Soaring And Gliding

Now in its third, updated edition, Understanding Gliding has become one of gliding's classic works. Piggott demonstrates that the basic priciples are not in fact complex, and he answers many of the common questions which are asked by new pilots.

To fly as the hawk and eagle has been mankind's dream for centuries. Modern sailplanes make soaring and gliding flight possible, and with them, humans can fly higher, faster, and farther than the greatest of birds, using only an invisible force of nature to stay aloft. The terms soaring and gliding are used interchangeably, and the sport is appealing to pilot and spectator alike. Sailplane enthusiasts have always been explorers, always looking for a more ideal site that will provide the intellectual challenges of soaring as well as the sheer beauty and relaxation the sport can offer. Michigan-based glider pilots and designers found their soaring paradise in the early 1930s when they ventured north to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. The explorers began to promote the sport to national and international prominence, and many came to make up a veritable who's who of American aeronautics. Over a century after Octave Chanute discovered motorless flight on the Lake Michigan dunes, sailplanes, hang gliders, and paragliders still fill the skies.

For both certified glider pilots and students attempting certification in the glider category, this is an unparalleled...

A guide to soaring and hang gliding including getting started, flying the aircraft, and the aerodynamic principles involved in each sport.

Covers all sources of energy for soaring but it also deals with weather analysis, flight preparation, mental aspects, safety matters, technical issues and competitive flying. It is a first class training aid to guide pilots from local soaring to advanced cross-country flying and beyond.