Its translucent wing shimmering on the wall above Hall A7 at Friedrichshafen’s 2018 Aero Expo, A-I-R’s ATOS Wing commanded the attention of show goers. A-I-R (Aeronautic Innovation Rühle & Co GmbH) produces a line of ultralight hang gliders and electrically-powered craft based on a common wing design modified for different weight and performance requirements. Note the large wing at about 35 seconds into this perambulation around Hall A7, along with tantalizing glimpses of the other displays that we will cover in the near future. Although ethereal in appearance, ATOS wings can carry significant loads compared to their minimal weight. The 50 kilogram (110 pound) VRS 280, for instance, can carry an all-up weight of 330 kilograms (726 pounds), an impressive structural weight to gross weight ratio. Coupled with the Wing’s 28:1 claimed glide ratio and 0.55 meters per second (108.3 feet per minute) rate of sink, the Wing will allow long, lazy glides from altitude and even permit modest cross-country …
