KRONFELD ON GLIDING AND SOARING.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

KRONFELD ON GLIDING & SOARING
but during this early stage of the flight it became clear to
me that I was entirely independent from any influences
created by the formation of the ground. The plane, with
which I had not made a single tack on the slope, continued to
climb and at last, after a hard fight, I rose above the
actual thunderstorm roller and could observe from above
the projections of the front and the direction in which it
was travelling across the land. After careful consideration
I followed the course which suggested itself to me as best.
The difference between my flight and Kegel's in 1926
lay in my systematic use of meteorological information.
For a time I maintained a position immediately before and
above the storm where upwind was to be expected, but
later I tried to push out before its majestic front. I
succeeded in doing so and discovered that even two or three
miles in advance of the storm there was still enough
upwind to keep me aloft. So I flew on at a height varying
from six to ten thousand feet above all the influences of the
earth and travelled far across the plain. I was only forced
to land by the coming of night.
Thus, on July 2Oth, 1929, I established a double world
record by making deliberate use of a meteorological
phenomenon. My distance from start to landing place
was eighty-five and a half miles, and I attained a maximum
elevation of seven thousand five hundred and twenty-five
feet.
My trusty " Wien " had suffered some slight damage
during this thunderstorm flight, and the next few days
were taken up by repairs. Meanwhile Hirth performed
a masterly exploit by accomplishing a goal flight to the
Schweinsberg and back. He set off from the mountain
which was his starting place at a height of one thousand
three hundred and twenty feet, and as the Schweinsberg
itself offered no favourable upwinds he remained above a
neighbouring hillside for a considerable time in order to
increase his elevation. During this time he also made use
of the upwind under a passing cloud, and the height he
thus gained enabled him to fly to the goal. But the return
journey proved more difficult than had generally been anticipated,
so that Hirth was forced to reach the Wasserkuppe