National Soaring Museum
Encyclopedia
The National Soaring Museum (NSM) is an aviation museum
whose stated aim is to preserve the history of motorless flight. It is located on top of Harris Hill near Elmira, New York
, USA.
The NSM is the Soaring Society of America
's official repository. In 1975, the SSA Board of Directors transferred the Soaring Hall of Fame
to the National Soaring Museum.
The museum features a large collection of gliders on display as well as computerized flight simulators. The museum also offers educational programs.
The museum also administers the National Landmark of Soaring
program to recognize people, places and events which are significant in the history of motorless aviation.
in Elmira and the holding of first 13 National Soaring Contests at the site between 1930 and 1946 guaranteed its stature as a location.
During the US National Soaring Contests in the 1950s competitors and organizers discussed the concept of a national soaring museum. A local Elmira museum at Strathmont Estates featured a display on the subject at the time.
In the 1960s, the gliding segment of this small collection was moved to Harris Hill as a result of the work of the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation and Schweizer Aircraft co-founder Paul A. Schweizer
.
By 1969 the Soaring Society of America had earmarked Harris Hill as the location for the future National Soaring Museum. The museum was established as an independent nonprofit corporation. The New York State Department of Education chartered the museum as a non-profit educational institution in 1972.
The museum replaced its original fire-damaged building in 1979 with a new 16000 sq ft (1,486.4 m²) facility. In 1989 an addition of 12000 sq ft (1,114.8 m²) was completed and in 1993 a 3200 sq ft (297.3 m²) Collections Annex was completed.
The presence of the NSM at Harris Hill was instrumental in convincing the National Warplane Museum, now called Wings of Eagles to move to the area in 1997. Along with the nearby Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
in Hammondsport, New York
, these three aviation history museums are major tourist draws to the Elmira region.
Aviation museum
An aviation museum, air museum or aerospace museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual or replica aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, clothing and equipment used by aviators.Aviation museums vary in size from housing...
whose stated aim is to preserve the history of motorless flight. It is located on top of Harris Hill near Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, USA.
The NSM is the Soaring Society of America
Soaring Society of America
The Soaring Society of America was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw-Hill building on February 20, 1932. Its first objective was to hold a national soaring...
's official repository. In 1975, the SSA Board of Directors transferred the Soaring Hall of Fame
Soaring Hall of Fame
The Soaring Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made the highest achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of soaring in the United States of America. It has been located at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, New York, since 1975...
to the National Soaring Museum.
The museum features a large collection of gliders on display as well as computerized flight simulators. The museum also offers educational programs.
The museum also administers the National Landmark of Soaring
National Landmark of Soaring
The National Landmark of Soaring program acknowledges people, places and events significant in the history of gliders and motorless aviation in the United States.It is administered by the National Soaring Museum. The program was established in 1980....
program to recognize people, places and events which are significant in the history of motorless aviation.
History
Elmira and Harris Hill have long been associated with soaring in the USA. The establishment of the nation's most prolific glider manufacturer, Schweizer AircraftSchweizer Aircraft
The Schweizer Aircraft Corporation is a manufacturer of sailplanes, agricultural aircraft and helicopters located in Horseheads, New York. It was incorporated in 1939 by three Schweizer brothers , who built their first glider in 1930...
in Elmira and the holding of first 13 National Soaring Contests at the site between 1930 and 1946 guaranteed its stature as a location.
During the US National Soaring Contests in the 1950s competitors and organizers discussed the concept of a national soaring museum. A local Elmira museum at Strathmont Estates featured a display on the subject at the time.
In the 1960s, the gliding segment of this small collection was moved to Harris Hill as a result of the work of the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation and Schweizer Aircraft co-founder Paul A. Schweizer
Schweizer brothers
Paul, William , and Ernest Schweizer were three brothers who started building gliders in 1930. In 1937, they formed the Schweizer Metal Aircraft Company. Their first commercial glider sale was an SGU 1-7 glider to Harvard University's Altosaurus Glider Club. At that time, Eliot Noyes was a...
.
By 1969 the Soaring Society of America had earmarked Harris Hill as the location for the future National Soaring Museum. The museum was established as an independent nonprofit corporation. The New York State Department of Education chartered the museum as a non-profit educational institution in 1972.
The museum replaced its original fire-damaged building in 1979 with a new 16000 sq ft (1,486.4 m²) facility. In 1989 an addition of 12000 sq ft (1,114.8 m²) was completed and in 1993 a 3200 sq ft (297.3 m²) Collections Annex was completed.
The presence of the NSM at Harris Hill was instrumental in convincing the National Warplane Museum, now called Wings of Eagles to move to the area in 1997. Along with the nearby Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is a museum of local history with a focus on Glenn Curtiss. Located in Hammondsport, New York, the museum boasts a large collection of Curtiss' airplanes, motorcycles and many other items pertaining to the local Finger Lakes area such as boats and wine culture...
in Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 731 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founding father.The Village of Hammondsport is in the Town of Urbana and is northeast of Bath, New York....
, these three aviation history museums are major tourist draws to the Elmira region.
Collection
The NSM collection includes:- Backstrom EPB-1A Flying Plank
- Backstrom EPB-1C Flying Plank
- Baker-McMillan CadetBaker-McMillan Cadet|-See also:...
- Berkshire Concept 70Berkshire Concept 70|-See also:-External links:*...
- Bölkow Phoebus C
- Bowlus BS-100 Super Albatross
- Bowlus BA-100 Baby AlbatrossBowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross-External links:*...
- Bowlus BA-102 Two-Place Baby Albatross
- Bowlus Senior Albatross
- Briegleb BG-6
- Briegleb BG-12BD
- Chanute-Herring 1896 gliderOctave ChanuteOctave Chanute was a French-born American railway engineer and aviation pioneer. He provided the Wright brothers with help and advice, and helped to publicize their flying experiments. At his death he was hailed as the father of aviation and the heavier-than-air flying machine...
- Croff Batwing
- Culver Rigid MidgetCulver Rigid Midget|-See also:...
- DFS Olympia MeiseDFS Olympia Meise|-General characteristics:*Crew: one, pilot*Length: 7.27 m *Wingspan: 15.00 m *Height: m *Wing area: 15 m² *Aspect ratio: 15:1*Empty: 205 kg...
- Elmira Dagling Primary
- Franklin PS-2Franklin PS-2|-See also:-External links:*...
(Four examples) - Franklin-Stevens PS-2
- Glasflügel BS-1Glasflügel BS-1|-See also:...
- Glasflügel H-301 Schuemann LibelleGlasflügel H-301|-References:*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*...
- Glasflügel H-301B LibelleGlasflügel H-301|-References:*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*...
- Göppingen Gö 3 Minimoa
- Göppingen Gö 1 Wolf
- Gross Sky GhostGross Sky Ghost|-See also:-External links:*...
- Hall Cherokee II RM
- Hall IbexHall Ibex|-See also:-External links:*...
- Herring-Arnot 1897 glider
- Hutter H-17
- Johnson Adastra
- Laister LP-15 NuggetLaister LP-15 Nugget|-See also:-External links:**...
- Laister-Kauffman LK-10A
- Marske Genesis I
- Miller TernMiller Tern|-See also:-External links:**...
- Mitchell Nimbus III
- Mitchell U-2
- Nelson BB-1 Dragonfly
- Nelson Hummingbird (two examples)
- Niemi Sisu
- Niemi Sisu 1-A
- PZL-Swidnik PW-5 "Smyk"
- Peel Z-1 Glider BoatPeel Z-1 Glider Boat|-See also:-External links:* in the Cradle of Aviation Museum...
- Perl PG-130 PenetratorPerl PG-130 Penetrator|-See also:...
- Pratt-Read PR-G1
- Prue IIAPrue IIA|-See also:...
- Prue 215Prue 215|-See also:...
- Rogallo Hang GliderRogallo wingThe Rogallo wing is a flexible type of airfoil. In 1948, Gertrude Rogallo, and her husband Francis Rogallo, a NASA engineer, invented a self-inflating flexible wing they called the Parawing, also known after them as the "Rogallo Wing" and flexible wing...
- Ross R-6Ross R-6|-See also:...
- Ross-Johnson RJ-5Ross-Johnson RJ-5|-See also:-External links:*...
- Scheibe L-Spatz 55
- Schleicher ASW 12Schleicher ASW 12|-References:...
- Schleicher Ka-6ESchleicher Ka 6-Bibliography:* Coates, Andrew, Janes World Sailplanes and Motorgliders. London. Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0 354 01119 7...
- Schreder HP-8 Airmate
- Schreder HP-10
- Schreder HP-11A Airmate
- Schreder HP-16Schreder HP-16|-See also:-External links:*...
- Schreder HP-18Schreder HP-18|-References:**R Johnson, A Flight Test Evaluation of the HP-18W Sailplane, Soaring, July 2003-External links:*...
- Schweizer SGP 1-1Schweizer SGP 1-1|-See also:-External links:**...
- Schweizer SGU 1-7Schweizer SGU 1-7|-See also:-External links:**...
- Schweizer SGU 1-19Schweizer SGU 1-19The Schweizer SGU 1-19 and Schweizer SGU 1-20 are a family of United States single-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, utility gliders built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York....
(three examples) - Schweizer SGS 1-23D and 1-23HMSchweizer SGS 1-23The Schweizer SGS 1-23 is a United States Open and Standard Class, single-seat, mid-wing glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York....
- Schweizer-Burr SGS 1-24Schweizer SGS 1-24|-See also:-External links:*...
"Brigadoon" - Schweizer SGS 1-26Schweizer SGS 1-26The Schweizer SGS 1-26 is a United States One-Design, single-seat, mid-wing glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.The SGS 1-26 enjoyed a very long production run from its first flight in 1954 until 1979, when production was ended. The 1-26 was replaced in production by the...
- Schweizer SGS 1-26E
- Schweizer SGS 1-29Schweizer SGS 1-29|-See also:-External links:*...
- Schweizer SGS 1-35Schweizer SGS 1-35The Schweizer SGS 1-35 is a United States 15 Meter Class, single-seat, mid-wing glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.The 1-35 was first flown in 1973 and a total of 101 were completed by the time production was completed in 1982....
- Schweizer SGS 2-8Schweizer SGS 2-8The Schweizer SGS 2-8 is a United States two-seat, mid-wing, strut-braced, training glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.The 2-8 was originally known simply as "The Schweizer Two-Place" when it first flew in June 1938...
- Schweizer SGS 2-12Schweizer SGS 2-12The Schweizer SGS 2-12 is a United States two-seat, low-wing, training glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.The 2-12 was a development of the Schweizer 2-8 two place training glider, with an all-wooden wing...
- Schweizer SGS 2-32Schweizer SGS 2-32The Schweizer SGS 2-32 is an American two-seat, mid-wing, two or three-place glider built by Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York.The 2-32 was designed to be the highest performance two-place glider available, when it first flew in 1962. The 2-32 has been used as a tourist glider, trainer,...
(two examples) - Slingsby UT-1 Dawydoff Cadet
- Slingsby Kirby Gull
- Slingsby T-3 Grasshopper Primary
- Slingsby Type T43 Skylark III
- Waco CG-4AWaco CG-4The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4 by the United States Army Air Forces, and named Hadrian in British military service....
- Wright 1902 Glider (Replica)
- Wright 1911 Glider (Replica)
- Zoegling Primary