The GFA Executive advises members of information on an important aviation anniversary that is occurring in 2009.

Next year is the Centenary Anniversary of the first flights of the Taylor Glider at Narrabeen Beach in NSW in December 1909.

Some details can be seen at: 

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/history_nation/aviation/timeline.swf [ext]
http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/taylor_bio.html [ext]

George Taylor was a pupil of Lawrance Hargrave, and constructed and flew the glider in 1909. George was founder and Secretary of the Australian Air League and Australian Administrator of the British Science Guild and promoted gliding in New South Wales until his premature death in 1928.

As you can see, two of the pilots that flew in the Taylor Glider were Florence Taylor (Georges wife) and Emma Schultz. Florence and Emma were the first Australian Women Pilots, Florence the first. Florence was a strong feminist and role model for Australian Women, see: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120195b.htm [ext] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Mary_Taylor [ext]

"A successful flier," George said, "must 'feel the air'." And he did. And subsequently so did his wife, Florence Taylor, who was later reported as saying of the problems confronting her, one was her clothes. She had to tuck in her skirts to fly the plane. "My dressmaker never realised I was a budding aviatrix."
 
To mark this anniversary, the volunteers of the Australian Gliding Museum are planning to build a flying replica of the Taylor Glider and fly it on the Anniversary.
 
The materials will cost around $5,000 and will have to be raised by sponsorship and donation.

GFA intends to contribute to this project and VSA already has.

The GFA Executive would like to invite other State Associations also to contribute and participate in this unique aviation milestone.
 
If you are interested in this project, please contact the GFA Exec Officer by email or phone and he will put you in contact with the Musuems Project Coordinator for more details.