Why does Harris Hill call itself the Soaring Capital of America?

The short answer is that is was the Elmira Association of Commerce trying to stimulate business for the area during the depression era of the 30's. The long answer, from our membership manual, is below for those who might be interested. This is our 78th year.

Happy to report the cost of a pre-solo junior flight is still only $7 - includes tow, rental, hookup and instructor.

Sean Murphy
XC

HISTORY AND GOALS OF THE
HARRIS HILL SOARING CORPORATION by Paul Schweizer 1990
You are a member of a unique organization, one which has been in existence since 1937, and through whose efforts this area continues to be known as the Soaring Capital of America.
The Harris Hill Soaring Corporation is a voluntary organization composed of persons who are enthusiastic about motorless flight and who have a good time taking part in the flying activities and carrying out the aims and purposes of this non-profit corporation. All this is accomplished in an informal club atmosphere at low cost to the individual through the cooperative efforts of all members.
Soaring started in Elmira in 1930 when Dr. Wolfgang Klemperer looked over the area as a possible site for a national soaring contest at the request of the National Glider Association. At Klemperer's suggestion, Jack O'Meara came to the area to try soaring on the ridges, which Klemperer said reminded him of the terrain of the Wasserkuppe, the leading soaring center in Germany. On July 2, 1930 O'Meara made a soaring flight of 1 hour and 34 minutes. His enthusiastic report to the NGA convinced them to hold the first National Soaring Contest in Elmira in September of that year.
This was during the Depression, and in Elmira everyone was looking for something to stimulate business. The community, led by the Elmira Association of Commerce, recognized the potential value of soaring to the area as a means of attracting business, tourism, and national attention through association with an exciting new aviation sport.
The first National Soaring Contest was based at the Caton Avenue Airport, using South Mountain and East Ridge for shock-cord launching the gliders. The success of this contest convinced the NGA to hold a second national contest at Elmira the next year. The 1931 contest was successful, but the NGA was not, and, experiencing financial difficulties, it went out of business.
The Soaring Society of America, formed in 1932, ran the third and fourth Nationals, basing them on the Rhodes farm. Because of the limitations of shock-cord launching, a larger field was needed to allow launching by winch, auto or aero tow. A group led by Franklin "Bud" Iszard picked a new site east of the Rhodes farm. Chemung County purchased a parcel of land from three individuals and, after removing a few stone walls, conducted the fifth Nationals in 1934 on what was unofficially named Harris Hill in memory of Lt. Hank Harris. Harris, a member of the MIT Club had been killed a few weeks earlier in a tow car accident at the emergency field in the valley.Contests were held at Harris Hill in following years, with the Association of Commerce raising the necessary funds and assisting the SSA in operating the contest.. As the contests grew in size and in financial requirements, it became evident that a separate organization was needed. This idea was developed by Eddie Mooers, Bud Iszard, and Don Hamilton during the eighth National contest, and as a result of their efforts the Elmira Area Soaring Corporation was formed in August, 1937. The first Board of Directors was composed of representatives from the local soaring group, the community, and the SSA.
From 1934 onwards the Chemung County Board of Supervisors steadily improved the Harris Hill site. With the assistance of the Works Progress Administration, the County built an Administration Building, a hangar, and five cabins to make Harris Hill the first permanent site in the country for the operation of National soaring contests. These buildings were completed in 1937, and the site was officially named the "Warren E. Eaton Motorless Flight Facility". The purpose of the EASC was to conduct National contests, promote soaring in the area, and to carry out soaring training programs. Earl Southee was the first General Manager, charged with the responsibility to manage the EASC and to raise the funds needed to operate the Nationals each year. Additional cabins, a caretaker's house, and the large hangar were added in 1938.
With the outbreak of World War II and the start of the military glider program the EASC contributed to the war effort by carrying out demonstration flights for the military and government officials. It was the first organization to conduct a military glider school, which at first operated at Harris Hill. In order to expand the training and to operate during winter, the school was soon moved to Mobile, Alabama, where it developed into a large operation with several hundred employees. In early 1943, when the military had more glider pilots than they could use, many of the training contracts were cancelled, including EASC's. The EASC had not had enough time to get their operations on a paying basis, and ended up deeply in the red and unable to continue operations.
While the EASC was not operating, the soaring activities were carried out by the Glider Capital Committee of the Elmira Association of Commerce, who put on the 1946 Nationals. They bid on the 1947 Nationals, but for the first time a national contest was held away from Harris Hill, when the meet went to Wichita Falls, Texas.
In 1948 Congress finally passed a bill authorizing sufficient funds to fulfill all the obligations of the EASC. The corporation was reorganized, and all those present at the first reorganization meeting were named the Charter Members. The new by-laws provided for the Board members to come from the soaring group, the local community, and the clubs. The SSA representation was ended, so the EASC became strictly a local organization. At that time the EASC owned no gliders, tow planes, or other equipment, but flying was done by a number of clubs which had representation on the Board and participated in the EASC programs.

Although the EASC was the vehicle by which the contests and other soaring activities were administered, the Chamber of Commerce still played an important role by raising the funds and helping with public relations and business phases of the contests. Nationals were held in 1948 and 1949, and every other year until 1959.
During the fifties the nature of the contests gradually changed, and the entry fees, which had been a nominal $5, steadily increased so that they would cover a larger proportion of the costs of the contests. Also, the practice of having cash prizes was discontinued. This put fewer financial requirements on the local sponsoring groups, and it was not long before the Nationals became self-sustaining. This made it possible, however, for many other groups around the country to conduct Nationals, particularly where surplus military airfields were available, so the EASC found themselves with a lot more competition for Nationals.
In the early fifties the EASC acquired a used TG-3A sailplane and started some flying and training within the Corporation. The TG-3A was only practical for aero-tow, so the EASC, in a special arrangement with Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, built the first 2-22 from a kit. This enabled the EASC to expand its training program using auto-pulley and winch towing. A tow plane was finally acquired when EASC purchased the L-5 that Dick Kurtzenberger, Joe Perrucci, and some other members had bought and used for towing at Harris Hill.
Flying activities increased with the acquisition of the tow plane, and some members purchased their own sailplanes. With a tow plane the EASC could offer demonstration rides to the public, which helped to promote soaring in the area, as well as develop income which allowed the EASC to expand its equipment and programs. The EASC gradually grew to be independent, losing the close association with the local community it had held since 1937.
In 1962, when the EASC missed being awarded a National for the third year in a row, the Board decided that they had to take some action to get Nationals to Harris Hill more often. Contests were getting too large for the Harris Hill field. Sailplanes were becoming heavier. And the SSA required contest take-offs to be at the rate of at least one a minute. The Harris Hill facilities were not able to handle all of this, so improvements in the flying field were needed. By working with community leaders and the Chemung County government over a three to four year period the EASC convinced the County to approve a $245,000 project to level the field and build paved glider and tow plane runways. The new field was dedicated at the start of the 1968 Nationals.
While EASC was working to get support for this project, it found some resistance among surrounding municipalities to supporting an organization with an Elmira name. As a result, the Board decided in 1967 to change the name to the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation, and this name has been well received.

The HHSC successfully conducted the 1980 Standard Class Nationals and the 1982 15 Meter Nationals. The need for the HHSC to have its own "home" developed in the eighties, so a fund drive was started in 1985 to raise $40,000 for a Flight Center. With Chemung County providing $10,000 and excavation and foundation help from the Buildings and Grounds Department, and with many HHSC members volunteering their time, the building was completed and dedicated in June 1987.
1987 was the fiftieth anniversary year of the HHSC, and in addition to dedicating the new building, the HHSC ran the 1987 Sports Class Nationals and had a special celebration of its anniversary on August 29 with many of its past Presidents taking part.

Over our 53-year history (78 years now - XC), the Elmira Area Soaring Corporation and the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation have accomplished many things. For example, we:
1. Conducted 26 National Soaring Contests, many Regional contests, 46 Snowbird Contests, 21 1-26 Regattas, and many local meets.
2. Assisted in the war effort during World War II by conducting glider demonstrations and operating a military glider training school.
3. Continue, since the 1950's, to carry out a very active youth training program which makes low-cost flight training available on a cooperative basis to young people between 14 and 19. This program has introduced hundreds of young people to soaring, helped make them better citizens, and exposed them to an exciting avocation. And, in a number of cases, helped prepare them for careers in aviation.
4. Organized the glider exhibits for the Strathmont Museum in 1958 and 1959, later working to obtain the National Soaring Museum archives and soaring library for Harris Hill in 1969. The HHSC operated the National Soaring Museum for three years until it became a separate organization. The HHSC and the NSM continue to work together to carry out programs where they both have interests.
5. Continue to play an important role in promoting Harris Hill as a tourist attraction where sailplane flying can be seen and where sailplane demonstration flights are available.
6. Conduct a summer program which expands the availability of demonstration flights, and offers tows and instruction to both junior and senior active members on weekdays.
7. Participate in special events such as National Soaring Weeks, Vintage Sailplane Regattas, Fall Foliage Festivals, Model Sailplane contests, youth encampments, and special demonstrations. HHSC also participates in the community Air Shows and other activities of this type to keep the community in the forefront of aviation.
8. Conduct various educational and training programs for HHSC members, other soaring pilots, and the public, as well as holding symposiums to improve safety and the quality of flying.
9. Train our members to become soaring pilots and transition power pilots to become tow pilots.
10. Have worked for 53 (78!) years to maintain this area as the Soaring Capital of America.

Paul A. Schweizer January 1990

Longest single reply in group history???