Walkalong glider
Encyclopedia
Orographic lift
Orographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and create clouds and, under the right conditions,...
(or "hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
") is following the plane as it flies in the air and thus no other wind is required. References include patents US Patent 2718092 and US Patent 5100357. Other walkalong glider designs have been named air surfer, windrider walkalong glider
Windrider walkalong glider
The Windrider walkalong glider is a commercially available toy airplane designed to be flown by controllable slope soaring. The design was first invented, manufactured and sold by Tyler MacCReady, son of Paul MacCready. The same design appeared as the Air Surfer from WowWee for a brief period...
, tumblewing
Tumblewing
A tumblewing is a paper airplane which rotates about a horizonal axis. Its mode of flight is more akin to confetti than traditional fixed wing aircraft; However, several model aircraft have been built with tumbling wings for lift...
and follow foil. Walkalong gliding has also been referred to as controllable slope soaring
Controllable slope soaring
Controllable-slope soaring is a type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow the airplane in gliding flight, both sustaining and controlling the airplane's trajectory by modifying the wind in the vicinity of the airplane. A controllable slope is any object which can be used to affect the...
but should not be confused with dynamic soaring
Dynamic soaring
Dynamic soaring is a flying technique used to gain energy by repeatedly crossing the boundary between air masses of significantly different velocity...
or ground effect in aircraft.
See also
- GlidingGlidingGliding 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.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
- Orographic liftOrographic liftOrographic lift occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. As the air mass gains altitude it quickly cools down adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100% and create clouds and, under the right conditions,...
- Slope soaring
- controllable slope soaringControllable slope soaringControllable-slope soaring is a type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow the airplane in gliding flight, both sustaining and controlling the airplane's trajectory by modifying the wind in the vicinity of the airplane. A controllable slope is any object which can be used to affect the...
- Human-powered aircraftHuman-powered aircraftA human-powered aircraft is an aircraft powered by direct human energy and the force of gravity; the thrust provided by the human may be the only source; however, a hang glider that is partially powered by pilot power is a human-powered aircraft where the flight path can be enhanced more than if...