1980->

Delta Wing Skytrek         

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Dick Boone

The Skytrek is a modified standard Rogallo for both foot launching and towing. It features reversible wires for seated and prone flying, a cambered keel, reinforced leading edges to eliminate wing warp and battens on tow kites. Its shorter keel, improved sail design, wide nose angle, and adjustable camber.

The spars are made from 6063-T832 clear anodised aluminium tubing, 1.5in .049 and 1 5/8in x .049 for the leading edges and keel and 1 5/8in x .058 for the crossbar.

Rigging cable is 3/32in 7×7 stainless steel. Cable ends are nico swedged and have protective coatings. No turnbuckles are used. Upper rigging uses cable tensioners.

The cross bar has special breakdown feature. The control bars are knurled. It may be set up for towing with optional stainless steel bolts and nuts, special 4030 chrome molley steel with precision release and floats.

All nuts and bolts are aircraft quality. Specially designed cable tensioners, saddles, bushings, wingposts, noseplates, brackets, tangs, and nut covers are fitted. Eye bolts are used to eliminate shackles.

The sail is custom sewn from 3.8oz Howe and Bainbridge stabilised dacron. There was a choice of 11 colours. All seams are double zig-zag stitched.

A seat, supine harness or prone harness were optional.

Leading edge: 18 ft
Keel length: 16 ft
Wing span: 25 ft 6 in
Wing area: 200 sq,ft
Aspect ratio: 3.24
Nose angle: 90˚
Sail billow: 4.5˚
Weight: 44 lb
Pilot weight: 140-180 lb

Delta Wing Trike

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Delta Wing Kites turned to the produc¬tion of trikes intended for mounting under a standard hang glider wing without any mod¬ification to the latter in 1979. The first trikes sold by DWK were similar in every way to European models, using at first the Soarmaster trike unit with the single Chrysler 820 engine developing 10hp at 8000 rpm. In 1980 they offered an option of twin Chryslers or the German Solo 335 engine of 210 cc, which develops 20 hp at 7000 rpm. To accompany the trike unit, DWK offered initially its Phoenix D wing in various sizes, but this was replaced by the Phoenix X series; the trike unit can be used equally well under any other manufacturer’s Rogallo.
Because of the American legislation, the company only builds single seaters.
The company has also built trikes with Yahama KT 100S and Lloyd engines, but standardised on Robin power. Principal trike units offered in 1982 were with Robin EC25PS (22 hp, recoil start, $2250), EC34PM (32 hp, recoil start for $2395 or electric start for $2570), EC34PL (55.5 hp, recoil start $2795), and EC44PM (50hp, electric start, $2670).
Single seat single engined flex wing aircraft with weight shift control. Cage containing landing gear/engine unit is suspended from CG position by strong universal-type joint for easy conversion from hang glider to powered glider. Rogallo wing with keel pocket. Pilot suspended below wing in trike unit, using bar to control pitch and yaw/roll by altering relative positions of trike unit and wing. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; cross tube construction with double ¬surface enclosing cross tube. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation. Bungee-cord suspension and push right go left nosewheel steering independent from yaw control. Aluminium tube trike unit, without pod. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller. 6061T6 alumi¬nium tubing, anodized. Stainless steel vinyl¬-coated rigging.

Trike / Phoenix X
Engine: Robin EC25PS, 22 hp.
Reduc¬tion ratio 2.5/1.
Power per unit area 0.13hp/sq.ft, 1.4hp/sq.m.
Fuel capacity 1.2 US gal, 1.0 Imp gal, 4.5 litre.
Wing span 32.5 ft, 9.91 m.
Total wing area 173 sq.ft,16.1sq.m.
Wing aspect ratio 6.0/1.
Main wheels diameter overall 16 inch, 40 cm.
Empty weight 182 lb, 83 kg.
Max take off weight 432 lb, 196kg.
Payload 250 lb, 113kg.
Max wing loading 2.50 lb/sq.ft, 12.2 kg/sq.m.
Max power loading 19.6 lb/hp, 8.9 kg/hp.

Trike / Dream
Wingspan 31 ‘4”.
Wing area 170 sq.ft.
Empty weight 182 lbs.
Wing loading 1.43 lbs./sq.ft.
Fuel capacity 1.2 USG.

Delta Wing Dream / Air Sports International Dream

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Dream 205

The Dream was a 1985 hang glider. Delta king kites and Gliders was bought by Teddy Mack in 1991 and renamed Air Sports International.

Air Sports manufactured the Dream line of gliders as hang gliders and trike wings in San Diego California from 1991 to 1997.

Dick Boone designed the 220 Dream specifically for tandem. It was the first HMGA certified for same. A very popular single surface trainer. The 220 was the de facto standard tandem glider for many years, a superb single surface glider. Very maneuverable, easy to launch, land and set up. They do have the tendency to drop the nose after landing flare.

A batch of Dreams 220 had an instability problem at low A.O.A. as some were made with less angle on the washout tubes. If the bar is pulled in a lot to speed, at first you feel great pressure but then, all of a sudden, the pressure vanishes and the bar wants to continue by itself. Only a short and healthy push restores the bars preassure. The heavier the pilot the faster you get to this occurrence. It seems that at low A.O.A luff lines and washout make the combined reflex effect and the change in the washout tubes produced this tendency to tuck at low A.O.A.

Delta Wing Dream 145

Delta Wing Dream 165

Delta Wing Dream 185
Sail area: 185 sq ft
Span: 34.4 ft
Nose Angle: 120 degrees
Weight of glider: 55 lbs
Pilot proficiency: Beginner / H-1
Pilot weight range: 140-210 lbs
Stall speed at max load: 28 mph
Max speed at min load: 38 mph
Number of battens, each side: 8 (grand total 17 includes nose batten)

Delta Wing Dream 205
Sail Area: 205 sq. ft.
Glider Weight: 55 lbs.
Pilot Hook-in Weight: 150 – 225 lbs.
Skill Level: Novice
SS/DS: Single Surface
KP/TL: Kingpost
VG: No
Leading Edge Color: Black
Undersurface Color: Orange
Main Body Color: Gold

Delta Wing Dream 220

Delta Wing Dream 240

Delta Wing Kites and Gliders / Air Sports International

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Delta Wing Kites is a specialist in the sale of hang gliders, but then turned to the production of trikes intended for mounting under a standard hang glider wing without any modification to the latter in 1979.
1983: P.O. Box 483, Van Nuys, CA 91408, USA.

Delta king kites and Gliders was bought by Teddy Mack in 1991 and renamed Air Sports International.

The company manufactured The Dream line of gliders as hang gliders and trike wings in San Diego California from 1991 to 1997

Delta Technology DS-26 Nomad

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A high-wing monoplane with conventional tail surfaces. The ailerons and elevators are operated by a control stick, while the rudder is operated by pedals. Aluminum tubing is used throughout. The wings are built from premolded leading edge forms and preformed sheet metal structural parts. Wing and tail covering is 1.8-ounce Dacron. Complete kits require final assembly. POWERPLANT: Unitrek 140-10 mounted in pusher position aft and below the main wing. A 1:1.98 reduction unit turns a two-blade wooden Ritz propeller. Fuel is carried in a high density polyethylene tank directly behind the pilot seat on GG. LANDING GEAR: Monowheel main gear with tail skid wheel. The main wheel measures 10 inches, and the rudder-connected tail wheel is 4 inches in diameter. The DS-26 allowed 28-50 hp Rotax engines. Doped double surface wing-covering, conventional three axis airplane controls, full 3600 roll cage, all metal aircraft type structure, 20 minute set-up.
Units delivered to June 1981: 189. Price 1982: $3,860.

Delta Technology DS-26 Nomad Article

In 1984 Delta Technology had completed all design modifications on all three of the company’s Nomad and Honcho ultralights.

”The Nomad 11, Honcho 11 and Super Honcho are now ready to go, and with the completion of our new production facility, we are prepared to deliver in two to four weeks,” a company spokesman said. ”Our intent is to offer a special introduction price on.a limited number of aircraft in order to stimulate interest and awareness in the newly completed models,” he added.

Delta also reduced the price on all three models by $1,000. The Honcho 11 was $3,980, the Nomad 11 $4,380 and the Super Honcho $4,980.

The Honcho 11 features all-metal construction, traditional, strutted wing design, energy-absorbing 360 degree roll-cage fuselage, conventional three-axis controls, strong wing structure with differential ailerons, hydraulically dampened independent suspension and a 10-year lifespan on double-surface wing coverings.

This offer was good until July 31, 1984; however, a limited quantity of aircraft were available. A production number and delivery date was to be issued upon receipt of payment in full or a 50 percent deposit.

DS-26A
Wingspan, 36 ft. 1 in.
Wing area, 147.34 sq.ft.
Aspect ratio, 8.84:1.
Overall length, 22 ft.
Empty weight, 152 lbs.
Usable payload (include fuel), 210 lbs.
Wing loading, 2.46 lbs/sq.ft.
L/D power-off glide ratio, 14.5:1.
Cruise speed (85% power), 35 mph
Stall speed, 24 mph.
Approach speed, 31 mph.
Flair speed, 24 mph.
Liftoff speed, 30 mph.
Takeoff roll distance, 225 ft.
Rate of climb, 185 fpm.
Fuel capacity, 2.5 USG.
Range at cruise, 106 sm.
Engine displace¬ment, 8.2 cu.in.
Rated HP, 10 hp. S
tatic thrust, 85 lbs.

DS-26B
Engine: Solo 335, 20 hp.
Wing span: 11m.
Lenght: 5.62m.
Empty wt: 72kg.
MAUW: 185kg.
Range: 150km.

Delta Sud Vision

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A 1984 hang glider for Intermediate pilots.

Vision 137
Wing area: 13.75 m²
Wing span: 9 m
Aspect ratio: 5.89
Hang glider weight: 26 kg

Vision 159
Wing area: 15.9 m²
Wing span: 9.4 m
Aspect ratio: 5.55
Hang glider weight: 28 kg

Vision 176
Wing area: 17.6 m²
Wing span: 9.6 m
Aspect ratio: 5.23
Hang glider weight: 31 kg