Sixty years
ago the Coorabel was the site of an historic record breaking flight, when
intrepid aviator Ted Parr cracked the magic 5 hour mark in his primary
glider, Pegasus. Aboard as passenger was Gordon Coles of Coorabel,
aged 12.
The
flight was re-enacted by members of the club in three MotorFalke motor
gliders. Pilots included Greg Keegan, Brian Marshall, Dr Giles Taylor,
Genzan Kosaka and Ian McPhee.
Although unavailable
on the day, Gordon Coles had been flown along the ridge in one of the club's
gliders prior to the re-enactment.
| Club Captain Mr E. Parr went aloft in
a dual seater glider with Gordon Coles of Coorabel as the passenger ...
travelling 150 miles from a point-to-point range of nine miles taking in
Montecollum, Coorabel ... and Hayter's Hill.
The Mullumbimby Star, January 5th
1937 |
On the same day in 1937, Doug Henderson
established an Australian solo endurance record of 3 hours and 15 minutes.
He was forced to land due to cramp in his right arm. Ted Parr's record
was 5 hours and 1 minute.
Gliding has come quite a way since those
early days, and a new solo pilot is required to make a 5 hour flight as
part of the training sylabus.
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