A 1979 single surface hang glider for novice pilots built in three models: 179, 209, and 229. They had a very tall keel pocket, lightly loaded, low profile airfoil.
It had very light handling even near stall. You could slow this thing way down and have exceptional control when scratch soaring next to a mountain. An absolute joy to fly because you could always nail the best parts of a thermal and climb to the best of your ability. It was tail heavy on launch but landed easy.
It had excellent stall recovery, a big floater for most part, not great penetration, could get as high as any doubles, but hang it up when wind over 20. It was a good sturdy single surface, and gained reputation for tandem glider….used flat foam core fiberglass battens with couple aluminum tube tips battens, and one AL tube, neg washout stop, near tips.
Ramair 146 Wing area: 13.55 m² Wing span: 10 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Hang glider weight: 30 kg Minimum pilot weight: 50 kg Packed length: 5.8 m Packed length short: 3.9 m Number of battens: 20 Nose angle: 127°
Ramair 154 Wing area: 14.3 m² Wing span: 10.4 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Hang glider weight: 32 kg Minimum pilot weight: 65 kg Maximum pilot weight: 113 kg Packed length: 5.9 m Packed length short: 4 m Number of battens: 22 Nose angle: 127°
The 1984 Wills Wing HP has all the tubes shiny anodized and the bumpers have a respectable diameter, 50.8 cm or two inches. It uses for the mounting of the top of the trapezium a profile which prohibits the mounting on the ground of the apparatus, unless it is complicated gymnastics.Therefore you must climb on the trapezium, thread the top 20 slats, 8 lower and 4 intermediates The tension of the trailing edge is not ensured by an elastic but by pre-stretched nylon cords that ensure a better stability of the settings.
It is necessary to open the intrados, to mount a hoist and to set the transversal. Two cables coming from its joint are then fixed to the keel by bolt, butterfly and broken ring. The hoist is then dismantled and hidden in the intados. You attach the nose hood perfectly realized and finish by introducing in the intrados the cover that is fixed on the keel thanks to a strap studied for.
The take-off does not present any difficulty if care is taken during the first steps. A measurement of the roll rate of 45 ° to 45 ° shoulder against the trapezoid will give 5 seconds. It becomes very difficult to stay in the corner of the trapeze, especially since the sail is tense.
With the H.P. system, the small displacement of the keel acts as aerodynamic controls. The outer sail tightens as the inner sail relaxes causing a wing effect which can be seen by measuring in flight the heights of the sail above the sticks. This aerodynamic steering effect should be amplified by a less taut sail. Only the leading edge tension and pilot centering are adjustable. Each action in roll is associated with a movement of inverse yaw. This phenomenon combined with the low yaw stability common to all pendulum-controlled aircraft makes straight line flight difficult. The wing takes the inverse course of the roll correction. You get used to it but it is disconcerting.
The damping effect of the floating keel disappears and the vibrations caused by the heat bubbling of the thermal days are felt in the horizontal bar.
The bar is provided at its ends with two holes for adjusting the dihedron. At the inner or weak dihedron hole, H.P. is completely unstable spiral. At the outer hole, the stability becomes neutral beyond 30 ° of inclination. A surprise is the take-off speed: 33 and 35km / h on a buggy with 27 to 28km / h on the other wings.
The neutral booster is always present and grows linearly according to the displacement of the bar. The landing must be well prepared by raising the hands very high on the trapezium and pushing a little earlier than on other devices due to the higher speed.
The idea of removing the keel pocket is not new but Will Wings was the first one to return to this type. In maneuverability, it can not be said that there has been an improvement but the gain in finesse at intermediate speed is incontestable.
The HP 2 was also produced in 1984.
HP 2
The 1989 HP AT 158 for advanced pilots is regarded as an excellent flying glider. Launch is easy and effortless with a 10-12 knot wind. Pull VG on and it will stay banked in tight thermals with little effort while staying easy to control. It will fly fast when needed to get through turbulance and sink and slow when you want to maximize minimal lift. Landing is a bit difficult because of its small flare window that requires high authority.
HP AT
HP 170 1984 Wing area: 15.86 m² Hang glider weight: 31 kg Minimum pilot weight: 68 kg Maximum pilot weight: 113 kg
HP 2 170 1984 Wing area: 16.72 m² Hang glider weight: 35 kg Minimum pilot weight: 80 kg Maximum pilot weight: 130 kg
HP AT 145 1989 Wing area: 13.47 m² Wing span: 10 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Minimum pilot weight: 50 kg Maximum pilot weight: 107 kg Nose angle: 127°
HP AT 158 1989 Wing area: 14.68 m² Wing span: 10.35 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Hang glider weight: 31 kg Minimum pilot weight: 65 kg Maximum pilot weight: 115 kg Nose angle: 127°
The 1981 Wills Wing Harrier was for novice pilots. It was built in three models: 147, 177, and 187.
The Harrier was a great turning glider. Easy to launch and land with excellent energy retention for a single surface glider. It had great static balance, very light handling, a very good sink rate and was one of the best scracth soaring gliders of all time. It was difficult to land as flare timing was critical. The Harrier2 was supposed to land easier but was tough. The Harrier 177 was said to “climb on a beer fart. And turn? Power steering. But never, not once, landed well”.
The original 1981 Wills Wing Duck was built in four models: 130, 155, 180, and 200.
It has been described as launched well and had a good glide but trying to core a thermal always felt like dancing with a fat lady. It had heavy bar pressure and slow roll response. It landed like a brick. It was a pig. It does OK with a trike. The tips dig in during turns and is probably spirally unstable to some extent.
But others say a 155 was the lightest handling double surface glider I ever flew – scratching light inches from a cliff face was a pleasure. Unfortunately it also had the smallest flare window of any glider I ever flew, which led to some sound whacks and a shoulder that bothers me to this day. I would have flown it a lot longer if I wasn’t afraid to land it.
Duck 2
The 1984 Duck 2 was described as scary in turbulence and landing was not nice at all as it does not turn.
XC 132 Wing area: 12.2 m² Wing span: 9.37 m Aspect ratio: 7.2 Hang glider weight: 28 kg Minimum pilot weight: 45 kg Maximum pilot weight: 75 kg Maximum speed: 88 km/h Nose angle: 127°
XC 142 Wing area: 13.2 m² Wing span: 9.9 m Aspect ratio: 7.4 Hang glider weight: 30 kg Minimum pilot weight: 60 kg Maximum pilot weight: 90 kg Minimum speed: 35 km/h Maximum speed: 88 km/h Number of battens: 28 Nose angle: 127°
XC 155 Wing area: 14.3 m² Wing span: 10.36 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Hang glider weight: 32 kg Minimum pilot weight: 70 kg Maximum pilot weight: 110 kg Maximum speed: 88 km/h Nose angle: 127°
The Wills Wing Condor was a 1997 hang glider for novice pilots.
Condor 330 Wing area: 30.7 m² Wing span: 11.9 m Aspect ratio: 4.6 Hang glider weight: 24 kg Minimum pilot weight: 45 kg Maximum pilot weight: 90 kg Maximum speed: 51 km/h
The original Talon for advanced pilots was a very good wing, solid, powerful and very easy to pose.
In 2005 Wills Wing developed the Talon 2 (T2) for advanced pilots.
T2
The T2 handling is light and predictable. In strong conditions it was a very physically demanding wing to fly, otherwise very nice glider in light conditions. Heavier pitch and a bit slower in roll – but so reassuringly stable and predictable. Launches with ease, but landing has been a chore due to the weight. For XC and aerobatics this glider is like cheating compared to other gliders but landing in no wind or high altitude can be a problem. 1/3 VG works best for those conditions. Bring it in fast and pop it. It tells you when it’s ready to stall.
T2
The T2C of 2008 displays an excellent maneuverability in all conditions. It is able to store a lot of energy to make loops or wings over very easy.
T2C
A light wing and well built with good materials. In flight, slightly unstable spiral, it reacts well to turning. It can be pushed in thermal and warns when going too far by a nice stall.
Talon 140 Wing area: 13 m² Wing span: 9.8 m Aspect ratio: 7.4 Hang glider weight: 34 kg Minimum pilot weight: 63 kg Maximum pilot weight: 77 kg Maximum speed: 120 km/h Nose angle: 127°
Talon 150 Wing area: 13.9 m² Wing span: 10.2 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Hang glider weight: 35 kg Minimum pilot weight: 77 kg Maximum pilot weight: 91 kg Maximum speed: 120 km/h Nose angle: 127°
Talon 160 Sail Area: 160 sq. ft / 14.9 m² Wing span: 10.4 m Aspect ratio: 7.2 Glider Weight: 79 lb / 36 kg Minimum pilot weight: 180 lb / 91 kg Maximum pilot weight: 255 lb / 109 kg Maximum speed: 120 km/h Nose angle: 127° Skill Level: Advanced SS/DS: Double Surface KP/TL: Topless VG: Yes
T2 144 Wing area: 13.4 m² Wing span: 9.8 m Aspect ratio: 7.4 Hang glider weight: 32 kg Minimum pilot weight: 63 kg Maximum pilot weight: 82 kg Packed length: 5 m Packed length short: 3.9 m Nose angle: 127°
T2 154 Wing area: 14.3 m² / 154 sq. ft Wing span: 10.2 m Aspect ratio: 7.5 Hang glider weight: 33 kg / 73 lbs Minimum pilot weight: 82 kg / 175 lb Maximum pilot weight: 91 kg / 255 lb Packed length: 5.2 m Packed length short: 4.1 m Nose angle: 127° Skill Level: Advanced SS/DS: Double Surface KP/TL: Topless VG: Yes
T2C 136 Wing area: 12.6 m² Wing span: 9.6 m Aspect ratio: 7.3 Hang glider weight: 31 kg Minimum pilot weight: 68 kg Maximum pilot weight: 95 kg Minimum speed: 34 km/h Maximum speed: 85 km/h Max glide ratio speed: 74 km/h Packed length: 4.8 m Packed length short: 3.7 m Nose angle: 127°
T2C 144 Wing area: 13.4 m² Wing span: 9.8 m Aspect ratio: 7.3 Hang glider weight: 32 kg Minimum pilot weight: 72 kg Maximum pilot weight: 107 kg Minimum speed: 34 km/h Maximum speed: 85 km/h Max glide ratio speed: 74 km/h Packed length: 5 m Packed length short: 3.9 m Nose angle: 127-132° USHPA Rating: 4 Vd: 120 (km/h HGMA Cert. 5/22/2006 Sugg. Retail $6475.00
T2C 154 Wing area: 14.3 m² Wing span: 10.2 m Aspect ratio: 7.4 Hang glider weight: 33 kg Minimum pilot weight: 84 kg Maximum pilot weight: 129 kg Minimum speed: 34 km/h Maximum speed: 85 km/h Max glide ratio speed: 74 km/h Packed length: 5.2 m Packed length short: 4.1 m Nose angle: 127-132° USHPA Rating: 4 Vd: 120 (km/h HGMA Cert. 10/6/2006 Sugg. Retail $6475.00
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