18 August 1929: Ralph Stanton Barnaby on a flight from Corn Hill of 15 minutes, 6 seconds became the first American to win an international soaring certificate. This flight was the first to exceed the American record for motorless flight of 9 minutes, 45 seconds set by Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk, NC, on 24 October 1911.
Ralph Stanton Barnaby after his successful flight at Corn Hill in the "Prüfling" glider. The American Motorless Aviation Corporation (AMAC) opened the Cape Cod Glider School in March 1929. Barnaby requested information and attended the school in August 1929. The 5 minute duration flight for his C-Badge was easily done. Then he remembered Orville Wright's earlier flight and he decided to give it a try and to beat it.
J.C. Penney, Jr. was interested in promoting the sport in the USA. The R.R.G. (Rhön-Rossitten-Gesellschaft) sent glider pilots in April 1928, bringing along a 2-seat "Prüfling" glider and the "Darmstadt" sailplane. A glider camp was set up at Truro. On 29 July 1928, Peter Hesselbach set a new duration record of 4 hours 5 minutes. This picture shows Paul Laubenthal, Paul-Franz Röhre and Peter Hesselbach on the way to the USA.
Jon Mead carried souvenir mail in his "ASW-15" from Provinceton to the beach at Truro, the site of the very first National Landmark of Soaring dedication.
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