How Sailplanes Work !Sailplanes are able to fly without engines by making use of rising air-currents. By finding and circling in this rising air they can climb thousands of feet in altitude. Sailplanes fly cross-country by climbing in rising air, then gliding towards their goal, very slowly losing height, finding another area of lift and climbing again - and so on.
What Sailplanes are capable of ! In the right hands, and in the right conditions, sailplanes can perform extra-ordinary feats. Consider some of these world record flights: Distance to a declared goal, two-seater glider: 1,383km. Distance over a triangular course, two-seater glider: 1,379.35km. Free distance with up to 3 turn points: 1,433.93km. Speed over a triangular course of 100km: 195.3km/h.
Feminine record for speed over a triangular course of 500km: 133.14km/h. Speed over a triangular course of 750km: 158.41km/h. Speed over a triangular course of 1,250km: 133.24km/h. Gain of height: 12,894m. In November 1994, a New Zealand pilot flew his sailplane, in a 14 hour flight, a total of 2,100km, within the South Island of NZ. This distance record is now awaiting homologation.
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