[aus-soaring] Gold C, Silver C terminology

[Jason Armistead]

Just finished reading "Halfway to Heaven" by Fred Hoinville (thanks to Dad for such a wonderful birthday present)   On page 211 in the 1998 printing, in the chapter entitled "The Wanderer's Sky", Fred describes being on an overcrowded French train and an encounter with two French youths.  He writes "They saw my Gold C and "Australia" badges; they both wore Silver C's.  My hand was seized and I was claimed as a brother".   This book was written in the early 1950s, so it seems that the "Silver C" and "Gold C" terminology started way back when even the GFA was just a pup, and has been perpetuated ever since.  Perhaps it started somewhere overseas and has become part of the gliding venacular, even though the FAI specifically calls them Silver, Gold and Diamond badges.  Was their at some stage a Certificate awarded as well ? That might have explained an abreviation from Silver Certificate to Silver C ?  If the certificate became a badge later on, perhaps we can blame the OFITTH for perpetuating the "C" terminology ...   PS: I can recommend Halfway to Heaven as an excellent read for any glider pilot.   Cheers   Jason