| Falcon | |
|---|---|
| Role | Hang gliderType of aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wills Wing |
| Introduction | 1994 |
| Status | In production (Falcon 4, 2016) |
| Produced | 1994-present |
The Wills Wing Falcon is a family of American high-wing, single-place and two-place hang gliders, designed and produced by Wills Wing of Orange, California. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
The Falcon series is the best-selling glider that the company has produced and it has remained in continuous production over more than twenty years, in increasingly refined versions.
Design and development
The Falcon was designed as a simple, easy to fly glider for local recreational soaring, as an alternative to high performance, but harder to fly gliders. It is made from aluminum tubing, with the single-surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its wing is cable braced from a single kingpost.
The aircraft has been developed from the original Falcon model, through the Falcon 2, 3 and 4 versions, each in a variety of sizes, including tandem two place versions for flight training. The models are each named for their wing area in square feet.
All models are HGMA certified.
Variants
- Falcon 140
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots, introduced in 1995. Its wing has a span of 27.9 ft (8.5 m), a nose angle of 118°, wing area of 140 sq ft (13 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 110 to 165 lb (50 to 75 kg). The glider model is DHV 1 certified.
- Falcon 170
- Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots, introduced in 1995. Its wing has a span of 30.5 ft (9.3 m), the nose angle is 118°, wing area is 170 sq ft (16 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 140 to 230 lb (64 to 104 kg). The glider model is DHV 1 certified.
- Falcon 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 1994. Its wing has a span of 33.1 ft (10.1 m), the nose angle is 118°, wing area is 195 sq ft (18.1 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 150 to 275 lb (68 to 125 kg). The glider model is DHV 1 certified.
- Falcon 225
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 1995. Its wing has an area of 225 sq ft (20.9 m).
- Falcon 2 140
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 140 sq ft (13 m).
- Falcon 2 170
- Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 170 sq ft (16 m).
- Falcon 2 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 195 sq ft (18.1 m).
- Falcon 2 225
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 225 sq ft (20.9 m).
- Falcon Tandem
- Tandem model for flight training, introduced in 2003.
- Falcon 3 145
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots, introduced in 2009. Its wing has an area of 145 sq ft (13.5 m).
- Falcon 3 170
- Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots, introduced in 2009. Its wing has an area of 170 sq ft (16 m).
- Falcon 3 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 2009. Its wing has an area of 195 sq ft (18.1 m).
- Falcon 3 Tandem
- Tandem model for flight training, introduced in 2009.
- Falcon 4 145
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots, HGMA certified in 2015. Its wing has a span of 28 ft (8.5 m), wing area is 145 sq ft (13.5 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.4:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 120 to 190 lb (54 to 86 kg). Improvements over the Falcon 3 include a new sail cut and layout, improved lateral stability at higher speeds and under aero towing and an optional Litestream control bar.
- Falcon 4 170
- Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots, HGMA certified in 2015. Its wing has a span of 30.6 ft (9.3 m), wing area is 170 sq ft (16 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 140 to 220 lb (64 to 100 kg). Improvements over the Falcon 3 include a new sail cut and layout, improved lateral stability at higher speeds and under aero towing and an optional Litestream control bar.
- Falcon 4 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, HGMA certified in 2015. Its wing has a span of 33 ft (10.1 m), wing area is 195 sq ft (18.1 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 175 to 275 lb (79 to 125 kg). Improvements over the Falcon 3 include a new sail cut and layout, improved lateral stability at higher speeds and under aero towing and an optional Litestream control bar.
- Falcon 4 Tandem
- Tandem model for flight training, HGMA certified in 2015. This is a development of the Falcon 3 Tandem that incorporates stiffer and lighter 7075-T6 aluminum leading edge spars, a higher batten density sail with speed battens, an improved sail cut with new colors and an all-laminate sail as an option. Its wing has a span of 35.8 ft (10.9 m), wing area is 228 sq ft (21.2 m) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 185 to 550 lb (84 to 249 kg).
Specifications (Falcon 4 145)
Data from Manufacturer
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Wing area: 145 sq ft (13.5 m)
- Aspect ratio: 5.4:1
- Empty weight: 45 lb (20 kg)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 48 mph (77 km/h, 42 kn)
References
- ^ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 50. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ "Falcon 4". Wills Wing. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ Wills Wing Support. "HGMA Certified Wills Wing Gliders". Wills Wing. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- "Falcon 4 Tandem". Wills Wing. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
External links
| Wills Wing aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Hang gliders | |