A microlift glider is a recreational glider that is able to exploit microlift, which is

lift Lift or LIFT may refer to: Physical devices * Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods ** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop ** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...

weaker than a conventional glider would require to stay airborne.

Classification

The

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale The World Air Sports Federation (; FAI) is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintains worl ...

Gliding Commission's Sporting Code defines the classes for

gliding competitions 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. History of competitions In the early days, the main goal wa ...

and records. One of the classes is the ultralight glider. These are defined as gliders with a take-off mass not exceeding 220 kg (486 lb). Examples of these are the Apis and Silent 2. Microlift gliders are a sub-type of the ultralight class, further defined by a

wing loading In aerodynamics, wing loading is the total weight of an aircraft or flying animal divided by the area of its wing. The stalling speed, takeoff speed and landing speed of an aircraft are partly determined by its wing loading. The faster an airc ...

that does not exceed 18 kg/m² (3.69 lb/ft²).These definitions were adopted for inclusion in the Sporting Code, Section 3,

Gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...

, effective on October 1, 2004. World records for the ultralight class have been recognized by the FAI but there are no

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

for these types at present. For world records microlift gliders are classed with the other ultralight gliders and/or hang gliders. The FAI has produced a loaded weight versus wing loading diagram defining the different domains for glider classes.

Characteristics

In addition to the traditional forms of lift used in the sport of

gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...

, microlift gliding also aims to exploit non-traditional sources of weak lift. In typical conditions, conventional

sailplane A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding (also called soaring). This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailplan ...

s may be unable to exploit weak vertical movements of air. However a microlift glider that is specifically designed to have a very low rate of sink and a very small circling radius, may be able to exploit these feeble air movements for sustained flight and may even allow the glider to climb.Gary Osoba, "Toward a 20 Hour Work-Week" ''Sailplane Builder'', July 1995.

Microlift gliders

Advanced Aeromarine Sierra The Advanced Aeromarine Sierra was an American high-wing, strut-braced, single-seat, glider that was designed and produced by Advanced Aeromarine, as a kit for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', ...

Aériane Swift The Aériane Swift is a lightweight (48 kg) foot-launched tailless sailplane whose rigid wings have a span of . The Swift has been succeeded by the "Swift'Lite". Although designed in California, Swift aircraft are now manufactured by Aéria ...

Bailey-Moyes Tempest The Bailey-Moyes Tempest, is an Australian-American high-wing, strut-braced, single-seat, microlift glider that was designed by Bob Bailey of Florida, United States and produced by Moyes Microlights of Waverley, New South Wales, Australia.Pur ...

EEL ULF 1 The EEL ULF 1 is a West German high-wing, single-seat, foot-launched, microlift glider that was designed by Dieter Reich. When it was available it was provided in the form of plans by Entwicklung und Erprobung von Leichtflugzeugen (EEL) () f ...

Glidersport LightHawk The Glidersport LightHawk is an American mid-wing, T-tailed, single-seat, microlift glider under development by Glidersport.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 135. WDLA UK, Lancaster ...

Maupin Carbon Dragon The Maupin Carbon Dragon is an American, high-wing, single-seat, glider that was designed by Jim Maupin and made available as plans for amateur construction. Plans are no longer available.Maupin, Jim: ''Carbon Dragon'', sales brochure, Octob ...

Ruppert Archaeopteryx The Ruppert Archaeopteryx () is a Switzerland, Swiss high-wing, pod-and-boom, single-seat, microlift glider that was designed by Roger Ruppert and is produced by Ruppert Composite GmbH.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leis ...

Neutrino A neutrino ( ; denoted by the Greek letter ) is an elementary particle that interacts via the weak interaction and gravity. The neutrino is so named because it is electrically neutral and because its rest mass is so small ('' -ino'') that i ...

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References

{{Reflist Hang gliding *