Lesson 6: Gliders

A mathematical relationship between the distance an aircraft will glide forward to the altitude loss. (If an aircraft has a glide ratio of 20 to 1, and it is one mile above the earth, it should glide 20 miles before landing.)

The height or distance above a reference plane

The most common planes of reference used in aviation are:

heights above sea level and ground level

above average sea level, or mean sea level (MSL),

and above ground level (AGL).

Usually a single-engined airplane that will pull a glider from the ground

to an altitude where it can be released.

The average rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude.

(The average lapse rate is 3.5°F  per 1,000 ft. increase in altitude.)

Fluid motion between regions of unequal heating.

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The art of staying aloft by exploiting the energy of the atmosphere.

A strong up-and-down waving action that starts as air moves across mountain ranges.

(Sailplane pilots can use the motion of this wave to gain altitude.)

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The atmosphere's resistance to vertical motion.

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Mass in a given volume (example: 12 eggs in a basket.)

A column of air that moves upward.

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