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pilotage have freed the soaring pilot to a great extent from dependence upon terrain, so hat [[that]] the countless other sites might now surpass it, still it is to Elmira each June that the hopeful soaring enthusiast take his sailplane for his annual assault upon the American records, and the coveted championship title.

Contrary to the popular concept the hilly country is no longer a requisite to soaring.  Our national distance record was made over the prairies of Oklahoma and Kansas.  The far more important factor is weather.  Given heat and moi sture [[moisture]], producing thermal convection, as visibly evident by the formation of the cumulus clouds, so familiar in the spring and summer months, it is possible to soar indefinitely.

We are accustomed to consider wind a horizontal affair.  The earth' surfaxe [[surface]] being solid does not permit winds blowing into or out of the ground, so the surface movements must parallel the ground surface.  Alof [[Aloft]] however, another degree of movement is permitted, hence winds may as a result of heat radiation from farms, swamps, & lakes assume a direction as much vertical as horizontal.  Sensitive instruments guiding him, a pilot can hover in the currents which are ascending, riding them up to high altitudes, thence glide toward his destination until he intercepts another up-current, or thermal, as they are called, where he can replenish his altitude.  In this fashion he can cover great distances at speeds comparable to modern low powered airplanes.

Modern sailplanes are essentially heavy, but highly streamlined gliders.  Great strength to withstand the savage buffeting of thunderstorms precludes the use of these frail craft of yesteryear; sturdiness comparable to military aircraft is the order of the day in these long winged planes which soar aloft in storms which send mere airplanes seeking cover.  A modern two-seater, such as these so extensively