There is probably more variety in the different types of soaring taking place than there is any other segment of model aviation. I would say that there are four distinct areas. These are aerotow, hand launch, slope and thermal duration. Aerotow and hand launch could almost be considered as special kinds of thermal duration soaring, but I choose to think of them as classes of their own.

Though there are a number of mult-task sailplanes built and flow, most often a model would be classified as being designed for one of those four classes. So far I have flown slope and thermal duration models. My adventure into hand launch is just beginning. I have a discus launch glider but have not yet flown it. I am really looking forward to doing so.

Listed below are the sailplanes I have owned and flown at one point in time: