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Soaring (not WAR...ing) in 1940's   Page 9   Hattie Meyers Junkin

1930 Frank Hawks flying a WACO towed Wally Franklin across the U.S. recorded commercially and seen at the movies. Having been given this film(copy) and later missing it about 1934... heard it was sent to Elmira Soaring Museum..which I never have checked.

Should fillin here with a few facts.

Gliding. Basic training in nearby Maryland. James Bud H. Stickler about 27 yrs. old and my son George C. Weaver age 12, taught me. I had paid for 2/3rd of the Franklin with a small group of fellows. Rope instead of cable so we learned about splicing. Son rode in the tow car which I felt was really dangerous over the bumpy ground. My little daughter Janet played with her dolls on the running board (remember those) of our car. As I would glide over she would use a little of her "Mothering" to wave a little hand and say "Ma." in her four yr. old baby voice. Imagine this happening to me when I was four?

I was being nourished by my own world.. flying.. the whistle on the wire told me if I was in proper attitude, air soft as silk. Only once scared myself and in the n.g. two wheel landing geared Alfaro glider 1933 Air Show scared the crowd but not myself.

Didn't need a psychologist to explain why I nearly stalled when I did my left 180. Scarlet fever age 8, left me with earaches and also when I did outer edge left turn of ice-skates, I would fall. When in my teens, ears were left forever acute, my subconscious evidently took control of this left hand 180 degree turn, like on my skates.. I say the HORROR on both Bud's faces, knew the answer... heard myself say, "Do what you always do, kick over the rudder to the right." I landed safely but with others waiting their turn I couldn't do what I should have done. Get back in and do it over again..properly. Lick your devil quickly.