Monday and Tuesday, July 14th and 15th (Rhodes
and Founders) saw two of the three Club's machines flying
over the local aerodrome for the first time since April, 1940, when,
through lack of personnel and other conditions brought about
by the war, gliding was reluctantly brought to a halt.
It is interesting to note that this time ten years, ago. almost to a
day, the Umtali Gliding Club first started active gliding in
the field. It was an occasion of great excitement and enthusiasm
after the long preparation which included organisation and building
of machines; moreover, it was the first time this form of flying had
ever been attempted in the Colony and those who took part had
never previously flown a glider.
 |
| Four of the hard-working numbers, [left to right), Jimmy Harrold, the Secretary, Chris McGrane and Matt Howie. |
The various vicissitudes of the Club during the succeeding three and
a-half years would make interesting reading. There were many
exciting moments when pupils first took off from terra-firma—
laughter and fun, minor mishaps necessitating spells of repair
work—the thrills during qualification for the " A " and " B "
Certificates, and throughout all remained that keenness and esprit
de corps which makes gliding and soaring flight rank high in
the field of scientific sport.
Despite many set-backs and the fact that Instructors had to feel
their way step by step, many excellent displays were given and
a very successful and progressive method of primary training
evolved.
Well, all that now belongs to past history, but there were still a
few of the old foundation members left who, on the conclusion
of war, decided that the only Gliding Club in the country simply
must be brought back to life.
Early in 1946 a general meeting of all those interested was held to
discuss ways and means of resuming gliding activities, and a
working Committee was eventually formed. This comprised some six
foundation members, with Mr. Matt Howie in the chair.
Mr. Howie, with almost four years' Club experience of glider
construction and a unique proclivity for detail and exactness, lost
no time in getting busy, his programme being the building of a
Primary training machine the complete overhaul of the two
existing sailplanes and the construction of a mobile winch.
Such an undertaking was enough to daunt the heart of a professional
expert, but not Matt Howie, who with quiet confidence and
determination and supported by the energetic Jimmy Harrold and Wally
Tite. got things under way. Glider parts were difficult to
obtain, but they got them, miles of the country side were scoured in
search of old car chassis, wheels, etc; they even found time to
locate one or two possible soaring sites, they worked
practically every weekend since August, 1946, and by the end of nine
months completed a Primary training machine, together with the
complete overhaul of the intermediate sailplanes—a truly great
achievement.
The erection of a mobile winch on an old car chassis was the next
problem, however, nothing daunted, with the assistance of a
few Club members and Mr. Newman, in a matter of six weeks produced a
very amazing contraption, in fact it has to be seen to be
believed, and alone is worthy of a special visit by the citizens of
Umtali.
It can be driven into any position, has a separate engine to operate
a drum carrying 3,000 feet of flexible steel cable, but, above
all. there is the wizard mechanism which feeds the cable evenly on
the drum. This latter cost Matt Howie and his henchman much
head scratching.
Work was speeded up to commence gliding tests on the Saturday
afternoon of the Rhodes and Founders weekend, but it was not
until 2 p.m. on Monday that all was ready.
The most promising of the Clubs' pre-war pupils, Jimmy Harrold. who
had since become an R.A.F. pilot and instructor, had come all
the way from
Darwendale to be present at the testing out.
Using a three hundred foot rope attached to the tow car. the primary
glider was taken on a low test flight by the Chief Instructor, Mr.
C. J. McGrane, who followed this up with two more flights varying
between 60 and 100 feet. He would describe the experience as
exhilarating after seven years' absence from gliding, but the
machines proved comparatively docile and let him down gently
every time.
Two succeeding flights each by Messrs. Harrold and Tite in the
Primary and a short flight by C. McGrane in the " Kirby Tutor
" closed the day. The tests proved the airworthiness of the two
machines and a tribute to the excellent workmanship of Matt
Howie.
Tuesday morning, 13th, saw the winch in action with Jimmy Harrold.
piloting the " Kirby Tutor."
With the winch (operated by Matt Howie) at the extreme west end of
the aerodrome and the " Tutor" at the opposite end connected up by
the 3000 feet of cable, the flag signal was given for the move off.
Following a run of some 60 yards the " Tutor" rose rapidly into the
air and when about 600 feet up the cable was released and the
machine left in free flight. Like some great bird she flew slowly
and gracefully outside and around the northern boundary of the
aerodrome past the hospital kopjie and turned in over the east
boundary to a perfect landing some 300 yards from the
launching point. It was a perfect flight lasting 2 minutes 5 seconds.
This flight was succeeded by three more flights by Jimmy Harrold
lasting 2 minutes 40 seconds, 2 minutes 30 seconds, and 2
minutes 15 seconds respectively.
Certain adjustments to the winch now became necessary and further
flying was curtailed until later in the afternoon. Resumption
of flying saw Messrs. McGrane and Tite on circuits lasting 1 minute
15 seconds to 45 seconds, but it became obvious that the winch
engine was not behaving properly as the higher launches of the
morning could not be attained. A cursory examination showed that
engine overhaul and adjustments were necessary, so it was
decided to spend the following weekend and evenings during the week
on that work.
 |
| General view of the club's three machines hangar, with " Arthur " the tow car and" Willie winch in the foreground. |
It is hoped to commence pupil training from the first weekend in
August onwards, and all those interested are invited to
contact the Hon. Secretary at the Club's hangar, or P.O. Box 46.
Umtali.
Matt Howie has started on the building of a special trailer to
transport the " Kirby Kite " sailplane, and when this is
completed a soaring ridge located at the back of Old Umtali Mission
will be tested out.
Should this prove successful negotiations will be opened with a view
to securing an area of ground close by for training purposes
and (it is hoped) the ultimate establishment of the Umtali Gliding
Club.
End
Extracted by Eddy Norris from the magazine "Sailplane and Glider
(The First Journal devoted to Soaring and Gliding) dated March
1948 and for use only on the Our Rhodesia Heritage blog that I
administer.
Cover
Sent in by Lee Follmann
Thanks to author of this article, the owners of the photographs used and to the publishers of this journal for the use of their material.
Source http://www.lakesgc.co.uk/mainwebpages/Sailplane%20&%20Glider%201930%20-
Suggested reading -
http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/08/rhodesian-gliding-incidents.html
and
http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=480010&comments=1
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