Yes, but there is an earlier example--the 1929 Peel Z-1 Glider Boat on
display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island, NY (USA). It
is the only remaining one of 30 built in College Point, Queens, NY and
sold for $595.

For more info, see:

http://www.cradleofaviation.org/exhi...oat/index.html

Walter Kahn wrote in message ...
One of the very first 'Sea gliders' must have been the modified B.A.C.7
in which Lowe-Wylde flew. He was towed behind a motor boat on the Welsh
Harp, a small lake in North London, England. The date was in 1931.

A video of this remarkable event is available from Ted Hull of the
Vintage Glider Club here in the UK.

Wally Kahn


In article , Vassilios
Mazis writes
A very exciting story indeed.

This is likely not the very first attempt at it, but seems to be the
first well documented case. I have heard of a tale of a British
expedition to Jugoslavia in the 1950s where they were shown a locally
crafted sea-glider.
maybe someone with contacts there would be able to research the story.

Greece has many fjord-type coastal regions and ridge-lines, complex
sea-breeze effects, wave systems over the sea, a long and hot summer
and having known one of the constructors I can well understand the
drive for the project. I often fantasize about the possibility of
repeating the feat, utilizing modern materials or as a modification
with inflatable or semi-rigid keels and buoys.
There is one serious concern though. When the sea-side ridges are
working well
enough to make a long flight exciting, the sea is likely to be
somewhat rough.....
It would be fantastic as a pleasure-ride ship though.



There has been an article in the British S&G about this in the 1980s.


http://www.cromemco.gr/gliding/English/index.htm
is a kind of portal into greek soaring