A creative bunch of tinkerers think the recent trend of self-launching gliders needs a bit of a boost. ... Desert Aerospace has modified the two-seat TST-14J sailplane to accept the tiny jet engine.

Winchester, UK – Series production of the Antares 20E electric self-launching sailplane , which is powered by a Saft custom-designed high energy rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery system, has ...

So instead of outfitting their high performance sailplane with an electric or small piston motor, they’ve attached a jet engine that folds neatly into the fuselage. Traditional sailplanes have ...