The first Pulse was built from 1992 to 1995.

It’s an excellent begginner to intermediate glider. Very easy handling. Easy set-up and tear-down. This is a great no VG double surface glider.

Great for ridge soaring, beach soaring (the best!) and thermals well too. Not really for cross-country though! Very friendly handling in all aspects including aerotowing. The Pulse is a “No surprises” glider. It trims way too slow at factory set hang point, moving the hang point a little forward (with some grip tape on the keel) solves this easily.

The Pulse 2 was produce from 1996.

Made in 1996, the Pulse 2 is a light weight fun glider developed from USA Pacific Airwave’s Pulse. There were three sizes: 13, 15, and 18 m sq. The three gliders cover pilot weights from 100-250 lbs (45-113kg). In 1996 they were priced at £2555.00.

By the Pulse was back in production, with North Wing, Inc. under license. Manufactured to the same certified standards as originally made, the PULSE is HGMA Certified. Standard Features are Airfoil Kingpost, 4oz Sailcloth, 7075 Airframe & Ribs, Quick Set-Up, and 3 Stock Sails to choose from. Options were Streamline Safe-Edge Uprights, Comfort Bar, and Custom Sail Colours.

Pulse 9
Pilot Weight: 80-145 lb / 36-65 kg

Pulse 10
Pilot Weight: 130-185 lb / 60-85 kg

Pulse 11
Pilot Weight: 185-235 lb / 60-105

Pulse 2 13
Hang glider circa 1998.
Wing area: 13.56 sq.m
Certification: BHPA
Pilot weight: 52/75 kg
Wing span: 8.8 m
Nose Angle: 126 deg
Aspect ratio: 5.8
Price (1998) £ 2,175

Pulse 2 15
Hang glider circa 1998.
Wing area: 15.05 sq.m
Certification: BHPA
Pilot weight: 59/84 kg
Wing span: 9.4 m
Nose Angle: 126 deg
Aspect ratio: 6
Weight: 53 lbs / 24kg
Price (1998) £ 2,175

Pulse 2 18

Pulse 3 S
Wing area: 13.56 m²
Wing span: 8.8 m
Aspect ratio: 5.8
Hang glider weight: 20 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 45 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 74 kg
Packed length: 5.17 m
Packed length short: 3.66 m
Number of battens: 15

Pulse 3 M
Wing area: 15.8 m²
Wing span: 9.45 m
Aspect ratio: 5.9
Hang glider weight: 24 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 54 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 88 kg
Packed length: 5.43 m
Packed length short: 3.66 m
Number of battens: 15

Pulse 3 L
Wing area: 17.6 m²
Wing span: 10.21 m
Aspect ratio: 5.9
Hang glider weight: 26 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 68 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 113 kg
Packed length: 5.93 m
Packed length short: 3.9 m
Number of battens: 17

North Wings Pulse 9M
Double Surface: 57%
Area: 146 sq.ft
Span: 29.0 ft
Aspect Ratio: 5.8 : 1
Nose Angle: 126 deg
Max Stall: 25mph
VNE: 46mph
Number of top Sail Ribs: 14
Number of lower Sail Ribs: 4
Nose Rib: 1
Frame & Rib Material: 7075
Pilot Hook-In Weight: 90-190 lb
Glider Weight: 51 lb
USHPA Rating: 2 – 5

North Wings Pulse 10M
Double Surface: 58%
Area: 162 sq.ft
Span: 31.0 ft
Aspect Ratio: 5.9 : 1
Nose Angle: 126 deg
Max Stall: 25mph
VNE: 46mph
Number of top Sail Ribs: 14
Number of lower Sail Ribs: 4
Nose Rib: 1
Frame & Rib Material: 7075
Pilot Hook-In Weight: 120-215 lb
Glider Weight: 54 lb
USHPA Rating: 2 – 5

North Wings Pulse 11M
Double Surface: 59%
Area: 189 sq.ft
Span: 33.5 ft
Aspect Ratio: 6.0 : 1
Nose Angle: 126 deg
Max Stall: 25mph
VNE: 46mph
Number of top Sail Ribs: 16
Number of lower Sail Ribs: 4
Nose Rib: 1
Frame & Rib Material: 7075
Pilot Hook-In Weight: 160-260 lb
Glider Weight: 58 lb
USHPA Rating: 2 – 5

The 1994 Klassic was the culmination of years of development through the K series range of gliders. Produced in 4 sizes-12, 13, 14 and 15 m sq. Since they appeared on John Pendry’s Klassic 14 at the first league of 1994, Airwave perfected the design of winglet that were available on ’95 Klassics and as a retro-fit for ’94 models. Made from composite materials the winglets weighed under 200 g.

The Klassic Custom Comp glider is to full competition specification. It is fully tuned and includes winglets, stronger trailing edge and cut down battens.

Klassic 12
Wing area: 12.5 sq.m
Certification: DHV/BHPA
Pilot weight: 45-65 kg
Wing span: 9.2 m
Nose Angle: 127 deg
Aspect ratio: 6.75
Hang glider weight: 26 kg
Number of battens: 22
Packed length: 5.1 m
Packed length short: 3.6 m
Price (1998) £ 2,599

Klassic 13
Wing area: 13.5 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2-3/BHPA
Pilot weight: 55-75 kg
Wing span: 9.86 m
Nose Angle: 127 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.1
Hang glider weight: 29 kg
Packed length: 5.5 m
Packed length short: 3.8 m
Number of battens: 27
Price (1998) £ 2,599

Klassic 14
Wing area: 14.4 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2-3/BHPA
Pilot weight: 70-85 kg
Wing span: 10.25 m
Nose Angle: 127 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.3
Hang glider weight: 32 kg
Packed length: 5.7 m
Packed length short: 3.9 m
Number of battens: 27
Price (1998) £ 2,599

Klassic 14
Sail area: 155 sq ft
Span 33.8
Aspect ratio: 7.3
Nose angle: 132 deg
Weight: 32 kg
Packed length: 19 ft
Optimum pilot weight: 79-85 kg

Klassic 15
Wing area: 15.2 m²
Wing span: 10.36 m
Aspect ratio: 7.22
Hang glider weight: 33 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 80 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 100 kg
Packed length: 5.8 m
Packed length short: 3.9 m
Number of battens: 29
Nose angle: 127°

Fly 2
Hang glider circa 1998.
Wing area: 19.97 sq.m
Certification: BHPA / USHGA
Pilot weight: 91/190 kg
Wing span: 10.63 m
Nose Angle: 132 deg
Aspect ratio: 5.65
Price (1998) £ 2,495

Hang glider new in 1998, the Extreme was designed in the USA by Mark Gibson. The production of the Xtrem started 1.5 year before Airwave UK shut down. Only about 40 were produced mostly shipped to the US, Brazil, Japan and some in France.

The Xtreme has battens 27 (6 under), the airframe material is 7075-T6 / carbon fibre, and the price was £3999 inc VAT.

This glider lacks in sink rate at low speed except in tight turn. It has a tendency to yaw and has a wide flare window. Its newer version, called the Xbow, was certified 4 months before the factury shutdown.

Extreme 138
Wing area: 12.82 sq.m
Certification: BHPA / DHV
Pilot weight: 64-95 kg
Wing span: 9.77 m
Nose Angle: 130 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.43

Extreme 150
Wing area: 13.83 sq.m
Certification: BHPA / DHV
Pilot weight: 68/114 kg
Wing span: 10.26 m
Nose Angle: 132 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.53
Flying weight: 34 kg
Packed length: 5.85 m
Double surface: 92 %
Price (1998) £ 3,999

Mark Gibbson did much of the development of this and Tim Buckley owned the prototype Concept for many years after Mark had finished with it.

The 1997 Airwave Concept wing has no return cable but two ballestrons foam / carbon profiles embedded in the double surface of each half-wing. The concept has a mast. Released on the market at the same time as the Laminar without mast, it generally has the same performance in transition and very good handling. Neutral spiral, it presents no difficulty in landing. It has two carbon winglets at the end of the pen which slightly increase the elongation.

The Concept FR was available with a kingpost, or as a topless model. The kingpost model costing around £500 less. The FR utilises carbonfibre fin wingtips.

The 1997 Concept FR new kingpostless design was released in ’39’ and ’49’ sizes. Carbon-fibre spars take the place of the top rigging and cross-tubes, yet the weight is similar to that of the standard kingposted Concept. The new wing was claimed to be light in pitch and to have a wide trim speed adjustment and VB range.

The Concept FR Spare Rib system of the original Concept, said to confer handling, drag reduction and climb advantages was retained. This was Airwave’s first kingpostless glider.

The 1997 Concept 49 incorporated the ‘Spare Ribs’ technology as an alternative to the kingpostless route. The design dispenses with luff-lines and provides essential pitch stability through a system of ‘floating ribs’ attached to the outboard leading edge and restrained to give adequate washout at low angles of attack. Winglets, which on the Klassic were an optional extra, became on the Concept an integral part of the design. The Concept 49 airframe material is 6080-T6 and 7075-T6, priced inc VAT at £3700.

Concept 46
Wing area: 13 m²
Wing span: 10.29 m
Hang glider weight: 34 kg
Minimum speed: 31 km/h
Number of battens: 27

Concept 49
Sail area: 13.8 sq m
Span: 10.3 m
Nose angle: 131 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.6:1
Packed length: 5.8 m
Battens: 29 (inc 6 under)
Flying weight: 35 kg
Pilot weight: 58-91 kg

Concept 59
Wing area: 14.77 m²
Wing span: 10.54 m
Hang glider weight: 36 kg
Minimum speed: 31 km/h
Number of battens: 29
Pilot weight: 160 – 280 lb (72 – 127 Kg)
Stall speed max pilot weight: 7m/s (25 km/h)
Max speed min pilot weight: 28m/s (100 km/h)
Packed length: 5,7 m

Concept FR 39
Hang glider circa 1998.
Wing area: 12.64 sq.m
Certification: BHPA
Pilot weight: 47-79 kg
Wing span: 10 m
Nose Angle: 132 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.92
Price (1998) £ 3999

Concept FR 49
Hang glider circa 1998.
Wing area: 13.85 sq.m
Pilot weight: 58-91 kg
Wing span: 10.29 m
Nose Angle: 132 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.64
Price (1998) £ 3999

Concept FR 59
Hang glider circa 1998.
Wing area: 14.77 sq.m
Certification: BHPA
Pilot weight: 76-101 kg
Wing span: 10.54 m
Nose Angle: 132 deg
Aspect ratio: 7.52
Price (1998) £ 3999

The Airwave Calypso hang glider.first appeared in 1987 as a totally new intermediate double surface glider which was been designed for pilots who want an excellent sink rate plus handling attributes like easy roll, slow landings and a forgiving nature.. Sink rate goes up fast with speed, so it’s easy to burn off height in the landing field. A bit lazy to turn, but stable for it. A great 1st glider even for heavy pilots, very forgiving, easy to fly and land.

Short pack by simply pulling the plastic ball off and forwards quite hard off the end of the wing spar. Then slide out the 2m length of spar. Reassemble by locating the dive strut in its hole and then the peg/ notch for the spar.

The 1991 Calypso 2 was for intermediate pilots. A good glider, quite forgiving in bumpy air and for landings.

Calypso
Wing area: 15.8 sq.m
Certification: BHPA / USHGA
Pilot weight: 55-105 kg
Wing span: 9.3 m
Nose Angle: 122 deg
Aspect ratio: 5.5
Price (1998) £ 2343

Calypso 2
Wing area: 15.8 m²
Wing span: 9.3 m
Aspect ratio: 5.5
Hang glider weight: 25 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 57 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 95 kg
Minimum speed: 25 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 8
Max glide ratio speed: 29 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 1 m/s
Packed length: 5.4 m
Packed length short: 3.7 m
Number of battens: 18
Nose angle: 122°