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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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• Crop Landing

Aspect Ratio

Aspect Ratio is calculated as the square of the wingspan of a glider divided by the surface area of the wing.

For example, the Aeros Target has a wingspan of 9.60m and a surface area of 16.2 m². The aspect ratio is calculated as:

Or in imperial units:

In general gliders with a high aspect ratio have long narrow wings whereas gliders with a lower aspect ratio have shorter wider wings.

So why is Aspect Ratio important?

Well simply put it can give an indication of the performance of the wing. Long narrow wings are more efficient and therefore a hang glider with a high aspect ratio would normally have a better glide performance. Gliders with lower aspect ratios may have better low speed performance and are easier to control in roll.