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An aeronautical engineer at the Air Force's aerospace. testing center here, Butler will be among 120 pilots competing in world soaring contests in Finland next month. "It's been a driving desire the whole time," Butler said. "I think I have a pretty good chance at winning." . Butler's wife, Sarah, nodded her head in agreement. "It took a long time to get to the national level," she said, "but it's something we've wanted. "We're new at this, really," she added. "We've only been in it about 10 years. Most pilots have been flying a lot longer." Butler placed second in last year's U.S. National Soaring Championships in Hobbs, N.M., flying in the unrestricted class. He will· be one of two pilots in that class, joining two other pilots in the standard class to make the United States' four-pilot team. Normally a one-woman crew for her pilot husband, Mrs. Butler will be aided in the Finland contests by two other crew members, Nashvillians David Andrews and Walker Matthews. Andrews, president of McClure's Department Stores, and, Matthews, a student at Princeton, are also sailplane enthusiasts who frequent the soaring center at Eagleville, about 40 miles from here. The Butlers have owned eight sailplanes since their introduction to soaring. Their current plane is a Glasflugel 604, a German-made fiberglass sailplane. When not in the air, the 1,000 pound sleek, white craft stays disassembled in a trailer at the Butler's home. "Dick sleeps much better when he knows it's close by," laughed Mrs. Butler. "We shipped the plane about two weeks ago," added Butler,. "so we've been without a plane, which is not helping me to practice." The Tullahoma couple will be in Finland for six weeks, leaving here May 28 for three weeks of practice and 14 days of contests. The practice time is to enable foreign pilots to familiarize themselves with the terrain. Both in their early 30s, the Butlers are taking their vacation time and leaves of absence to go to the Finland contests. "The company is super," said Butler, who is employed by ARO, contract operator for Arnold Engineering Development Center. "It would have been impossible for me to compete all these years without their cooperation." Mrs. Butler, a teacher, leaves work whenever possible to be the "crew" for her husband. Both take the contests seriously. After helping assemble the plane, Mrs. Butler uses a baby diaper to wipe off specks of dirt and fingerprints which can create drag and slow the plane. "These little things are what counts," she said. "I'm not as much a perfectionist as he is, but I try to help as much as I can." "It's quite a challenge, getting to compete and represent the United States," said Butler toughest competition, they said, will come from the Communist countries, which provide planes for their pilots and pay them to fly. "For instance, " Butler said, "the Polish government has full-time pilots and full-time crews. They'll be the team to beat. "Another good team will be the Germans. Gliding is a popular sport in Germany," he explained, "much like football is here." Unlike gliders, once a sailplane is released from the towplane it rides the thermals to stay in the air. Thermals, columns of air created by the sun's heat, can keep a plane up for hours and hundreds of miles. "The first sailplane ride you take, you're impressed about how quiet and serene it is," said Butler, "but after you get involved in the competition, all of this is secondary." If he wins the internationals, Butler said, he'll quit competitive flying, and if not, keep trying. Mrs. Butler quietly disagrees. The competition in the sport that has become so much a part of their lives has become too important for him to quit, she said. "I get uptight a little bit sometimes," she added. "But I worry about him more when he's driving. "He's a much better pilot than he is a driver." . |
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