A microlift glider is a recreational

glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

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, mobil ...

weaker than a conventional

would require to stay airborne.

Classification

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale 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 mass of an aircraft or flying animal divided by the area of its wing. The stalling speed of an aircraft in straight, level flight is partly determined by its wing loading. An aircraft or animal with a ...

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

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 aircraft, tailless sailplane whose rigid wings have a span of 40 feet. The Swift has been succeeded by the "Swift'Lite". Although designed in California, Swift aircraft are n ...

* Bailey-Moyes Tempest * EEL ULF 1 * Glidersport LightHawk *

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, Octobe ...

* Ruppert Archaeopteryx

References

{{Reflist Air sports Hang gliding *