Talk:Glider

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Gliding WikiProject

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[edit] Space Shuttle

The text says that the glide ratio of the space shuttle is 1:1, but I thought it was 4:1. Could someone more knowledgeable say anything about this? -- di92jn

NASA's web site gives 18-20 degrees. If my sums are right that is 3:1. Article amended JMcC 11:45, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Right name?

It seems to me that the subject matter is listed incorrectly under Gliding rather than Soaring. The opening sentences aptly make the distinction between Gliding and Soaring and then the rest of the article is about Soaring. WPElliott 16:18, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

The world governing body, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, calls it 'gliding' so I think that is the definitive name and no change seems likely. JMcC 12:47, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

Makes sense, thanks WPElliott 15:53, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Inventor of the air glider.

My son has been on this site doing homework about inventors. The problem that he seems to be coming across is well reflected right here. Under the category of inventors, it states that Otto Lilienthal is the inventor of the air glider. When you click on "air glider" by his name, you get a COMPLETELY different answer. Can someone help here? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.18.7.141 (talk) 11:22, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

I have never heard of an "air glider". The term "glider" is used to describe unpowered aircraft and so the word "air" is superfluous. The article on First flying machine gives a useful list of people who were crazy enough to launch themselves into the air without first understanding aerodynamics. I am not sure that they were inventors, perhaps merely madmen. There is a blurred line between just plummeting less quickly and genuinely controlled flight. The latter needs an understanding of the basics of aerodynamics. Perhaps the Turk, who is listed as one of Turkey's great achievers by another Turk, also achieved controlled flight, but the first person who is recorded as having applied scientific method to the problem of heavier-than-air flight was George Cayley. I think that gives him the right to be called the inventor and he has been called the "father of flight". Cayley's coachman certainly flew his glider and two replicas of his glider have been flown in the recent past to show the practicality of the design. Furthermore Otto Lillienthal knew of Cayley's work and based his designs on it. However he also made great advances and many flights, and so was one of the people who in turn inspired the Wright Brothers. As with many inventions, the answer is not quite so simple as you might think. Penicillin and steam engines are other examples. The French even dispute that the Wright Brothers were the first with powered flight. JMcC (talk) 12:10, 23 November 2007 (UTC)