European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                J of glider pilots perfect their Craft a by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau the Hawks soaring above the Flat Farmland had one big advantage Over the Young glider pilots with whom they shared the overcast sky. On sunny Days both use thermals a Large invisible elevators of swirling warm air that Rise from the Earth s surface a to Circle effortlessly upward before soaring off to find another one to ride. Without a Thermal a Hawk can Flap its wings to stay aloft while the pilots can do Little More than return to Earth. On a recent weekend a Chilly autumn wind brushed the Cie Belstadt army Airfield near Wurzburg Germany and slate Gray Clouds filled the sky. There were no thermals. Only the Birds could soar to new Heights. Ironically the Lack of thermals created an almost perfect atmosphere for the 22 pilots to test new skills in a Friendly Competition. The pilots All Between the Ages of 14 and 24, had to takes<5s photos by Gus Schuettler off perform a midair Man Euver and then land in a designated area receiving Points for their performance. As soon As one glider landed another took to the air repeating the routine. The duration of the flight was not part of the Competition. Quot you really can t explain it Quot student Pilot David Townsend 21, said about the feeling of non motorized flight. Quot it s something really different i mean you re flying something slower and More quiet than a motor plane. Sometimes you get up in thermals and you re circling around and there will be a Bird circling with you. It s really neat to see. Quot you can Fly five minutes or. Seven hours Quot said Townsend who is assigned to cob 7th in 159th aviation regt in Stuttgart. His longest flight was four hours and two minutes. Karl Heinz Krause president of glider club Gie Belstadt which hosted the contest said the event was designed specifically for student pilots under 25 or those who have had their Pilot s License for less than a year. The Competition served to give them a Chance to practice precision flying skills while also meeting other enthusiasts. Townsend said pilots were graded on everything they did. During takeoffs they were judged on How Well they kept their gliders level As they were pulled into the air by a Cable being wound rapidly into a Winch connected to a big Block car engine. Quot you get Points on just about everything Quot he said including whether or not the Pilot released the Tow Cable at the Best possible moment. While in the air the fliers were graded on How Well they could perform Maneu vers such As High Speed turns and dipping their wings Back and Forth. Landings were perhaps the most difficult and competitive aspect of the Competition. Pilots had to perform a Man Euver called a Quot slip Quot in which the gliders lost Altitude quickly before Landing. They also had to try to land in a series of boxes drawn on1 the Airfield. There were four boxes in a Row roughly the size of the gliders themselves in which the pilots tried to land. Touching the plane s Only wheel Down in the first Box a and staying there a earned the most Points. Fewer Points were received for touching Down in the first Box but bouncing to any of the next three. No Points were Given for Landing before the boxes which was the Case with Townsend. Quot that makes me mad a the Soldier said after touching Down Short of the first Box. Quot i know i could have done  the avionics technician s disappointment stemmed from the fact that he took second place in Iasi year s Competition in bad Kissinger Andi Horn a German competitor from Schweinfurt said he started flying in August 1989 when he was 14. He has completed All of his requirements for a glider License except for age. He s now 16. Under German Law students must be at least 14 years old before they Start learning to Fly Krause said. They must be 1 7 before they can get a License which requires 10 hours of flight and successful completion of both a written and practical exam a Horn said it was Good to meet other pilots because few Young people take up the sport. Quot it s not the Money it s the time you need Lor the sport Quot he said. While learning to Fly a glider is relatively inexpensive compared to motorized aircraft a student often finds himself spending "10 hours in preparation Tor 10 minutes of flight the whole Day Quot he said. But the time spent learning is Well Worth the feeling of free flight said Anja Christine Wagner an 18-year-old flier from bad Laas Phe Germany. Quot you can feel like a Bird Quot she said. Quot you Are free and Independent and alone with  the glider club Gie Belstadt is located at the Airfield about 10 Miles South of Wurzburg. Its members give lessons and take paying passengers Inlo the air for More information Call 09334-1000 on weekends. David Townsend straps into a Smalt cockpit. Townsend is Quot towed Quot by friends to the Takeoff Point. The Winch Cable is connected to another Pilot s plane. A glider lifts off with the help of a Cable and Winch. 12 stripes Magazine october 10, 1991 october 10, 1991 stripes Mazarine 13