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spread, so that by the end of the late twenties, the sport was securely entrenched in many countries, and had entered its present refined stage of development, no longer the stick and haywire stage, but a scientific sport based upon sleek, bird-like creations of great strength, grace and beauty.

To-day it is only the...  ..... and hardy per ennial [[perennial]] who risks life and limb in the "hang-glider" that improvised wing arrangement which early pilots strapped upon their shoulders, ran down hills against which brisk breezes were blowing, and soared out over the valley to a landing of sorts in some farmer's pasture.  They couldn't boast of must of a ascore [[score]] on speed, range, or payload, and sometimes more than mere dignity was bruised when a flight ended, but these acrobatic person [[persons]] who have attempted such fomrs [[forms]] of gliding are loud in praise of the game.... never a dull moment (though one suspects a few unconscious ones.

Soaring in this country has had a rather sporadic and desultory career.  For the same reason that Americans will not buy Austins nor ride bicycles, gliding as such as been sconred [[scorned]] in favor of the cheap airplane.  Not without justicfication [[justification]] , for until recent years, the predominant type of glider seen in America was not exactly a creation to inspire mature confidence.  Of antiquated design and crude construct: these craft were incapable of sustained/soaring flight and not to be confused with the modern, refined sailplane.  (The Navy's gliders used some years ago in experimental flight training were of primitive type.)

Ten years ago, Dr. Wolfgang Klemperer, renowned Zeppilin [[Zeppelin]] designer made a survey of the suitable/soaring sites pronounced the rolling terrain of Elmira, n. [[N.]] Y., the most nearly comparable to Germany's famed Wasserkuppe Sponsored by a few philanthropic sportsmen, the Elmira site has been extensively improved, and has for a decade played host to the pilots of our national soaring meets.  Advances in the technology of design and