Designer's Notes
"Originally, I wanted to design a glider with which I could join the Red-tailed Hawks in flight above my parents'
home in the Santa Barbara foothills. The design needed to be easily flung to soaring altitude above the oak-
studded hillside, and had to be able to negotiate the often light and inconsistent canyon updrafts. Over the
years, the Alula design has evolved into a glider that can be taken and flown just about anywhere, without much
hassle. The Alula's simplicity and low parts count inspires a sense of freedom, while it's organic form triggers the
same sentiment one often experiences while admiring a soaring bird in flight.
The Alula-TREK's wing mimics the gently forward-swept configuration used by the Red-tailed Hawk, and many
other soaring birds for that matter. This crucial design element is conducive to low speed circling flight which
helps the pilot navigate small, confined sources of lift by eliminating tip stalls and maximizing control surface
authority at very low airspeeds. This nature-inspired wing design also has the added benefit of lending itself to
the wingtip launch method, contributing to a straighter launch when coupled with the large vertical tail.
Overall, the sleek compact shape, low weight, forward-swept wing, and optimized airfoils and tail, all make for
a glider which launches easily to altitude and responds quickly to lift, allowing the pilot to "get on step" quickly
within a thermal. The minimalist flying wing configuration also makes for hassle-free flying since it is robust and
easy to repair on the spot."
-Michael Richter, January 2015.
Michael Richter with an early hand-cut Alula prototype
in 2004. The Alula's low weight, easy launching, and
tight maneuverability allowed Michael to achieve his
dream of joining the Red-tailed Hawks in the light
updrafts above his parent's canyon-side home in Santa
Barbara, California.
3D CAD rendering shows the evolution of the Alula design that continues
in 2015 with the new Alula-TREK. This further refined design features the
easiest assembly and setup to date.
