What is the difference between a glider and a sailplane?
For practical purposes the words glider and sailplane are used interchangeably. Europeans more often use the term sailplanes and Americans are more often using the term glider. To use the more technical difference between the two words, a sailplane usually is associated with better performance or the ability to soar. For example the Space Shuttle is a glider, it can glide to the ground without power, however it lacks the performance to ever maintain or gain altitude on its own accord and will never be referred to as a sailplane.
