Gliding

Gliding (or soaring) is a recreational activity and competitive sport where individuals fly un-powered aeroplanes known as gliders or sailplanes. Properly, the term gliding refers to descending flight of a heavier-than-air craft when gravity (its own weight) is its sole motive force; soaring is the correct term to use when the craft gains altitude or speed from movements of the atmosphere during the flight.

History

All developments in heavier-than-air flight between 1853 (Sir George Cayley's coachman), and 1903 (Wright brothers) involved gliders (See History of Aviation). However, the sport of gliding only emerged after the First World War and the reason for its development can be traced to the Treaty of Versailles. The peace settlement imposed severe restrictions on the manufacture and use of single-seater powered aeroplanes in Germany. Thus, in the 1920s and 1930s, while aviators and aircraft makers in the rest of the world were working to improve the performance of powered aeroplanes, the Germans were designing, developing and flying ever more efficient gliders and discovering ways of using the natural forces in the atmosphere to make them fly further and faster. The first German gliding competition was held at the Wasserkuppe in 1920, organised by Oskar Ursinus, and ten years later had become an international event. The sport has since been taken up in many countries. It does not matter whether the countries are flat or mountainous, hot or temperate, because gliders can soar in most places. Germany, however, remains the world centre of gliding, as evinced by the fact that all the major glider manufacturers are still based there.

Related Topics:
1853 - Sir George Cayley's coachman - 1903 - Wright brothers - History of Aviation - First World War - Treaty of Versailles - Germany - Wasserkuppe - 1920 - Oskar Ursinus

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