On Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 5:19:38 AM UTC-4, wrote:
I'm interested to know if primary gliders were capable of soaring flights or if they only flew short hops.

With an 8 to 1 glide and sink rate of 255 fpm they would be very comparable to modern single surface hang gliders and they are easily soared often. XC flights of 100 miles or more have been done on such gliders by experienced pilots in good conditions.