Product Lines – July 1991

St. Paul, MINN — Lots of deserving stuff came in for this month’s "Product Lines." While I’m delighted at the response to the column, I can’t use everything that arrives… not enough room. But keep sending your material; who knows? ••• As you know from the ads and editor Gil’s write up, Wills Wing has announced their new glider, the Super Sport. You’ll get all the poop from other sources. But I want to mention that WW has done a first with this release. All three sizes (143, 153, 163) were completely computer designed, flew "right out of the box," and are being submitted for HGMA certification at the same time! Quite a statement of engineering achievement. The Super Sport replaces the Sport AT. All three sizes are priced at $3,595 and have many AT features but no VG. Wills expects to be shipping end of July or so. Road Time ’91 so long distance guru, Larry Tudor, will be doing lots of XC on the ground as you read this. Call the company for his schedule. ••• Also hitting the road is a duet from Pacific Airwave. John "Safari Mexico" Olson will be doing a west coast tour accompanied by Kendrick (trying-to-lose-"Kenny"?) Brown. The company’s June newsletter didn’t mention plans for the east coast. Having referred to their newsletter, I feel nobody is doing a more consistent job of communicating than PacAir, whose newsletter arrives as regularly as my Hang Gliding magazine. This work is often a back-burner task. I commend Ken Brown for beginning the effort, which duty is now borne by Briggs Christie. ••• Besides doing very well with glider sales, PacAir branched out into paragliders. (Several influential sport leaders are predicting a major increase in the paraglider population.) In addition the Salinas outfit is importing and selling windsurfing sails from parent, Airwave UK. It makes sense, all this diversification, but from my first-hand experience with BRS, the widely diversified parachute maker, it ain’t easy either. Hopefully PacAir and Wills have such quality management that they’ll each overcome the problems that come with growth and diversity. ••• Having just written "quality," the newest Moyes mailing grabbed my attention by the sheer volume and merit of its literature. The down-under outfit is one of the international Big Four (Airwave, La Mouette, Wills, & Moyes) and they’re alive with activity. Not only are they still marketing a broad line of gliders (Mars, Mission, GTR, XS, XS-Easy plus the XACT harness), Moyes is furiously pursing an unpowered ultralight sailplane, the Tempest and finalizing an ultralight aerotug. You’ve heard about the aerotug here recently (now finally and appropriately named: Dragonfly). What you don’t know is a USA aerotug tour by Bill Moyes and crew. If interested in seeing this team and aircraft, I recommend you contact Moyes in California as they should be in America as you read this. The Tempest is another development inspired by Floridian Bobby Bailey (aerotug, Sierra I and II UL sailplanes, plus numerous ultralights). The Tempest is too new to cover thoroughly, but how ’bout this spec: 50 foot composite, cantilevered wing!? More as I hear it. Further, Moyes is said to be in development on a purpose-built tandem glider, a new trainer, and smaller projects like a new lighter towing bridle for aerotow use. My source, Malcolm Jones, says Bill Moyes is more involved in the glider company than he thought. After more than 20 years, this is amazing… true dedication to ultralight flight. ••• Mountain High offers their Sports Oxygen system for hang gliding and paragliding. A slick little system is available under $90. Now owner Pat McLaughlin has announced development of a refillable cylinder. Both are delivered with a thorough owners manual. The current system can provide a couple hours of supplemental O2 if you follow the manual’s advice. If it sounds good, call 801/364-4171. ••• Lighten Up Dept: Hang gliding’s preeminent cartoonist, Bob Lafay, has gone commercial. Well, at least he’s publishing a book of his ‘toons. Over 100 pages, with more than 350 panels, Bob’s wonderfully wacky wit will wow you and provide some situation familiar to each of you. Bob says, "If your brain hurts from all that high tech tedious reading, complicated formulas, and statistics on hang glider flying, I offer a "no-tech" look at the most fun way of flying." Amen! After years of using Bob’s clever work in Whole Air, I’m delighted to see this compilation. FMI: 11431 Caern Av, Tujunga CA 91042. ••• Have more, lots more… but again, room’s gone. Got news or opinions? Send ’em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Call 612/450-0930, or fax 612/457-8651. THANKS!