Story: Aerial recreation

A Waco glider

A Waco glider

In the 1930s, gliders appealed because they were much cheaper than powered aircraft. The Wellington Aero Club purchased four Waco gliders, and the sight of one of these being towed into the air behind a car was a feature of early air pageants at Rongotai airport. Onlookers watch the soaring glider, while two de Havilland Moth biplanes parked near the runway wait for their turn to become airborne.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Evening Post Collection (PAColl-0614)
Reference: PAColl-7796-69

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Aerial recreation - Gliding', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6096/a-waco-glider (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 12 Jun 2006