sailplane
Motorless soaring craft
A sailplane is a glider designed for sustained flight using rising air currents rather than an engine.
Unlike basic gliders that descend steadily after release, sailplanes have aerodynamic refinements—long narrow wings, streamlined fuselages—that allow skilled pilots to stay aloft for hours and cover hundreds of miles: She set a distance record in her sailplane.
Pertaining to warmth
- updraftUpward air movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- cumulusDense, billowing cloud type
convection · sink · rotor · lenticular · instability · airmass · inversion · buoyancy
Instrument measuring elevation
- variometerVertical velocity instrument
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
Lacking a motor
peaceful · soundless · noiseless · whisper · stillness · tranquil · gentle · effortless
thermal
Pertaining to warmth
- updraftUpward air movement
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
cumulus · convection · sink · rotor · lenticular · instability · airmass · inversion · buoyancy
altimeter
Instrument measuring elevation
- variometerVertical velocity instrument
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
GPS · transponder · radio · accelerometer · inclinometer
engineless
Lacking a motor
serene · peaceful · soundless · noiseless · whisper · stillness · tranquil · gentle · effortless · graceful
glide
Move with effortless continuity
yaw · pitch · roll · stall · launch · tow · winch · bungee · landing · cross-country
wing
Limb enabling flight
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- cockpitPilot's control compartment
- canopyOverhead protective covering
tailplane · fin · rudder · ailerons · flaps · airbrake · spoilers · nosecone · monocoque · composite
regatta
Organized boat racing event
standard · open · two-seater · badge · diamond · gold · silver · contest · racing · gaggle
- aircraftairliner, airplanes, biplane, planes, fighter
- aircraft typesseaplane, Boeing 737, floatplane, fighter jets, crop duster
- unpowered vehiclesbicycle, tricycle, unicycle, wheelchair, kayak
- wind-poweredwind turbine, windmill, kite, wind farm, wind generator
- soaringeagle, hawk, glider, hang glider, condor
- air sportsskydiving, paragliding, hang gliding, wingsuit flying, parachuting
sailplanejet
Forced fluid stream
propeller plane · airliner · fighter jet · rocket plane · jet aircraft