[[File:Fotothek df ld 0003142 001 Sport ^ Flugsport ^ Segelflug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.14|DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter primary glider]]
'''Primary gliders''' are a category of aircraft that enjoyed worldwide popularity during the 1920s and 1930s as people strove for simple and inexpensive ways to learn to fly.<ref name="Schweizer">Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring in the United States'', pages 14-22. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-87474-828-3}}</ref>
Constructed of wood, metal cables and cloth, primary gliders were very light and easy to fly. They generally had no cockpit and no instruments.<ref name="Schweizer"/>
==Operations== Primary gliders were generally launched by bungee cord, whereby a rubber rope was arranged in a "V" with the glider at the apex. The ends of the rope were pulled by hand to launch the glider from a slope. Primaries were also launched by auto-tow and auto-bungee tow. Ramp launching from cliffs was also attempted successfully.<ref name="Schweizer"/>
==Modern primaries== Modern versions of primary gliders are still built, but, while they are much like the originals in appearance, they are usually constructed with composites and safety enhancements.
==Types== Examples include: {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Bonomi BS.16 Allievo Bonomi * Cessna CG-2 * Cloudcraft Dickson Primary * Detroit G1 Gull * DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter * Elliotts Primary EoN * Jongblood Primary * Manuel VI Primary * Payne I.C.1 * Reynard R.4 Primary * Sands Replica 1929 Primary Glider * Schweizer SGP 1-1 * Slingsby Grasshopper * Slingsby Primary<ref>[http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=75 Description of RFD/Slingsby T3 Dagling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135625/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=75 |date=2011-07-16 }}</ref> * Šoštarić Vrabac * Stamer Lippisch Zögling<ref>[http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/htmi/itf/slzgl.htm Description of the Zögling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605235323/http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/htmi/itf/slzgl.htm |date=2011-06-05 }}</ref> * Warsztaty Szybowcowe Wrona }}
==References== {{reflist}}
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