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Gliding notes

A plane can fly without an engine. The distance you can fly per unit altitude

is called a glide ratio.

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Modern gliders have a glide ratio of over 50:1, where a wingsuit is 3:1.

While key, it's also important to consider glide ratio at different speeds.

Glider designs maximize aerodynamics and lift, but don't produce much lift.

They have long wingspans with low surface area and maneuver poorly.

Agile flight is powered by shorter wingspans and more lift. However, as

speed increases the glide ratio will be decreased by profile drag.

Wing area and airfoil design impact the amount of lift compared to aerodynamics.

Comparing airfoil lift

Wing tips are an area where vortices are created at speed, as air flows from the

high pressure area on the bottom to the low pressure area at the top.

This creates an overall reduction in lift. Winglets can be added, or the end

of the wing can be tapered.