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Glider (aircraft)

A glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the


dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose
free flight does not depend on an engine.[1] Most gliders do not
have an engine, although motor-gliders have small engines for
extending their flight when necessary by sustaining the altitude
(normally a sailplane is on a continuously descending slope) with
some being powerful enough to take off self-launch .

There is a wide variety of types differing in the construction of


their wings, aerodynamic efficiency, location of the pilot,
controls and intended purpose. Most exploit meteorological
phenomena to maintain or gain height. Gliders are principally
used for the air sports of gliding, hang gliding and paragliding. Single-seat high performance fiberglass Glaser-
Dirks DG-808 glider over the Lac de Serre Ponçon
However some spacecraft have been designed to descend as
in the French Alps
gliders and in the past military gliders have been used in warfare.
Some simple and familiar types of glider are toys such as the
paper plane and balsa wood glider.

Contents
Etymology
History
19th century
Development
Development of flexible-wing hang gliders
Development of paragliders
Recreational types
Sailplane
Hang gliders
Paragliders
Comparison of gliders, hang gliders and paragliders
Military gliders
Research aircraft
Rocket gliders
Rotary wing
Unmanned gliders
Paper airplane
Model gliders
Glide bombs
See also
References
Etymology
Glider is the agent noun form of the verb to glide. It derives from Middle English gliden, which in turn derived from Old English
glīdan. The oldest meaning of glide may have denoted a precipitous running or jumping, as opposed to a smooth motion. Scholars
are uncertain as to its original derivation, with possible connections to "slide", and "light" having been advanced.[2]

History
Early pre-modern accounts of flight are in most cases difficult to verify and it is unclear whether each craft was a glider, kite or
parachute and to what degree they were truly controllable. Often the event is only recorded a long time after it allegedly took
place. A 17th-century account reports an attempt at flight by the 9th-century poet Abbas Ibn Firnas near Cordoba, Spain which
ended in heavy back injuries.[3] The monk Eilmer of Malmesbury is reported by William of Malmesbury (c. 1080–1143), a fellow
monk and historian, to have flown off the roof of his Abbey in Malmesbury, England, sometime between 1000 and 1010 AD,
gliding about 200 metres (220 yd) before crashing and breaking his legs.[4] According to these reports, both used a set of
(feathery) wings, and both blamed their crash on the lack of a tail.[5] Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi is alleged to have flown a glider
with eagle-like wings over the Bosphorus strait from the Galata Tower to Üsküdar district in Istanbul around 1630–1632.[6][7][8]

19th century
The first heavier-than-air (i.e. non-balloon) man-carrying aircraft that were
based on published scientific principles were Sir George Cayley's series of
gliders which achieved brief wing-borne hops from around 1849. Thereafter
gliders were built by pioneers such as Jean Marie Le Bris, John J. Montgomery,
Otto Lilienthal, Percy Pilcher, Octave Chanute and Augustus Moore Herring to
develop aviation. Lilienthal was the first to make repeated successful flights
(eventually totaling over 2,000) and was the first to use rising air to prolong his
flight. Using a Montgomery tandem-wing glider, Daniel Maloney was the first
to demonstrate high-altitude controlled flight using a balloon-launched glider Otto Lilienthal in flight
launched from 4,000 feet in 1905.[9]

The Wright Brothers developed a series of three manned gliders after preliminary tests with a kite as they worked towards
achieving powered flight. They returned to glider testing in 1911 by removing the motor from one of their later designs.

Development
In the inter-war years, recreational gliding flourished in Germany under the auspices of Rhön-Rossitten. In the United States, the
Schweizer brothers of Elmira, New York, manufactured sport sailplanes to meet the new demand. Sailplanes continued to evolve
in the 1930s, and sport gliding has become the main application of gliders. As their performance improved, gliders began to be
used to fly cross-country and now regularly fly hundreds or even over a thousand of kilometers in a day,[10] if the weather is
suitable.

Military gliders were developed during World War II by a number of countries for landing troops. A glider – the Colditz Cock –
was even built secretly by POWs as a potential escape method at Oflag IV-C near the end of the war in 1944.

Development of flexible-wing hang gliders


Foot-launched aircraft had been flown by Lilienthal and at the meetings at
Wasserkuppe in the 1920s. However the innovation that led to modern hang
gliders was in 1951 when Francis Rogallo and Gertrude Rogallo applied for a
patent for a fully flexible wing with a stiffening structure. The American space
agency NASA began testing in various flexible and semi-rigid configurations of
this Rogallo wing in 1957 in order to use it as a recovery system for the Gemini
space capsules. Charles Richards and Paul Bikle developed the concept
Smallest glider in the world - BrO-18
producing a wing that was simple to build which was capable of slow flight and
"Boružė" (Ladybird), constructed in
as gentle landing. Between 1960 and 1962 Barry Hill Palmer used this concept Lithuania in 1975
to make foot-launched hang gliders, followed in 1963 by Mike Burns who built a
kite-hang glider called Skiplane. In 1963, John W. Dickenson began commercial
production.[11]

Development of paragliders
January 10, 1963 American Domina Jalbert filed a patent US Patent 3131894 (http://www.google.com/patents?id=h81TAAAAEB
AJ) on the Parafoil which had sectioned cells in an aerofoil shape; an open leading edge and a closed trailing edge, inflated by
passage through the air – the ram-air design.[12] The 'Sail Wing' was developed further for recovery of NASA space capsules by
David Barish. Testing was done by using ridge lift.[13] After tests on Hunter Mountain, New York in September 1965, he went on
to promote "slope soaring" as a summer activity for ski resorts (apparently without great success).[14] NASA originated the term
"paraglider" in the early 1960s, and ‘paragliding’ was first used in the early 1970s to describe foot-launching of gliding
parachutes. Although their use is mainly recreational, unmanned paragliders have also been built for military applications e.g.
Atair Insect.

Recreational types
The main application today of glider aircraft is sport and
recreation.

Sailplane
Gliders were developed from the 1920s for recreational
purposes. As pilots began to understand how to use rising
air, gliders were developed with a high lift-to-drag ratio.
These allowed longer glides to the next source of 'lift', and
so increase their chances of flying long distances. This gave Play media
rise to the popular sport known as gliding although the term (video) A glider sails over Gunma, Japan.
can also be used to refer to merely descending flight. Such
gliders designed for soaring are sometimes called sailplanes.

Gliders were mainly built of wood and metal but the majority now have composite materials using glass, carbon fibre and aramid
fibers. To minimise drag, these types have a fuselage and long narrow wings, i.e. a high aspect ratio.In the beginning, there were
huge differences in the appearance of early-sailplanes. As technology and materials developed, the aspiration for the perfect
balance between lift/drag, climbing ratio and gliding speed, made engineers from various producers create similar designs across
the world. Both single-seat and two-seat gliders are available.
Initially training was done by short 'hops' in primary gliders which are very basic aircraft with no cockpit and minimal
instruments.[15] Since shortly after World War II training has always been done in two-seat dual control gliders, but high
performance two-seaters are also used to share the workload and the enjoyment of long flights. Originally skids were used for
landing, but the majority now land on wheels, often retractable. Some gliders, known as motor gliders, are designed for
unpowered flight, but can deploy piston, rotary, jet or electric engines.[16] Gliders are classified by the FAI for competitions into
glider competition classes mainly on the basis of span and flaps.

A class of ultralight sailplanes, including some known as microlift gliders and


some as 'airchairs', has been defined by the FAI based on a maximum weight.
They are light enough to be transported easily, and can be flown without
licensing in some countries. Ultralight gliders have performance similar to hang
gliders, but offer some additional crash safety as the pilot can be strapped in an
upright seat within a deformable structure. Landing is usually on one or two
wheels which distinguishes these craft from hang gliders. Several commercial
ultralight gliders have come and gone, but most current development is done by
Ultralight "airchair" Sandlin Goat 1
individual designers and home builders. glider

Hang gliders
Unlike a sailplane, a hang glider is capable of being carried, foot launched and
landed solely by the use of the pilot's legs.[17]

In the original and still most common designs, Class 1, the pilot is
suspended from the center of the flexible wing and controls the
aircraft by shifting his/her weight.
Class 2 (designated by the FAI as Sub-Class O-2) have a rigid
primary structure with movable aerodynamic surfaces, such as
spoilers, as the primary method of control. The pilot is often enclosed
by means of a fairing. These offer the best performance and are the
Modern 'flexible wing' hang glider.
most expensive.
Class 4 hang gliders are unable to demonstrate consistent ability to
safely take-off and/or land in nil-wind conditions, but otherwise are
capable of being launched and landed by the use of the pilot's legs.
Class 5 hang gliders have a rigid primary structure with movable aerodynamic surfaces as the primary method of
control and can safely take-off and land in nil-wind conditions. No pilot fairings are permitted.
In a hang glider the shape of the wing is determined by a structure, and it is this that distinguishes them from the other main type
of foot-launched aircraft, paragliders, technically Class 3. Some hang gliders have engines, and are known as powered hang
gliders. Due to their commonality of parts, construction and design, they are usually considered by aviation authorities to be hang
gliders, even though they may use the engine for the entire flight. Some flexible wing powered aircraft, Ultralight trikes, have a
wheeled undercarriage, and so are not hang gliders.

Paragliders
A paraglider is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing. Unlike a hang
glider whose wings have frames, the form of a paraglider wing is formed by the pressure of air entering vents or cells in the front
of the wing. This is known as a ram-air wing (similar to the smaller parachute design). The paraglider's light and simple design
allows them to be packed and carried in large backpack, and make them one of simplest and economical modes of flight.
Competition level wings can achieve glide ratios up to 1:10 and fly around speeds of 45 km/h (28 mph).
Like sailplanes and hang gliders, paragliders use rising air (thermals or ridge lift)
to gain height. This process is the basis for most recreational flights and
competitions, though aerobatics and 'spot landing competitions' also occur.
Launching is often done by jogging down a slope, but winch launches behind a
towing vehicle are also used. A Paramotor is a paraglider wing powered by a
motor attached to the back of the pilot, and is also known as a powered
paragliders. A variation of this is the paraplane, which has a motor mounted on a
wheeled frame rather than the pilot's back.

A paraglider taking off in Brazil


Comparison of gliders, hang gliders and paragliders
There can be confusion between gliders, hang gliders, and paragliders. Paragliders and hang gliders are both foot-launched glider
aircraft and in both cases the pilot is suspended ("hangs") below the lift surface. "Hang glider" is the term for those where the
airframe contains rigid structures, whereas the primary structure of paragliders is supple, consisting mainly of woven material.
Paragliders Hang gliders Gliders/Sailplanes
Undercarriage pilot's legs used for take-off pilot's legs used aircraft takes off and lands using a
and landing for take-off and wheeled undercarriage or skids
landing
Wing entirely flexible, with shape generally rigid wing surface which totally encases
structure maintained purely by the flexible but wing structure
pressure of air flowing into and supported on a
over the wing in flight and the rigid frame
tension of the lines which
determines its
shape (note that
rigid-wing hang
gliders also
exist)
Pilot position sitting in a harness usually lying sitting in a seat with a harness,
prone in a surrounded by a crash-resistant structure
cocoon-like
harness
suspended from
the wing;
seated and
supine are also
possible
Speed range slower – typically 25 to 60km/h faster - stall maximum speed up to about 280 km/h
(stall speed – for recreational gliders (over speed about (170 mph);[19] stall speed typically 65
max speed) 50km/h requires use of speed 30km/h. Never km/h (40mph);[19] able to fly in windier
bar),[18] hence easier to launch exceed speed turbulent conditions and can outrun bad
and fly in light winds; least up to 90km/h weather; exceptional penetration into the
wind penetration; pitch wind
variation can be achieved with
the controls
Maximum about 10, relatively poor glide 10 (beginners open class sailplanes – typically around
glide ratio performance makes long hang glider), 15 60:1, but in more common 15–18 meter
distance flights more difficult; (competition span aircraft, glide ratios are between
current (as of May 2017) world flex wing hang 38:1 and 52:1;[21] high glide performance
record is 564 kilometres glider), 19 (rigid enabling long distance flight, with 3,000
(350 mi)[20] wing hang kilometres (1,900 mi) being current (as of
glider) November 2010) record[22]
Turn radius tighter turn radius somewhat even greater turn radius but still able to
larger turn circle tightly in thermals[23]
radius
Landing smaller space needed to land, longer approach when flying cross-country, glide
offering more landing options and landing performance can allow glider to reach
from cross-country flights; also area required, 'landable' areas, possibly even a landing
easier to carry to the nearest but can reach strip and an aerial retrieve may be
road more landing possible but if not, specialized trailer
areas due to needed to retrieve by road. Note some
superior glide sailplanes have engines that remove the
range need for an out-landing
Learning simplest and quickest to learn teaching is teaching is done in a two-seat glider with
done in single dual controls
and two-seat
hang gliders
Convenience packs smaller (easier to more awkward trailers are typically 10 m (30 ft) long; if it
transport and store) to transport and has not been stored in a hangar, rigging &
store; longer to de-rigging takes about 20 minutes
rig and de-rig;
often
transported on
the roof of a car
Cost cost of new is €1500 and €3000 cost of new glider very high but it is long
up,[24] cheapest but shortest (beginners hang lasting (up to several decades), so active
lasting (around 500 hours glider) up to second-hand market; typical cost is from
flying time, depending on €17000 (rigid €2,000 to €145,000[26]
treatment), active second-hand wing hang
market[25] glider), life time
is more than
one decade

Military gliders
Military gliders were used mainly during the Second World War for carrying
troops and heavy equipment (see Glider infantry) to a combat zone. These
aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military
transport planes, e.g. C-47 Dakota, or by bombers that had been relegated to
secondary activities, e.g. Short Stirling. Once released from the tow near the
target, they landed as close to the target as possible. Advantages over
paratroopers were that heavy equipment could be landed and that the troops were
quickly assembled rather than being dispersed over a drop zone. The gliders
were treated as disposable leading to construction from common and
Waco CG-4A of the USAF
inexpensive materials such as wood, though a few were retrieved and re-used.
By the time of the Korean War, transport aircraft had also become larger and
more efficient so that even light tanks could be dropped by parachute, causing gliders to fall out of favor.

Research aircraft
Even after the development of powered aircraft, gliders have been built for
research, where the lack of powerplant reduces complexity and construction
costs and speeds development, particularly where new and poorly understood
aerodynamic ideas are being tested that might require significant airframe
changes. Examples have included delta wings, flying wings, lifting bodies and
other unconventional lifting surfaces where existing theories were not
sufficiently developed to estimate full scale characteristics.

Unpowered flying wings built for aerodynamic research include the Horten
Horten Ho IV flying wing sailplane flying wings, the scaled glider version of the Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52 jet
prone seating glider powered flying wing.

Lifting bodies were also developed using unpowered prototypes. Although the
idea can be dated to Vincent Justus Burnelli in 1921, interest was nearly non-existent until it appeared to be a solution for
returning spacecraft. Traditional space capsules have little directional control while conventionally winged craft cannot handle the
stresses of re-entry, whereas a lifting body combines the benefits of both. The lifting bodies use the fuselage itself to generate lift
without employing the usual thin and flat wing so as to minimize the drag and structure of a wing for very high supersonic or
hypersonic flight as might be experienced during the re-entry of a spacecraft. Examples of type are the Northrop HL-10 and
Martin-Marietta X-24.
The NASA Paresev Rogallo flexible wing glider was built to investigate alternative methods of recovering spacecraft. Although
this application was abandoned, publicity inspired hobbyists to adapt the flexible wing airfoil for modern hang gliders.

Rocket gliders
Rocket-powered aircraft consume their fuel quickly and so most must land
unpowered unless there is another power source. The first rocket plane was the
Lippisch Ente, and later examples include the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket-
powered interceptor.[27] The American series of research aircraft starting with
the Bell X-1 in 1946 up to the North American X-15 spent more time flying
unpowered than under power. In the 1960s research was also done on unpowered
lifting bodies and on the X-20 Dyna-Soar project, but although the X20 was
cancelled, this research eventually led to the Space Shuttle.

NASA's Space Shuttle first flew on April 12, 1981. The Shuttle re-entered at Me 163B on display at the National
Mach 25 at the end of each spaceflight, landing entirely as a glider. The Space Museum of the USAF
Shuttle and its Soviet equivalent, the Buran shuttle, were by far the fastest ever
aircraft. Recent examples of rocket glider include the privately funded
SpaceshipOne which is intended for sub-orbital flight and the XCOR EZ-Rocket which is being used to test engines.

Rotary wing
Most unpowered rotary-wing aircraft are kites rather than gliders, i.e. they are usually towed behind a car or boat rather than
being capable of free flight. These are known as rotor kites. However rotary-winged gliders, 'gyrogliders', were investigated that
could descend like an autogyro, using the lift from rotors to reduce the vertical speed. These were evaluated as a method of
dropping people or equipment from other aircraft.

Unmanned gliders

Paper airplane
A paper plane, paper aeroplane (UK), paper airplane (US), paper glider, paper dart or dart is a toy aircraft (usually a glider) made
out of paper or paperboard; the practice of constructing paper planes is sometimes referred to as aerogami (Japanese:
kamihikōki), after origami, the Japanese art of paper folding.[28]

Model gliders
Model glider aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary gliders, often scaled-down versions of full size
planes, using lightweight materials such as polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass. Designs range from simple glider
aircraft, to accurate scale models, some of which can be very large.

Larger outdoor models are usually radio-controlled gliders that are piloted remotely from the ground with a transmitter. These can
remain airborne for extended periods by using the lift produced by slopes and thermals. These can be winched into wind by a line
attached to a hook under the fuselage with a ring, so that the line will drop when the model is overhead. Other methods of
launching include towing aloft using a model powered aircraft, catapult-launching using an elastic bungee cord and hand-
launching. When hand-launching the newer "discus" style of wing-tip hand-launching has largely supplanted the earlier "javelin"
type of launch.
Glide bombs
A glide bomb is a bomb with aerodynamic surfaces to allow a gliding flightpath rather than a ballistic one. This allows the
bomber aircraft to stand off from the target and launch the bomb from a safe distance. Most types have a remote control system
which enables the aircraft to direct the bomb accurately to the target. Glide bombs were developed in Germany from as early as
1915. In World War II they were most successful as anti-shipping weapons. Some air forces today are equipped with gliding
devices that can remotely attack airbases with a cluster bomb warhead.

See also
Flight
Gliding flight
Unpowered aircraft
Underwater glider
Boomerang

References
1. FAA Glider handbook (http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/glider_handbook/media/faa-h-8083-13.pdf)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20090206073836/http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/glider_handb
ook/media/faa-h-8083-13.pdf) 2009-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
2. Liberman, Anatoly. "An Addendum to “Ten Scandinavian and North English Etymologies”" (http://userpage.fu-berli
n.de/~alvismal/7etym.pdf), from alvíssmál 7. 1997. 101–4.
3. Lynn Townsend White, Jr. (Spring, 1961) "Eilmer of Malmesbury, an Eleventh Century Aviator: A Case Study of
Technological Innovation, Its Context and Tradition", Technology and Culture 2 (2), pp. 97–111 [100–101].
4. White, L., Jr., Eilmer of Malmesbury, an Eleventh Century Aviator. Medieval Religion and Technology. Los
Angeles: University of California Press, 1978, Chapter 4.
5. Lynn Townsend White, Jr. (Spring, 1961). "Eilmer of Malmesbury, an Eleventh Century Aviator: A Case Study of
Technological Innovation, Its Context and Tradition", Technology and Culture 2 (2), pp. 97–111 [98 & 101].
6. Who is Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi? (http://www.cmistanbulbogazici.com/who-is-hezarfen-ahmet-celebi/) Archived (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20160121173615/http://www.cmistanbulbogazici.com/who-is-hezarfen-ahmet-celebi/)
2016-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
7. Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi "The First Man to Fly" (http://www.privatetour.net/hezarfen-ahmet-celebi-the-first-man-to-
fly) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160121173616/http://www.privatetour.net/hezarfen-ahmet-celebi-the
-first-man-to-fly) 2016-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
8. Çelebi, Evliya (2003). Seyahatname. Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat Yayıncılık, p. 318.
9. Harwood, Craig S. and Fogel, Gary B. Quest for Flight: John J. Montgomery and the Dawn of Aviation in the
West, University of Oklahoma Press 2012.
10. "FAI list of people with 1000km diplomas" (https://www.fai.org/page/igc-1000km-badges). Retrieved 24 May
2019.
11. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Hang Gliding Diploma (2006) for the invention of the modern hang
glider: FAI Award: The FAI Hang Gliding Diploma (http://www.fai.org/awards/award.asp?id=21) Archived (https://
web.archive.org/web/20110518115844/http://www.fai.org/awards/award.asp?id=21) 2011-05-18 at the Wayback
Machine
12. "History of Paragliding" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090913071154/http://www.circlinghawk.com/history.html).
Archived from the original (http://www.circlinghawk.com/history.html) on 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
13. Pilot Profile: David Barish, the Probable Inventor of the Paraglider (http://www.ushpa.aero/article.asp?id=29)
14. David Barish, The Forgotten Father of Paragliding (http://www.flyaboveall.com/articles/davidbarish.htm) Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20101029042939/http://www.flyaboveall.com/articles/davidbarish.htm) 2010-10-29
at the Wayback Machine
15. Schweizer, Paul A: Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States, pages 14–22. Smithsonian
Institution Press, 1988. ISBN 0-87474-828-3
16. "Definition of gliders used for sporting purposes in FAI Sporting Code" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140106224
126/http://www.fai.org/component/phocadownload/category/?download=5849:section-3-2012). Archived from the
original (http://www.fai.org/component/phocadownload/category/?download=5849:section-3-2012) on 2014-01-
06. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
17. "FAI Sporting Code Section 7" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090319104911/http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/sys
tem/files/sc07a_2008.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/system/files/sc07a_2
008.pdf) (PDF) on 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
18. Technical data for Advance Omega 8 (http://www.advance.ch/Technical-details.793.0.html?&L=1) Accessed 22-
10-2011
19. Flight Manual of Scheicher ASW27b. Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 2003.
20. FAI Paragliding record (http://records.fai.org/file?i=2&f=15231) Accessed 2010-11-30.
21. Handicap list 2008 (http://www.daec.de/se/downfiles/2008/DMSt-WO2008.pdf) of the Deutscher Aero Club
Accessed 2008-08-07
22. FAI records (http://records.fai.org/data?v1=275) Accessed 30 November 2010.
23. Stewart, Ken (1994). The Glider Pilot's Manual. Airlife Publishing Ltd. p. 257. ISBN 185310504X.
24. A major manufacturer's price list (http://www.ozone-france.fr/brochures.html) Accessed 2011-10-21
25. Typical set of classified ads for paragliders (http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewforum.php?f=2)
26. Typical set of classified ads for gliders (http://www.segelflug.de/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi)
27. The Me 163 was powered by an unstable fuel mix and landing with fuel left caused several accidents
28. "Aerogami - Event Description" (https://www.pragyan.org/16/home/events/chill_pill/aerogami/). Pragyan.
Retrieved 21 March 2019.

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