The Collaborative International Dictionary
Gliding angle
Gliding angle \Gliding angle\ (A["e]ronautics) The angle, esp. the least angle, at which a gliding machine or a["e]roplane will glide to earth by virtue of gravity without applied power.
Usage examples of "gliding angle".
Without thrust the suborbitals had the gliding angle of a lead brick.
This changed the characteristics of the plane wings, giving the remarkable craft a less steep gliding angle and a much slower landing speed.