Moyes XT

The Moyes XT is a high‑performance microlift hang‑glider produced by Australian builder Moyes Delta Gliders. Developed in the late 1990s, the XT emerged from the company’s earlier Delta‑8 and Delta‑9 designs, incorporating lessons learned from competition pilots seeking greater speed and glide efficiency while retaining the soft‑launch characteristics that made Moyes gliders popular with club pilots. The wing spans 10.2 m and employs a double‑surface sailcloth with a streamlined nose‑cone, carbon‑reinforced leading‑edge spars, and a low‑drag, variable‑geometry control bar. Its reflex airfoil provides a higher lift‑to‑drag ratio at moderate speeds, allowing pilots to cover long cross‑country routes with reduced sink rates. The XT’s lightweight structure, typically under 30 kg, enables foot‑launch from modest hills and simplifies ground handling. Since its introduction, the XT has won several national and regional championships, influencing the evolution of modern sport hang‑gliders toward cleaner aerodynamics and stronger materials. Its blend of performance, safety, and accessibility has cemented the Moyes XT as a benchmark model, contributing significantly to the growth of the ultralight aviation community worldwide. Today the XT continues to be produced in limited numbers, with owners appreciating its responsive handling and the heritage of the Moyes brand, which remains a leader in glider innovation.