A walkalong glider is a lightweight, slow flying model aircraft designed to be kept aloft by controllable slope soaring in the lift generated by the pilot who walks along with the glider as it flies, usually holding a paddle. Hands or even the forehead can also be used to do this. This type of slope soaring differs from other types of slope soaring in that the orographic lift (or "hill") is following the plane as it flies in the air and thus no other wind is required.
Types of walkalong gliders have been patented[1]. Some walkalong glider designs have been named.
Some known models are
Walkalong gliding has also been referred to as controllable slope soaring but should not be confused with dynamic soaring.
Ground effect in aircraft is probably a factor in the extra lift that the walkalong glider has when in proximity to the paddle, but the effect is usually referring to the actual ground which is static and not to a dynamic moving surface like the paddle.
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