Gliding Achievements The news that two British gliding records, for
distance and for height, were broken during last week-end is very much like news that the Endeavour' had set up a new time-record in the race for the America's Cup. In other words, the achievements of a glider, like those of a sailing-yacht, arc at present of academic interest rather than practical importance. There is no possi- bility of a glider travelling of set purpose from one given point to another given point. There is no likelihood of its being able to carry any substantial load. And though some progress has been made, particularly in Germany and the United States, with the towing of gliders by aeroplanes, there is not much sign of anything of much value being accomplished thereby. Gliding today is an exciting and attractive sport, and to describe it as that and nothing more in no way detracts from the skill and courage of men like Mr. Philip Wills, who rose to a height of 6,000 feet last Saturday, or Mr. G. C. Collins, who glided 95 miles the same day, and was only stopped by the North Sea from going a great deal further.
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