White Hills, 1920's - 1930's?
There are a few copies of photos at the Soaring Club of people operating a gliding club with primary gliders at White Hills some time in the 1920's or 30's. There is no other information on this club at this time.
When I first came to Tasmania (1974), I met Howard Dalton who was at the time the owner of a very nice Stinson L5 Sentinel. Howard was one of the founding members of the first Gliding Club in Tasmania which operated at Brighton which was, I believe, on the site of the Brighton army barracks - now sold and subdivided for development. Howard eventually left Tasmania to live and sail on his boat which he had spent many years building. He died abut 10 years ago.
The club operated a couple of primary gliders, but didn't last very long.
There are a few old photos from these two clubs on the wall of the Soaring Club clubhouse at Woodbury.
In the late sixties or early seventies, I believe there was a gliding club operating at Campbelltown, but I have no information on it.
I remember looking at the VTC for Launceston sometime around 1973 and seeing the gliding symbol marked on the chart there, but it had been defunct for some time before I arrived in the State in 1974.
Gliding Club of Northern Tasmania : Wynyard, Cranbourne, Launceston, Georgetown
Bob King, the original instigator of the Soaring Club of Tasmania, started a club in northern Tasmania in the late 90's.
He purchased a Motor Falke which he operated until 2006 when it was sold to the mainland. An interesting feature of Bobs' Falke was that he re-engined it (at considerable expense) with a Jabiru 80 hp engine replacing the original 60hp Limbach. This improved the climb performance of the aircraft considerably (which is something that all low power Falke motor gliders need).
Bob in his Motor Falke at Woodbury , 21 October 2001 |
The Gliding Club of Northern Tasmania was based at Wynyard, but Bob generally kept the Falke at Cranbourne and operated in various locations around the state - a kind of "Have glider, will travel" service.
Bob travelled extensively in his Falke and had a number of trips to and from the mainland as well as flying around much of Tasmania. He has now sold his aircraft but retains active flying status back in SCOT, the club that he started more than 30 years ago.
(Members of GC of Northern Tas - if you have any details of the club and/or pictures you would like retained, please let me know. GM). |
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Bobs' Motor Falke having its daily inspection done.
Mole Creek 11th Feb 2001
Graeme Vertigan (washing the wing)
Richard Doyle
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Mole Creek again.
On the right, Bob is about to open the canopy of the Blanik.
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