Sailplanes, or gliders, are high-performance aircraft that do not have engines aboard, but instead “sail” or “soar” on air currents like hawks and eagles. Glider pilots maneuver their aircraft by utilizing upward currents (lift) and downward currents (sink).

The wings and fuselage are typically made of lightweight wood with a covering of carbon fiber fabric, Kevlar, and several layers of gelcoat and must be built to withstand forces up to 14.5 tons. It takes three workers about a week to produce one sailplane, which weighs anywhere between 500 and 2,000 pounds, and which must go through a rigorous testing process before it’s air-worthy.