1940 Press Photo – Glider Champion John Robinson with “Zanonia” Sailplane

This original July 26, 1940 press photograph captures celebrated glider pilot John Robinson of San Diego, California, standing beside his sleek sailplane Zanonia. The image was taken shortly after Robinson’s record-setting flight during the eleventh annual national soaring contest, where he flew 290 miles from Elmira, New York, to Mineral, Virginia, in 7 hours and 55 minutes—an extraordinary feat for the era.

Robinson, a dominant figure in American soaring during the 1930s and 1940s, is shown in casual work clothes, adjusting the glider’s canopy. The Zanonia—named after the tropical seed known for its aerodynamic shape—was a highly advanced competition glider for its time, designed for maximum efficiency and long-distance performance. This photo also marks Robinson’s stop in Denver, Colorado, to test flying in mile-high altitude conditions before continuing home.

Stamped and captioned on the reverse, this press photo is a remarkable artifact of competitive soaring’s golden age and would appeal to collectors of aviation history, competitive gliding memorabilia, and mid-20th-century press photography.

✈ Historical Context:
John Robinson was a three-time U.S. National Soaring Champion (1940, 1941, 1946) and a pioneer in long-distance gliding flights. His achievements helped popularize sailplane competitions in America and inspired advances in glider design during the pre-war years.

📏 Dimensions: Approx. 8" x 10"
🗓 Date: July 26, 1940
📍 Origin: United States (Denver stopover after Elmira contest)
🔍 Condition: Good vintage condition; some light creasing and editorial crop marks consistent with press archive use.