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.[1]
| Falcon | |
|---|---|
| Role | Hang glider |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wills Wing |
| Introduction | 1994 |
| Status | In production (Falcon 4, 2016) |
| Produced | 1994-present |
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.[1][2]
Design and development
editThe 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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
Variants
edit- 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 m2) 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.[1][3]
- 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 m2) 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.[1][3]
- 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 m2) 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.[1][3]
- Falcon 225
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 1995. Its wing has an area of 225 sq ft (20.9 m2).[3]
- Falcon 2 140
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 140 sq ft (13 m2).[3]
- Falcon 2 170
- Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 170 sq ft (16 m2).[3]
- Falcon 2 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 195 sq ft (18.1 m2).[3]
- Falcon 2 225
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 2003. Its wing has an area of 225 sq ft (20.9 m2).[3]
- Falcon Tandem
- Tandem model for flight training, introduced in 2003.[3]
- Falcon 3 145
- Small-sized model for lighter pilots, introduced in 2009. Its wing has an area of 145 sq ft (13.5 m2).[3]
- Falcon 3 170
- Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots, introduced in 2009. Its wing has an area of 170 sq ft (16 m2).[3]
- Falcon 3 195
- Large-sized model for heavier pilots, introduced in 2009. Its wing has an area of 195 sq ft (18.1 m2).[3]
- Falcon 3 Tandem
- Tandem model for flight training, introduced in 2009.[3]
- 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 m2) 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.[2]
- 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 m2) 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.[2]
- 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 m2) 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.[2]
- 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 m2) and the aspect ratio is 5.6:1. The pilot hook-in weight range is 185 to 550 lb (84 to 249 kg).[4]
Specifications (Falcon 4 145)
editData from Manufacturer[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Wing area: 145 sq ft (13.5 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 5.4:1
- Empty weight: 45 lb (20 kg)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 48 mph (77 km/h, 42 kn)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 50. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b c d e f g "Falcon 4". Wills Wing. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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.