Vintage Sailplanes at Elmira, Aug 20-27

Folks, If you haven't made plans yet - one of the premier international
events in soaring is just a few days away, and here in the USA!

The International Vintage Sailplane Meet (IVSM) is held every five
years in the USA, on historic Harris Hill near Elmira, NY. This is
the site of our National Soaring Museum (NSM), and where US soaring and
the Soaring Society of America began to get organized in the early
1930's. Everyone should make the pilgrimage to the "American
Wasserkuppe", and this is the perfect occasion. Our National Soaring
Musem had been expanded and the displays of historic sailplanes and
artifacts are unique. Gaze upon an actual Minimoa, Bowlus, Franklin,
LK, Sisu and more! Learn about the founders of American soaring such
as Eaton, Klemperer, Barnaby, Barringer, DuPont, and of course, the
Schweizers. The NSM is open year-round, and the wonderful museum staff
are very aware of the importance of the NSM as the archive of the SSA.
Director Peter Smith is the son of soaring legend Stan Smith, so our
museum is in excellent hands. For info on IVSM and the NSM go to
www.soaringmuseum.org


The Harris Hill site itself offers an exciting takeoff - you aerotow
off the hill and you are suddenly on the ridge - above the Chemung
River Valley. All the legends of soaring have flown here and you can
as well, with the Harris Hill Soaring Club.

The US Vintage Sailplane Association (VSA) is cohosting this event, and
this group of enthusiasts is responsible for restoring many of the
vintage sailplanes in the USA. They are also one of the nicest bunch
of people you would ever meet. Raul Blacksten, the VSA historian and
editor of "Bungee Cord", the club's magazine, is a typical example of
these knowledgable keepers of American soaring history. To join VSA
and for more info on their annual vintage sailplane events in the USA
go to www.vintagesailplane.org

The famous Schweizer Soaring School and factory is down in the Chemung
Valley below Harris Hill, on the Elmira - Corning Regional Airport
(ELM). You can fly commercial airline into ELM or fly your own
airplane (airplanes are restricted on the private Harris Hill
Gliderport). You can also fly airlines into Buffalo, Syracuse or
Scranton (PA).

I spent many summers in the 1950's and '60's crewing for my Dad, Fritz
Compton, as he flew his modified LK-10A sailplane in the National
Contests at Harris Hill. I still get a thrill when I drive up the
tree-lined road, then into the sunshine on top of this beautiful
soaring site. I know many people share these memories, and you should
as well. The next IVSM will be in the USA in 2010. Don't wait that
long to visit our National Soaring Museum!

Burt Compton
Marfa, Texas
www.flygliders.com