A motor glider is an aircraft which sustains flight principally through soaring flight but also has a small engine for takeoff and emergencies. For a list of unpowered gliders see Glider types. For an exhaustive list of all Glider types see List of gliders.
| Type | Country | Date | Class | Seats | Span | A/R | L/D | Climb | VMax | Empty | Maximum | Built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lange Antares | Germany | 2003 | R | 1 | 23.0 m (75.5 ft) | 38.3 | 60:1 | 4 m/s (7.8 kn) | 280 km/h (150 kn; 170 mph) | 510 kg (1,120 lb) | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | 50+ |
| Schleicher ASW 22 BE | Germany | 1986 | R | 1 | 26.6 m (87.3 ft) | 42.3 | 62:1 | 275 km/h (148 kn; 171 mph) | 510 kg (1,120 lb) | 750 kg (1,650 lb) | ||
| Binder EB28 | Germany | 1986 | R | 2 | 28.0 m (91.9 ft) | 46.7 | 65:1 | 2.5 m/s (4.9 kn) | 275 km/h (148 kn; 171 mph) | 570 kg (1,260 lb) | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | |
| Binder EB29 | Germany | 2009 | RE | 2 | 29.3 m (96.1 ft) | 51 | 68:1 | 2.5 m/s (4.9 kn) | 280 km/h (150 kn; 170 mph) | 570 kg (1,260 lb) | 850 kg (1,870 lb) | |
| Scheibe Falke | Germany | 1963 | F (Rotax) | 2 | 18.2 m (59.7 ft) | 13.8 | 24:1 | 4.0 m/s (7.8 kn) | 190 km/h (100 kn; 120 mph) | 435 kg (959 lb) | 650 kg (1,430 lb) | 1200+ |
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An aircraft is a vehicle or machine that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines. Common examples of aircraft include airplanes, helicopters, airships, gliders, paramotors, and hot air balloons.
Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered with synthetic sailcloth to form a wing. Typically the pilot is in a harness suspended from the airframe, and controls the aircraft by shifting body weight in opposition to a control frame.
A fixed-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air flying machine, such as an airplane, which is capable of flight using wings that generate lift caused by the aircraft's forward airspeed and the shape of the wings. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft, and ornithopters. The wings of a fixed-wing aircraft are not necessarily rigid; kites, hang gliders, variable-sweep wing aircraft and airplanes that use wing morphing are all examples of fixed-wing aircraft.
In aviation, a variometer – also known as a rate of climb and descent indicator (RCDI), rate-of-climb indicator, vertical speed indicator (VSI), or vertical velocity indicator (VVI) – is one of the flight instruments in an aircraft used to inform the pilot of the rate of descent or climb. It can be calibrated in metres per second, feet per minute or knots, depending on country and type of aircraft. It is typically connected to the aircraft's external static pressure source.
A private pilot licence (PPL) or, in the United States, a private pilot certificate is a type of pilot licence that allows the holder to act as pilot in command of an aircraft privately. The licence requirements are determined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), but implementation varies widely from country to country. According to the ICAO, it is obtained by successfully completing a course with at least 40 hours of flight time, passing seven written exams, completing a solo cross-country flight, and successfully demonstrating flying skills to an examiner during a flight test. In the United States, pilots can be trained under Part 141 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which allows them to apply for their certificate after as few as 35 hours. However, most pilots require 60–70 hours of flight time to complete their training. The minimum age for a student pilot certificate is 14 for balloons and gliders, and 16 for powered flight. The minimum age for a private pilot certificate is 16 for balloons and gliders, and 17 for powered flight. Pilots can begin training at any age and can solo balloons and gliders from age 14, and powered aircraft from age 16.
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: a fixed-wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion (MoP), capable of sustained soaring flight without thrust from the means of propulsion. In the US, a powered glider may be certificated for up to two occupants, up to 850 kg maximum weight, and with a maximum ratio of weight to wing span squared of 3 kg/m2. Similar requirements exist in European JAA/EASA regulations, at a maximum weight of 750 kg.
A paper plane is a toy aircraft, usually a glider made out of single folded sheet of paper or paperboard. A simple nose-heavy paper plane, thrown like a dart, is also known as a paper dart.
Some of the pilots in the sport of gliding take part in gliding competitions. These are usually racing competitions, but there are also aerobatic contests and on-line league tables.
Gliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust; the term volplaning also refers to this mode of flight in animals. It is employed by gliding animals and by aircraft such as gliders. This mode of flight involves flying a significant distance horizontally compared to its descent and therefore can be distinguished from a mostly straight downward descent like with a round parachute.
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. Most gliders do not have an engine, although motor-gliders have small engines for extending their flight when necessary by sustaining the altitude with some being powerful enough to take off by self-launch.
The Chase XCG-20, also known as the XG-20 and by the company designation MS-8 Avitruc, was a large assault glider developed immediately after World War II by the Chase Aircraft Company for the United States Air Force, and was the largest glider ever built in the United States. The XG-20 did not see production due to a change in USAF requirements, however, it was modified into the successful Fairchild C-123 Provider twin-engined transport aircraft which saw extensive service in the Vietnam War.
The Douglas XCG-17 was an American assault glider, developed by the conversion of a C-47 Skytrain twin-engine transport during World War II. Although the XCG-17 was successfully tested, the requirement for such a large glider had passed, and no further examples of the type were built; one additional C-47, however, was converted in the field to glider configuration briefly during 1946 for evaluation, but was quickly reconverted to powered configuration.
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.
Controllable-slope soaring is a type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow a walkalong glider, both sustaining and controlling the glider's trajectory by modifying the wind in the vicinity of the airplane.
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding. This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailplanes are aerodynamically streamlined and so can fly a significant distance forward for a small decrease in altitude.
During World War II civilian flying schools, under government contract, provided a considerable part of the flying training effort undertaken by the United States Army Air Forces.
Flight Laboratory, IIT Kanpur is an airstrip/aerodrome located inside IIT Kanpur's campus at Kalyanpur 18 kilometres west of city of Kanpur, India. It is used by the Aerospace Engineering department of IIT Kanpur. Pawan Hans began a helicopter ferry service to Lucknow from June 2013, which later shut down silently.
The following lists relate to Aviation:
Aviation call signs are communication call signs assigned as unique identifiers to aircraft.
This list includes any types which had 10 or more aircraft built or types which are important to glider development. All the gliders in this list can be found in the J2MCL web site with individual pages for each type. This list does not include Motor glider types. (N.B. Some specifications are quoted with the wrong units!!)
