Transport: Riding Thunder-heads

At Elmira, N. Y., where the Soaring Society of America was holding its eighth annual meet last week, the air one day was heavy with a threat of squally weather. Lightning glimmered occasionally in the distance, and mountainous dark storm-clouds or "thunderheads," with flat bottoms and bulging, shifting domes were moving in on Harris Hill. On the hilltop, where the meet was in progress, Soaring Pilot Richard Chichester du Pont appraised the grim thunderheads with eager eyes, then took off in his big, sleek sailplane after an automobile tow. Up, up, up he circled...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!