The Bede Wing was an inflated hang glider, designed in the 1970s by aeronautical engineer Jim Bede. Intended as a safer alternative to conventional hang gliders,[1] it resembled an early ram-air parachute, but instead was an inflatable structure, that could be filled with air for gliding, or with helium to act as a gas balloon.
The aspect ratio of the Bede Wing was low, in the area of 1.8. Fitted with unusually long suspension lines, the Bede Wing had almost no dihedral.[2] It was also reported to have a lower sink rate than conventional hang gliders of the time.[3]
Although Bede intended to start full production of the Bede Wing,[3] the project came to nothing. However, it foreshadowed the introduction of ram-air inflated paragliders in the mid-1980s.
