> "3:1 for horizontal vs vertical is quite dangerous" I would suggest that the danger isn't the glide-ratio, but the proximity to the ground. Could better mat

> "3:1 for horizontal vs vertical is quite dangerous" I would suggest that the danger isn't the glide-ratio, but the proximity to the ground. Could better materials improve safety? If there were improvements in the predictability and consistency of flight characteristics, that might have a more positive effect, but I can't see improvements in the glide-ratio having an impact on safety.