KRONFELD ON GLIDING AND SOARING.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

136 KRONFELD ON GLIDING & SOARING
Hirth's and my own first deliberate flights with thunderstorms
had demonstrated the possibility of utilizing the
forces of the elements. Nevertheless we were not too well
satisfied because we knew that not everyone would be
capable of responding to the challenge of the thunder ;
moreover, the typical weather which this kind of flying
demands is not very prevalent. If distance flights were
only to be undertaken by the aid of thunderstorms, they
would have to remain exceptional performances.
Early on " record day " no flights could be started.
Fog lay heavy on the Kuppe, and the weather appeared
hopeless. The fog having lifted a little, the first man
started soon after eleven ; but I still waited a while, for
my " Wien " climbed so well that I should have flown
up into the low drifting clouds immediately. For almost an
hour the others wheeled about on the western slope.
It was a glorious sight. When at last I started, a whole
squadron of soaring planes hung at the same height above
the Kuppe ; then they all climbed. I decided to overtake
them, one after another, and outsoar them.
For a while we frolicked in close proximity, then we
strove to climb again. From the north-west a great bank
of cloud came drifting towards us, and some of the machines
flew to meet the first big cumulus. Flying under clouds
had become a normal practice, and all pilots were skilled
in it.
Suddenly I saw two planes disappear almost simultaneously
into the deep, drifting, ragged masses. Matters did not
look exactly encouraging, but there was not much time
for consideration as the very next moment I found myself
in the midst of the white milk-soup. Should I push down
again ? It certainly seemed advisable. Of course I had
left my parachute behind this time ! There had been no
signs of any approaching thunderstorm.
The altimeter was rising. On the other hand it went
against my flyer's pride to struggle down, so I carried on with
my climb into the white infinity. Once more the compass
began its strange circling movements, and the moisture
was even heavier than during my recent thunderstorm
flight. The speed indicator swallowed water and refused