Rare 1937 Elmira Nationals Photo – Bowlus-du Pont Senior Albatross G219Y & “Falcon” G13763

This exceptionally rare original photograph captures a unique moment in American soaring history — the 1937 National Soaring Championships at Elmira, New York — with two legendary sailplanes in the same frame.

In the foreground sits the sleek Bowlus-du Pont Senior Albatross, registered G219Y (contest #10), its graceful gull wing and streamlined fuselage gleaming in the summer light. Just behind, with its distinctive registration G13763 visible on the wing, is the Bowlus-du Pont 1-S-2100 Senior Albatross “Falcon”, the personal high-performance glider of Richard C. du Pont.

Historical Note

The 1937 National Soaring Championships in Elmira, New York, marked a turning point in American glider design and competitive soaring. The event drew top pilots and experimental sailplanes from across the country, solidifying Elmira’s status as the epicenter of U.S. gliding.

The two gliders in this photograph — the Bowlus-du Pont Senior Albatross (G219Y) and the Bowlus-du Pont 1-S-2100 Senior Albatross “Falcon” (G13763) — were among the most advanced American sailplanes of the era.

The Falcon, flown by Richard C. du Pont, was a high-performance variant designed to push the limits of competition soaring. Du Pont, a driving force behind the growth of American gliding, would later become a pivotal figure in U.S. military aviation development before his tragic death in 1943.

Hawley Bowlus, famed for his work on Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, collaborated with du Pont to produce these sleek, high-aspect-ratio gull-wing aircraft. Their combination of aerodynamic refinement, lightweight construction, and competition pedigree made them legends in the annals of sailplane history.

This photograph’s rarity lies in the fact that both iconic gliders — often photographed separately — are seen together on the Elmira launch line. For collectors, this is not just a picture, but a frozen moment in the golden age of American soaring.