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Gliding
Gliding (also known as soaring) is a recreational activity and competitive sport in which pilots fly un-powered
aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes. Properly, the term gliding refers to descending flight of a heavier-than-air
craft, whereas soaring is the correct term to use when the craft gains altitude or speed from rising air.
The development of heavier-than-air flight in the half-century between Sir George Cayley's coachman in 1853 and the
Wright brothers mainly involved gliders. However, the sport of gliding only emerged after the First World War as a
result of the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed severe restrictions on the manufacture and use of single-seat
powered aircraft in Germany.
Gliders or Sailplanes are heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight.
Powered aircraft and winches are the two most common means of launching gliders. These and other methods
(apart from self-launching motor-gliders) require assistance from other participants. Gliding clubs have thus been
established to share airfields and equipment, train new pilots and maintain high safety standards.
After launching, glider pilots search for rising air to gain height. If conditions are good enough, experienced
pilots can fly many hundreds of kilometres before returning to their home airfields and occasionally flights over
1,000 kilometres are made. However, if the weather deteriorates, they may need to land elsewhere, but some can
avoid this by using engines.
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