Wills Wing Falcon

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
Unit cost
US$3,875 (Falcon 4, 2016)

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

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.[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]

All models are HGMA certified.[3]

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 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, introduced 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, introduced 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, introduced 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, introduced 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)

Data 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

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References
  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 50. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. "Falcon 4". Wills Wing. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  3. Wills Wing Support. "HGMA Certified Wills Wing Gliders". Wills Wing. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. "Falcon 4 Tandem". Wills Wing. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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