VGC News/Newsletters - Lakes Gliding Club

format on its rudder. In 1944, due to the approach of the RedArmy, moral became bad and there were many defections toSoviet airfields in German aeroplanes. On the 29th August1944, began the Slovak National Uprising in Central Slovakia,against the Germans and supporting the Allies. We imaginethat all gliding in Slovakia ceased then? We are surprised thatgliding did not get going earlier in Slovakia,which has superweather and very good outlanding possibilities.RUSSIASOVIET GLIDING HISTORY.One of our pleasures in VGC News is to report, often for thefirst time, the great record flights of the 1930s and the sailplanesin which they were flown, and on the fates of their pilots.One such pilot was Viktor L. Rastorgueff. During May1937, he flew G.F.Groshev's No 7 sailplane on three worlddistance records. Thesewere on the 5th May 1937,539 kms. On the 12th May1937,602 kms, and on the27th May 1937, 652 kms.These sensational flights inGroshev's No.7 sailplanebroke the 1935 GermanWorld Distance record of503 kms flown by the fourpilots from theWasserkuppe to Bmoduring the Rhon Contest.The Groshev No 7Victor Rastorguefi'sailplane's empty weightwas 200 kgs (440 Ibs, whichwas the same as that of a British EoN Olympia) TheOlympia's span was 15 metres. The Groshev No 7's span was16 .8 metres. This gave it a wing loading of 23.8 kgs /sq.metre. (4.879 Ibs/sq.ft, Max. LID was I:28. Wing profile wasGottingen 549.Thus the Groshev No 7 was no "lead sled". One of thesesailplanes was in Hungarian hands during the war and wasdestroyed in an unnecessary aerotowing accident overBudapest's airport in 1943.But what happened to Viktor Rastorgueff? Like many otherSoviet and German expert glider pilots, which included IgorShelest and Sergej Anoxin, Viktor Rastorglleff became a militarytest pilot belonging to an organization called L 11. He waskilled on the 16th August 1945 flying the hybrid YAK -3RD,which had a liquid-fuelled rocket booster motor.Information was taken from the book "Under the Red Star,LlIftwaffe Aircraft in the Soviet Airforce" by Carl-FredrikGeust, who is Chairman of the Finnish Aviation MuseumSociety. The book is from Airlife Publishing Ltd, 101Longden Road, S}lrewsbury, Shropshire. SY3 9EB.B & B close to Norfolk Broads.THE HOLLIESDelightful spacious 18th century cottagein peaceful Broadland village within walkingdistance ofthe River Bure and Broads. Closeto Gt Yannouth and Norwich. 35 mins toNorfolk Gliding Club.Best cooked breakfast in Norfolk !£20 per person double nu. £20.00 single.Tel: 01493 750625 Fax: 01493 750965.1The cockpit ofBob Gaines Mii 13-D3. Photo by GeoffMoo reDOll Snodgrass in his Skylark 4A 1/4 scale model ofthe Dresden Biplane glider. Photo fromJim RobsonAnother ofJohn Watkin's models, this time vfthe Harbingerwith very realistic airbrakes30