Gliders Unlimited is a website all about airplanes!
This website focuses on many different types of gliders (Also called sailplanes) and how they are used all around the world.
First, there are paper airplanes. These are great for learning how airframes & airfoils fly. You can change how the plane flies by bending the paper control surfaces up, down, left or right.
Interesting fact: the current world record for paper airplane flight length is about 70 meters.
Second, there are gliders that are made of wood, cardboard or foam. They are cheap, easy to fly, and fun. They usually fly faster then paper airplanes and are available at local hobby stores and online.
The third group is called remote controlled gliders. These planes can be flown through thermals of air, which can keep a glider airborne indefinitely.
The fourth group is called manned gliders and this is the first form of flight in the world.
During early development many, many glider pilots fell to their death. More modern gliders can remain in thermals and stay in the air forever...or until the pilot falls asleep.
NASA strapped motors to gliders and the result were airplanes that can stay in the air for hours or days. Solar-powered robotic-gliders can remain in the air all day charging their batteries while gaining altitude. At night these gliders run on batteries and slowly lose altitude. Using this cycle can result in an airplane that can stay in the air forever.
And let's not forget the most famous glider: The Space Shuttle!!!
This website focuses on many different types of gliders (Also called sailplanes) and how they are used all around the world.
First, there are paper airplanes. These are great for learning how airframes & airfoils fly. You can change how the plane flies by bending the paper control surfaces up, down, left or right.
Interesting fact: the current world record for paper airplane flight length is about 70 meters.
Second, there are gliders that are made of wood, cardboard or foam. They are cheap, easy to fly, and fun. They usually fly faster then paper airplanes and are available at local hobby stores and online.
The third group is called remote controlled gliders. These planes can be flown through thermals of air, which can keep a glider airborne indefinitely.
The fourth group is called manned gliders and this is the first form of flight in the world.
During early development many, many glider pilots fell to their death. More modern gliders can remain in thermals and stay in the air forever...or until the pilot falls asleep.
NASA strapped motors to gliders and the result were airplanes that can stay in the air for hours or days. Solar-powered robotic-gliders can remain in the air all day charging their batteries while gaining altitude. At night these gliders run on batteries and slowly lose altitude. Using this cycle can result in an airplane that can stay in the air forever.
And let's not forget the most famous glider: The Space Shuttle!!!