What Is Ridge Lift?

If the wind blows onto a mountain ridge it can’t go anywhere but follow upwards along the slope to the top.

Wind is deflected upwards along a mountain ridge.

 

Ridge lift was the first form of lift used by glider pilots.

Otto Lilienthal – the first person to rise in a glider – was flying in ridge lift. Photo Source: http://earth-chronicles.com/histori/otto-lilienthal-the-first-person-to-rise-in-the-air.html

 

Orville Wright flying a Wright Glider in ridge lift along the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina