1939 Horse-Powered Glider Launch Photo – Rare Bowlus Sailplane in Flight, Central Flying School, Glendale CA

A truly extraordinary and rare aviation image, this original 1939 press photograph captures a Bowlus sailplane mid-launch—not behind a motorized towplane, but galloping behind two horses.

Taken at the Central Flying School in Glendale, California, the image shows a sailplane soaring at the top of the frame, while three horseback riders race across the open field below, creating a dramatic contrast of motion, aviation, and early ingenuity. The caption cheekily notes:

"Glider takes off with two horsepower!"

This rare moment documents an actual horse-powered glider launch, a highly unusual but real method used in the early days of soaring when powered tow systems weren’t available. The photograph is brilliantly composed, with perfect vertical tension between the ground action and the glider in flight—clearly intended for press or illustrated news use.

Original Caption (German):

„Segelflugzeug startet mit zwei Pferdekräften!“
"That even a horse can be used in the service of glider aviation is shown by this photo from the Central Flying School in Glendale, California. Two horses were simply hitched to the tow rope, then galloped off at full speed — and as you can see, the launch was a complete success."
Date: December 1, 1939
Markings: “1.12.39. Nyk.-Sche.” – “E 7871” (internal image reference)

Aircraft Identification:
The glider is almost certainly a Bowlus sailplane, likely the Bowlus Baby Albatross or Senior Albatross—designed by William Hawley Bowlus, a pioneer in American glider engineering and builder of the Spirit of St. Louis’s fuselage.

• Mid-mounted wings

• Curved leading edge

• Central skid landing gear

• Streamlined fuselage

Historical Significance:

• This image documents a rare glider launch method—using horses to tow a sailplane into the air, a method tested in the 1920s–30s when glider pilots had to rely on creativity and terrain.

• The Central Flying School in Glendale was one of the early U.S. soaring centers, promoting glider training and experimentation.

• This photo is an ideal press image: compositionally dynamic, sharply printed, and supported by full documentation and captioning.

• Authentic, dated images of horse-powered glider launches are virtually nonexistent in the collector’s market.

Key Features:

• Date: December 1, 1939

• Location: Central Flying School, Glendale, California

• Subject: Horse-powered glider launch with Bowlus sailplane

• Photographer/Agency Markings: "E 7871" reference code

• Original Caption: Typed in German, with full translation included

• Medium: Vintage original black-and-white press photo with reverse caption

• Condition: Strong contrast and clarity; complete caption with date and agency stamp