US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Interesting-to-hang-glider-history-followers' notes on Percy Pilcher are invited in this thread on Percy Sinclair Pilcher.

Recently Hawks forum member ARP found a link to an animation of the seven stills that had been published in Nature journal in the 18th century.
The flight filmed was on June 20, 1897.
That is a fun start to this topic... with what ARP confirms is Pilcher's Hawk hang glider.

Some notes are on page:
http://thebioscope.net/2011/08/10/first-flight/

And as anyone finds something to add to the wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Pilcher
then that would be fun also~

It may be neat adventure to explore of Pilcher: Bat, Hawk, Beetle, Gull .....

ARP further gives a neat page where the Bat may be distinguished from the Hawk.
Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame. Percy has been inducted to that hall of fame.
http://www.engineeringhalloffame.org/pr ... lcher.html

Notice how Pilcher's A-frame neatly serves upper and lower rigging.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal)
So far, visit a library holding Nature, or pay to play: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v5 ... 6344a0.pdf for the "Soaring Flight" article holding the stills. But the date puts the article out of copyright and might be available. Anyone with link?

http://j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/plane ... r_Hawk.jpg


Drawing from Flight Archive bia other site noted:
http://j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/plane ... awk_3v.jpg

  1897 !?!

        WOW!!!

    Go, Percy, Go!!

See more: http://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft28368.htm

"Pilcher prepares to fly his most successful glider, the Hawk, under tow from a hill at Eynsford, Kent, in 1897. He died after this machine suffered an in-flight structural failure on 30 September 1899."

British patent 9144 of filing April 30, 1896; granted 6 March 1897.
"Improvements in Flying and Soaring Machines"

Abstract:
Aerial Machines. Pilcher, P.S., Artilliery Mansions, Victoria Street, London. The machine may be used without a motor for soaring, or with a motor and propeller for flying. It comprises a tubular framework F with handles G, and of just sufficient capacity to accomodate the aeronaut. On either site are carried masts C supported by rigid stays D, E, and from which radiate the ribs K of the wings A; these are stayed to the top and bottom of the masts. The wings have sleeves for the reception of the ribs, and are suitably lashed to their outer ends; they can be furled round the mast. Wheels 3, mounted so as to yield in a vertical direction, deaden the shock on landing. There is a horizontal rudder of about one-tenth the area of the wings, and steering is effected by the aeronaut altering his position in the car.
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Hawk was the basis for the patent by Pilcher.

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Note: Notice the language: "soaring machine" versus "flying" machine.
The first does not use a propeller and motor. The "flying" machine uses a propeller and motor.

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HAWK