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Daily Bulletin No. 1-24th ANNUAL U.S. NATIONAL SOARING COMPETITIONS [Title]

Sponsered and conducted by the Elmira AreaSearing Corp.
Sanctioned by The Soaring Society of America, Inc. 

Tuesday, July 2, 1957: Opening day.

The pilot's meeting was opened by Howie Burr, Contest Director. A contest Committee of Burr, Barney Wiggin, Ralph Barnaby, Clarence See and Bill Frutchy was chosen to determine the nature of each day's flying. Barney Wiggin, meteorologist for all Elmirs Nationals and fresh from recent schooling in Washington, D.C., gave the weather briefing. Hurricane Audrey's course across the continent was traced which left the immediate areain a steep pressure gradient. Dry thermals with 6500 ft. and tops were predicted with strong NW winds. The pilots then drew lots for order of selecting take-off times while the Contest Committee selected stask. A Goal and Return race to the Warren Eaton airport 76 miles NE at Norwich, N.Y. was selected which had as an added feature cash prizes of $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25 for the first five places. No prizes could be claimed, however, because the cross wing proved stronger than predicted and the best effort was 38 miles short of completion. 

After the pilots' meeting a short opening ceremony was held near the big hangar. Reverend Bell gave an invocation and representatives of the Chemung County and Elmira extended official welcomes to the contestants and crews. The glider queen, Miss Joane Clauss, was introduced and then the pilots were allowed to choose their take-off times. Tows began about 11:30 A.M., EDT with Fritz Compton as guinea pig. Thermals weren't too strong although a good ridge wind allowed some to hang on until they could get away. Fritz and three others cam back for second tries.

Everyone got away by about 1:30 P.M. with Paul Schweizer on of the last. As new S. S. A. President he proceeded to show the boys who was boss by reeling off the best distance of the day. He took a southerly detour along ridges to the goal and came back on course to avoid a distance penalty since completion of the task was in doubt. The three second place runner-ups who all landed at the Booome Countyair-port were seen by Paul so he struggled on a few miles further. Dick Schreder in his new HP-7 put down in Binghamton and Bikle at Whitney Point. It is interesting to note that the first four places were all Schweizer aircraft of different models. The greatest achievement was unquestionably by Bill Coverdale who tied for second in a 1-26. He spoke of having flown ships with higher penetration but none gave so much fun.

Those who didn't do too well never hit a thermal after leaving the Hill. Others battled the crosswind and dropped along the way. Thermals were as predicted, dry and topping 6000 ft. asl. Many pilots used ridge lift along the way until they could catch another thermal. Twelve made the turn and some distance back; two landed at or near Norwich and everyone else got less than 60 miles. As per the rules, distances were measured along the course lines after rotating the landing point onto the course line; from the turn point for those who didn't make the turn and from the start point for those who did make the turn. "Point" miles were then always less than actual miles flown by an amount dependent on how far off course the landing was made.

Coder told of working a thermal so low he could see through the second store windows of a farm house. He also said he sawBikle disappear out of sight for 15 minutes below the crest of a 200 foot high ridge before picking up and continuing on.