FLIGHT, FEBRUARY 20, 1931
GLIDING
"WESTLAND AIRCRAFT SOCIETY.—Over a hundred
comprised the audience at a lecture on the subject
of the " Design, Development and Construction of Sailplanes
and Gliders," which was delivered under the aegis of
the Westland Aircraft Society at The Three Choughs Hotel,
Yeovil, on Monday, February 2.
The lecturer was Herr Lippisch, who is responsible for the
design of many of the most successful German gliders, and
has built remarkable tailless types. More familiar to most
is his sailplane vthe Wien, the type demonstrated by Herr
Kronfeld at Eggardon, Dorset, last year, at an exhibition
arranged by the Dorset Gliding Club.
The lecturer was introduced by Mr. R. A. Bruce, and
by means of slides the various air currents and the
development of design of gliders was illustrated. To
enable pilots to take fullest advantage of these, varying
designs were explained in detail by drawings accompanied
by photographs.
Passing to actual construction, slides showing various
methods were projected and explained.
Reference was then made to the construction of tailless
types of aircraft, the lecturer paying tribute to the work
carried out in England by Capt. G. T. R. Hill.
Views of the Wasserkuppe, the centre of gliding activities
in Germany, situated in the Rhon mountains, were shown.
In one view, as many as eight different types of gliders and
sailplanes were in the air at one time.
Herr Lippisch caused much laughter by referring to the
seasons of the year as " three-quarters winter, the other
quarter being bad weather."
Mr. Bruce said the lecture had been very interesting,
and that gratitude should be expressed to Herr Lippisch
for coming to Yeovil to give to members of the Westland
Aircraft Society first-hand information on this subject—and
invited members to put any questions they desired.
Questions by Capt. A. S. Keep, Mr. A. Davenport, and
others, were answered at length by the lecturer, and further
explained by blackboard illustrations.
Invited by Mr. Bruce to propose a vote of thanks, Capt.
Hill said he would first like to express his appreciation of
the extreme kindness shown to Mrs. Hill and himself during
a recent visit to the Wasserkuppe. Everywhere he found
courtesy and the construction work he saw was beautiful.
Referring to the withdrawal of nails from the work, Capt.
Hill emphasised the fact that the nails used were of steel,
and were picked up and hammered in by magnetised hammers,
thus saving time in the operation and lessening risk of injury
to the hands. He wished, he said in conclusion, to thank
Herr Lippisch for so kindly coming to lecture.
Replying, Herr Lippisch said that gliding was an art, and
emphasised that by studying and using air currents it was
possible to make a long flight without the necessity of
constant refuelling, as in the case of light, power-driven
aircraft.
Among others present were Capt. R. C. Petter and Mr.
R. J. Norton and members visited from Bristol and Gloucester
Branches of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Many members
of the Dorset Gliding Club were present, and afterwards
availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain the advice
of Herr Lippisch on many technical matters.