In this comment a brief explanation is made of the differences between Max Glide Ratio and Min Sink Ratio:
Sink rate is how much altitude you lose over time, for example, how many feet per second. So minimum sink is the lowest sink rate you can get. Glide ratio is how much distance you can travel per given loss of altitude, for example, how many feet per feet. So max glide ratio is the shallowest angle you can glide at.
However, I don't understand how the lowest sink rate you can get
isn't the same as the shallowest angle you can glide at
. If I can design wing A to sink at only 1 foot per minute, wouldn't that automatically get me a longer glide ratio from altitude X than wing B that sinks at 2 feet per minute?
If I can design one wing
-- it should be noted that ALL AIRCRAFT have both minimum sink rate and max glide ratio. It's a matter of trim (mainly elevator trim because both are related to the wing's angle of attack). Glider pilots must know the correct trim for min-sink and max glide ratio. He'll use one to optimize flying in thermals and the other to fly great distances to discover new thermals. $\endgroup$