Gliding

Gliding is the air sport of unpowered fixed-wing flight, in slender high-aspect-ratio sailplanes towed aloft by aircraft or winch. Pilots use rising air — thermals, ridge lift and mountain wave — to stay airborne for hours and cover hundreds of kilometres. FAI competition classes range from Standard (15 m span) up to Open. Long-distance flights of 3,000 km have been recorded.