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Flying walkalong gliders using only your hands presents additional challenges. Although bare hands are more maneuverable than a paddle, the hands do not have a large area and move correspondingly less air to sustain and control the glider. This is equivalent to flying an underpowered aircraft. Because hand flying reduces the climb rates, it is more affected by turbulence. There is less opportunity to watch where you are going as hand flying requires more attention. Reducing the weight of the glider will allow it to fly slower without stalling and reduce the possibility of the glider outrunning the pilot in a dive (how to reduce the speed of the Windrider). The glider must be trimmed to fly as slow as possible without stalling.
Scientific American Frontiers Flying Free Episode.
Reducing the speed of the Windrider Walkalong Glider
Copyright Phil Rossoni 2011