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Harris Hill
WARREN E. EATON MOTORLESS FLIGHT FACILITY
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IN the beautiful valley of the Chemung River, in the County of Chemung, New York State, three and one-half miles northwest of the City of Elmira, are situated the Warren E. Eaton Motorless Flight Facilities, famous as "Harris Hill". Harris Hill is a high promontory, comprising 150 acres, 859 feet above the valley and 1699 feet above sea level, overlooking the Big Flats valley and the winding Chemung River. The field is easily reached by automobile over paved roads from three different highways.
    Through the interest, graciousness and cooperation of the Chemung County Board of Supervisors, backed by the financial support of WPA, this world-famous spot was transformed from pasture and woodlot into a beautiful place for recreation, rest, and especially gliding and soaring.
    The launching runway, 2000 feet long in a North-South direction and 100 feet wide, is large enough to permit the landing of smaller types of power craft, and makes possible the safe training of students in gliding preliminary to actual soaring. The elevation is such that distance, as well as enduring flights are commenced by launching the soaring craft directly into the powerful slope wind updrafts which carry the craft to a still greater elevation.
    The administration building, constructed in a woodland style to blend with the surroundings, provides space for the essentials and conveniences attendant to the conduct of soaring contests. The original structure is composed of spacious lounge with comfortable furniture, operations offices, radio room, meteorological room, first aid room, sanitary facilities, and a kitchen equipped to prepare and serve food to 200 people. This has been en-

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larged by the addition of a dining hall and a room used during the Contests by the barograph and statistics staff. The entire interior decoration follows the semi-rustic design of the building, and over the mantel of the beautiful fireplace in the lounge a large picture of Warren E. Eaton is mounted. This room contains also a piano, Victrola and radio.
    Of possibly greater interest to the contestants, the cabins, built over a period of several years, each sleeps ten pilots comfortably in beds having regular springs and mattresses. The eleven closet of these are reserved, during contests, for pilots, crew members and officials. In addition to the beds, each cabin contains ample room for tables and chairs to add to comfort and convenience. Electric lights in each cabin and eight cabins for sanitary needs, containing washrooms and showers complete the picture of modern back-woods comfort. And they are cool in summer and warm in winter as well.
    One of the chief requisites of a good soaring site is ample hangar facilities for the protection and storage of soaring craft during inactive periods of stormy weather. At Harris Hill such facilities are completely assured. Near the administration building is located the first hangar -- of metal frame construction enclosed with corrugated sheet steel, thus assuring complete fire protection to the ships housed therein. The East and West ends of this hangar can be fully opened by means of sliding sectional doors to permit easy manipulation of large sailplanes. The floor is paved with asphalt which greatly increases the building's usefulness. 
    A short distance beyond the first hangar, close to the take-off area, is the second and more recent hangar. It is