HangGliding
Aileron Hingedpanelattherearofawingthatcanbeadjusted totipupor downtocontrol maneuvers inflight.
Airfoil Wingorothersurfaceshapedtoobtain liftfromtheairthroughwhich itmoves.
Airframe Thestructural skeletonofahangglideroraircraft.
Airspeed Speedmeasured inmilesperhourofahanggliderrelativetotheair thatsurroundsit.
Altitude Heightabovemeansealeveloraboveground level,abbreviatedas
A.G.L.
AngleofAttack Theangleatwhichtheairmeetstheforward tipofawing.
Axis Lineofaplane.Maybelongitudinal (nose-to-tail);lateral(wingtip-to- wingtip);orvertical(bottom-to-top)oftheaircraft.
Bank Totiptooneside.
Biplane Aircraftwithtwowings.
CenterofGravity Centerpointoftheweightofahangglider.
Chord Lengthofawing,measured fromtiptoback,ortrailingedge.
Crab Tomovethrough theairsidewaystothewind.
ControlBar Thebottom endofametaltrianglesuspended beneath thewing ofahandglider.Thepilotholdsthisbottom endandusesittocontrol theflightoftheflighter.
Dive Todescendsteeplythrough theair.
Drag Resistancethrough theaircreatedbythehangglider.
Drift Tomovesidewaysthrough theair.
Elevator Hinged, horizontaltailsurfaceofahanggliderthatwillforcethe noseupordown.
Empennage Alltailpartsofahanggliderorairplane.
Fin Verticalsectionoftailassembly.
FootLaunch Takeoffaccomplishedbythepilotwithout mechanical aids.
Fuselage Bodyofahangglider.
GForce Thetotalforceonthesurfaceofahangglider,measured intermsof theforceofgravity.
Glide Tocoastalongthewind,inflight.
Glider Motorlessaircraft thatdependsongravityandwindsforflight.
GlideRatio Ratioofglidedistancetoheightlostbecauseofweight.
GroundEffect Acushionofairunderthewingwhenthegliderisinflight closetotheground.
GroundLoop Torollahanggliderend-over-endontheground.
GroundSpeed Thespeedofagliderratedinmilesperhour.
HangGlider Anunpoweredsingle-ordual-seatedvehiclewhosetakeoffand landingcapability isdependentonthepilotandwhoseflightcharacteristics aregenerated byaircurrents only.
LandingSpeed Therateinmilesperhourofthelanding.
LeadingEdge Thefrontedgeofawing.
Lift Theupward or“carrying” capability ofwingsurface. Mushy Inadequatehanggliderresponsetopilotcontrol.Logbook Recordofallflights.
Pancake Tofalltotheearthflatlyis“topancake in.”
Pitch Nose-up ornose-downflyingcharacteristics.
Porposing Aseriesofnose-upandnose-downmaneuvers, resemblingaswim- mingporpoise.
ProneHarness Harness usedtoenablethepilottolieflatinahangglider. RogalloWing TriangularorV-shapedwingdevelopedbyFrancisRogallo. Rudder Hingedpanelattached totherearedgeofthetailfin.Controlsyawin
flight.
Soar Toflywithout powerandwithout lossofaltitude.
Sink Tolosealtitude intheair.
SinkRate Therateofdescent.
Sock Windindicatorusedtoindicatedirection ofwindsontheground.
Span Lengthofwing,tip-to-tip.
Spin Downwardcorkscrewingaction.
Stability Abilityofanairworthy hangglidertoflyinacontrolledposition if thepilotletscontrols loose.
Stabilizer Fixedhorizontaltailpanel.
Stall Lossofairflowcausedbyanexcessiveangleofattack (excessivewingup orwingdown).
Strut Wingbrace.
Stick Control barusedtomoveaileronsandelevator.
SwingSeat Suspensionsystemthatallowsthepilottositupright topilota hangglider.
TactileFlight Flightcontrol throughtheuseofthesenses.Oppositeofinstru- mentcontrol inaircraft flight.
TrailingEdge Rearedgeofawing.
Trim Thebalanceofahanggliderinflight. Turbulence Unpredictableand“bumpy” aircurrents. Updrafts Aircurrents movingup.
U.S.H.G.A. UnitedStatesHangGlidingAssociation, officialrepresentativeof
thesportofhanggliding.
WindSheer Asuddenanddangerous“waterfallofwind” thatoften accompaniesthunder-stormsandthatcanknocksmallorlargeaircraft from thesky.
WingLoading Thetotalweightofthehanggliderandpilotdividedbythe totalwingfootage.
Yaw Toturnflatlyontheverticalaxis.