1)What is a walkalong glider?
A walk along glider is a small, light weight, slow flying model aircraft which is kept aloft by the pilot using controllable slope soaring while walking along with it holding a paddle to create an updraft.
2)How exactly does it fly-
Controllable-slope soaring (aka Walkalong gliding) is a type of slope soaring where a slope is made to follow the glider, both sustaining and controlling the glider's trajectory by modifying the wind in the vicinity of the airplane.
This allows the glider to achieve sustained flight without the need for an onboard aircraft engine or onboard flight control system.
3) Basic concept behind it-
It also deploys the concept of ridge lift, which is created when a wind strikes an obstacle, usually a mountain ridge or cliff, that is large and steep enough to deflect the wind upward.
Some other applications of ridge lift-
If the wind is strong enough, the ridge lift provides enough upward force for gliders,hang gliders, paragliders and birds to stay airborne for long periods or travel great distances by 'slope soaring'. Although unpowered aircraft are usually descending through the air, they will climb if the surrounding air is rising faster than their sink rates.This technique is also referred to as "slope gliding" or "sloping".
2.Big Mouth Tumblewing
3.Tumblewing
4.Foam Walkalong glider