Controllable slope soaring
{{Short description|Type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow a walkalong glider}}
{{main|Walkalong glider}}
Controllable-slope soaring (also known as Walkalong gliding) is a type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow a walkalong glider (a lightweight toy aircraft), both sustaining and controlling the glider'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 air under the airplane: a piece of cardboard, the pilot's hands or even head. The controllable slope is usually manipulated by a person following the glider in flight (please see photo at right).
Controllable-slope soaring allows a glider to achieve sustained flight without the need for an onboard aircraft engine or onboard flight control system.
See also
External links
- [https://patents.google.com/patent/US2718092 Method of Flying Toy Airplane and Means Therefor] - a patent from the 1950s for a walkalong glider using controllable slope soaring.
- {{Scientific American Frontiers|11|9|Free Flight episode with Walkalong Glider}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI8u8fQmtIo Principles of flying walkalong gliders using controllable slope soaring] (Jersey Shores Middle School students)
- [http://sites.google.com/site/controllableslopesoaring/ Controllable slope soaring: suitable aircraft and videos] (Google sites)