendar; results of BGA-rated contests; club news; club focus (Dublin GC); obituaries; BGA Badges; incident and accident summaries; salutary soaring (It nearly happened to me)
Tailfeathers: Plat flies hundreds of kilometres without circling and, for an encore, turns his hand to poetry. Can you do better?
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