Product Lines – October 2004

St. Paul, Minn. — Wills Wing has released their new Sport 2 model
in the 135 square foot size. The company says, “The Sport 2 135 is a high
performance glider for lighter pilots that’s easy to fly and land. All of the HGMA
vehicle tests are completed, and we are releasing the glider for sale at this time.”
The new model comes with their popular Litestream control bar and an aluminum faired
base tube. WW reports that the Sport 2 can achieve a glider of about 13:1. The smaller
model weighs only 54 pounds (your shoulders will love it!) and, as its mainly
intended for smaller pilots, the control bar is three inches shorter than on the
larger 155 model. More stats: Span is 29.3 feet (versus
31.5 on the 155), hook-in weight is 130 to 200 pounds (versus 150 to 250), and it
will work best for someone with a body weight of 130 to 160 pounds (versus 150-200
for the larger model). Deliveries should be underway as you read this for a reasonable
price of $4,275. Wills plans a 175 model
for bigger pilots but no release date has been set. FMI: www.willswing.com
The “Moyes
Boys” are hosting a “Reunion and 37 Year celebration” later this month.
Make your way to Wallaby Ranch during the weekend of October 23-24 to join the party.
According to U.S. representative, Ken Brown, the weekend festivities will include
a demo days experience with Moyes gliders and harnesses available for demo flights.
Additionally, he plans to introduce the Dragonfly C model that has won German
certification. You can also get in on tuning and maintenance seminars, or
competition and cross-country flying clinics. Ken
also notes that nearby Cypress Gardens will reopen in October. This onetime
tourist resort was where many folks saw hang gliders for the first time — and, interestingly,
many of them were Moyes gliders many years ago. FMI: www.moyesamerica.com
or dial 530-888-8622.
What Ken may not know is that just a few days later, the Sebring (FL) U.S.
Sport Aviation Expo will occur at the airport owned by the famous auto racetrack.
Just down Highway 27 from Wallaby, the Sebring Expo runs October 28-31. Visitors
will be able to see a wide array of light-sport aircraft that now fall under FAA’s
newest rule. The first-year event is the first of its kind, dedicated 100% to
light sport flying machines and exhibit space was totally sold out in the summer
of 2004 (though organizers may add some additional spaces). EAA will present forums
of all kinds to educate visitors about the new rule and other matters and all day
long, LSAs should be flying around and giving rides to those interested. To my knowledge,
no hang glider or paragliding companies will be present, but I don’t have the complete
list of exhibitors. FMI: www.sport-aviation-expo.com
Little trikes and big trikes for hang gliders pilots|Michael Riggs’ Seagull Aerosports
has his Escape Pod fully faired trike nearly ready for flight testing. He
hopes to be ready in time to attend the Sebring Expo and, if so, would stay in Florida
and make his way around to the various hang glider flight parks of the Sunshine State.
The Escape Pod shown at the huge Oshkosh AirVenture airshow was a marvel of
engineering achievement with its tiny paraglider engine tucked neatly away in the
pod’s body along with a rocket-deployed parachute system. Escape Pod is obviously
the powered version but an unpowered, towable model called the Pod Racer may
also be completed by this fall. For now, Seagull’s Web site is up and running for
you to see and read more. FMI: www.fly-seagull.com or dial 952-473-1480
From Alan Chuculate comes news of his aptly named “Slow Trike.” This
is a project to build a special-purpose trike suitable to aerotow paragliders. Alan
has been doggedly pursuing this for months and progress is becoming visible. In mid-July
he reported that Floyd Fronius completed construction of the trike.
It stands taller than most trikes to accommodate a very large prop (72 in.) with
generous ground clearance (18 in.). The wheel track (width) was also broadened to
increase stability with the very large wing needed to fly slowly enough to safely
aerotow paragliders. Testing started with taxi runs to
verify the steering precision, the suspension effectiveness, and the bicycle-style
front disk brake. All worked fine. Alan writes, “We then mounted the modified
Condor wing on it for the first time. We had adequate prop clearance beneath
the keel and the rear wires. Floyd made three flights of the SlowTow for a total
of one hour of airtime in midday summer thermal turbulence with gusty winds.” Alan
wisely chose to wait for a mellower day so “my first flight would be fun and easy.”
Alan and Floyd planned to be out on the El Mirage dry lakebed
in the high Mojave desert (4,000 ft MSL) for additional testing later in the summer.
Alan projected, “If everything is go after some trike-only flights, we intend to
make our first attempts at towing. We will probably start with a solo hang
glider because neither Floyd nor I have any experience as a tug pilot. We may also
try towing the Light Hawk ultralight sailplane that Danny Howell will be bringing.
When it comes time for paraglider towing Floyd will be the tug pilot and I will be
the paraglider pilot.” This is an exciting development that could open up the
flatlands to paragliding (without a back-pack engine, that is). More as Alan
updates me|
So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Messages or fax
to 651-450-0930. E-mail to Dan@ByDanJohnson.com. THANKS!