18 January 2011

DaVinci would be soooo jealous...

Is there a name for this type of craft?  The rigid structure makes it look different from the usual hang glider.

Addendum:  Several reades have identified this as a Aeriane Swift'Light hang glider.

Via BoingBoing and Roger Ebert (note the background photo).

8 comments:

  1. W_D_RichardsJanuary 18, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    It's a Millennium Rigid Wing hang glider with cockpit.

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  2. MinnesotastanJanuary 18, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Thank you! Info added to the post.

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Could also be an Aeriane Swift Lite.

    http://www.aeriane.com/

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  4. bigjohn756January 18, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    That looks a bit like a gooney bird takeoff.

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  5. MinnesotastanJanuary 18, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    It does, indeed. Probably based on the same aerodynamic principles.

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  6. W_D_RichardsJanuary 20, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    The anonymous poster is correct: it is an Aeriane Swift Lite. Identified by the marking on the winglet, there is a good picture on this page on the Ariene web page, which shows a good view. In a bad image, the two rigid-wing hang gliders can look pretty similar. Hence, my error.

    Many hands make light work; Many minds find correct answers!

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  7. W_D_RichardsJanuary 20, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Just a little more homework, the two aircraft are actually one in the same. The difference being, the Bright Star Millennium is a newer model and the Swift is licensed by Bright Star Gliders to Aeriane to be built in Europe.

    The glider featured in the video is the Aeriane version.

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  8. MinnesotastanJanuary 20, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    Thanks for the clarification. I've fixed the post.

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