Comparison of Gliders With Hang Gliders and Paragliders
There is sometimes confusion about gliders, hang gliders and paragliders. In particular paragliders and hang gliders are both foot-launched. The main differences between the types are:
| Paragliders | Hang gliders | Gliders/Sailplanes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercarriage | pilot's legs used for take-off and landing | pilot's legs used for take-off and landing | aircraft takes off and lands using a wheeled undercarriage or skids |
| Wing structure | entirely flexible, with shape maintained purely by the pressure of air flowing into and over the wing in flight and the tension of the lines | generally flexible but supported on a rigid frame which determines its shape (note that rigid-wing hang gliders also exist) | rigid wing surface which totally encases wing structure |
| Pilot position | sitting supine in a seated harness | usually lying prone in a cocoon-like harness suspended from the wing; seated and supine are also possible | sitting in a seat with a harness, surrounded by a crash-resistant structure |
| Speed range (stall speed – max speed) |
slower – typically 25 to 60km/h for recreational gliders (over 40km/h requires use of speed bar), hence easier to launch and fly in light winds; least wind penetration; pitch variation can be achieved with the controls | faster | maximum speed up to about 280 km/h (170 mph); stall speed typically 65 km/h (40mph); able to fly in windier turbulent conditions and can outrun bad weather; exceptional penetration into the wind |
| Maximum glide ratio | about 10, relatively poor glide performance makes long distance flights more difficult; current (as of November 2010) world record was just above 500 kilometres (310 mi) | open class sailplanes – typically around 60:1, but in more common 15–18 meter span aircraft, glide ratios are between 38:1 and 52:1; high glide performance enabling long distance flight, with 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) being current (as of November 2010) record | |
| Turn radius | tighter turn radius, allowing circling in the rapidly rising center of thermals | somewhat larger turn radius, not allowing such a high rate of climb in thermals | even greater turn radius but still able to circle tightly in thermals |
| Landing | smaller space needed to land, offering more landing options from cross-country flights; also easier to carry to the nearest road | longer approach and landing area required, but can reach more landing areas due to superior glide range | specialized trailer needed to retrieve by road |
| Learning | simplest and quickest to learn | teaching is done in a two-seat glider with dual controls | |
| Convenience | packs smaller (easier to transport and store) | more awkward to transport and store; longer to rig and de-rig; often transported on the roof of a car | trailers are typically 10 m (30 ft) long; rigging & de-rigging takes about 20 minutes |
| Cost | cost of new is €1500 and up, cheapest but shortest lasting (around 500 hours flying time, depending on treatment), active second-hand market | cost of new glider very high but it's long lasting (up to several decades), so active second-hand market; typical cost is from €2,000 to €145,000 |
Read more about this topic: Glider (sailplane)
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