2008 News Summary

11/29/08
Helmet Special for the Holidays!

We have a special, limited quantity Helmet Offer on the Insider Helmets Listed Below.

Soft Black: – Retail $165 (Normally $234)

Limited to quantities on hand in the following sizes:
Soft Black – sizes L, XL

Carbon Look: – Retail $225 (Normally $339)

Limited to quantities on hand in the following size:
Carbon Look – size L

11/26/08
Michel Louzada Wins Paulista Chamionship With T2C
Pilot Michel Louzada finished in first place in the Andradas and won the Paulista in Paulista championship 2008 – Brazil.

Congratulations Michel!

11/26/08
Wills Wing 2009 Wallaby Fly-In, Party and Anniversary Celebration
We will be having our 2009 Wallaby Fly-In, Party and Anniversary Celebration, Tuesday, March 31st through Saturday, April 4th.

Please come and join us for our 12th Annual Wills Wing Fly-In and Party at Wallaby Ranch, Davenport, Florida, (www.wallaby.com) and help us celebrate 36 years in Hang Gliding!

We will have demo gliders available starting on Tuesday, March 31st, and we’ll have our traditional party on Saturday night, April 4th.

If you’re planning to order a new glider for the coming season, we can deliver it at Wallaby and save you the cost of packing and shipping, if you get your order in by January 15th. (Space on the trailer is limited, and available on a first come, first served basis.)

Those of you who have been to Wallaby in past years know that it’s a terrific opportunity to re-connect with old friends, meet new ones, and just generally enjoy the camaraderie of special folks who love flying. If you haven’t been to one of our Wallaby events, you owe it to yourself to come. If you have come before, we hope you’ll join us again this year.

We hope to see you there!

11/13/08
Bruce Kavanagh Wins British XC League
The British cross country league closed on the 31st of October and Bruce Kavanagh took 1st place on his Wills Wing T2 to add to his wins in the British Open and British Series this season. It was a close-fought competition and Bruce’s final cross-country flight of the season was just a 24km out and return flown on a largely overcast day with cloudbase starting at just 1800ft but it was just enough to get him back into the lead in what had been a disappointing season in the UK weather-wise.

11/07/08
T2s Sweep 2008 Canoa Open!
The Canoa Open 2008 Hang Gliding Championships ended last weekend. It was a very challenging meet for the pilots.

Congratulations to Dustin Martin who went back home with $4000, and to Raul Guerra who became the 2008 Ecuador National Champion.

Canoa Open 2008 Hang Gliding Championships
Open Category

11/03/08
Nene Rotor is the Brazilian National Champion – For the Fifth Time!
Nene Rotor, flying a Wills Wing T2C 144 took first place overall in the Brazilian National Championship Series – taking first place in the first and second stages, and second place in the third stage. Congratulations Nene!

10/30/08
UVM10T Sailcoth Now Available in White
The UV resistant UVM10T sail cloth is now available in white for use on the leading edge and (on T2’s) trailing edge panels. The use of this material in white greatly enhances visibility and addresses a concern that pilots have expressed with the gray color UVM material blending into the background and making the glider hard to see in the air.

09/26/08
SOLD – Ultimate Hang Gliding Truck For Sale
SOLD – 10/2/2008

2007 GMC Sierra SLT 4WD Crew Cab
Vortec 5.3L V8 Flex Fuel 4 Speed Automatic Transmission
Active Fuel Management Technology
EPA Rated – 16 mpg City – 20 mpg Highway
14,400 miles – New in February 2008
$46,000 invested – Edmunds PP value $26,500 – Offering at $22,500 to a good home.

This was Rob Kells’ personal truck, and it’s fully equipped:

Custom Leer Fiberglass Camper Shell
Custom Glider Rack
Custom Pull Out Sliding Bed
Tow package with Draw Tite Trailer Hitch and Trailer brake controller
Off road package with Skid plate package
Stereo w/6 disc CD/MP3
Bose premium speaker system
XM satellite radio
12 way power heated leather seats w driver memory
Power heated outside mirrors
Remote keyless entry

09/24/08
Tech Bulletin – Assembly, Maintenance and Inspection of Locknuts
There is a new technical bulletin – TB20080924 – on locknut assemblies used on Wills Wing hang gliders – please review it.

09/12/08
WW HG Demos in Sept/Oct
Hang glider demo days in late September at Lookout Mt., Georgia, and early October at Morningside, New Hampshire.
Steve Pearson, co-owner and glider designer for Wills Wing since the 1970’s, will be on hand to answer your questions.

08/28/08
Bruce Kavanagh Wins British Open Series with Wills Wing T2

Bruce Kavanagh writes:

I’d like to let you know that flying my T2 I won this year’s British
Open Series which concluded this Tuesday. The series consists of 3
competitions each of 5 days and all held in the UK. The first was the
British Open held in Mid Wales in May which I won. The second round was
in Yorkshire in July where I came 2nd and the last round was in South
Wales over last weekend. Results for the series are here:

http://rogallo.co.uk/bos2008

A couple of weeks ago I also came 4th in the British Nationals held in
Laragne, France, the venue of next year’s Worlds.

08/28/08
Wolfi wins Speedgliding at Pre-World Air Games

Wolfi (Wolfgang Siess) writes:

I have some good news. I just returned from the 2008 Pre-World Air Games
in Torino and I won the speedgliding comp in front of Alex Ploner and
Seppi Salvenmoser by approximately 10 seconds on a 3 minute course. My
T2 is hot! We had to land on a float after making goal — I was short,
so my glider is swimming also :-).

08/25/08
Top 5 US WorldTeam to Fly T2s in 2009
As of the completion of the 2008 US nationals on August 23, 2008, the 2009 US world team is shaping up to be an all Wills Wing squad. One of Davis’ qualified meets was flown with another model but all of the remaining meets below were flown on T2s. As the results show, these pilots have have flown exceptionally throughout the year and we’re proud to be associated with them.

http://ushpa.aero/competition/ntss1/index.php

08/23/08
 Zac Majors Wins the 2008 US Nationals
T2 pilots Zac Majors, Jeff O’Brien and David Gibson finished first, second and third at the 2008 USA Hang Gliding Nationals in Lakeview, Oregon between August 17th and 23rd, 2008. Zac won three and Jeff combined to win four of five challenging tasks in strong conditions. Dave finished one point behind first on the one task won by another glider model. Congratulations to Zippy, Jeff and Dave!

2008 USA Hang Gliding Nationals
2008-08-17 to 2008-08-23 Total results

08/16/08
T2 Wins Brasilia Nationals
Nenê writes:
Hi Mike, Hi Steve,
Today finish the Brasilia nationals and I took the first place! André took the second place and Jonny Durand 3rd place. Many T2 are between the first place, I’m very happy because the T2s fly very well.

Nenê won 3 of the 7 tasks against two of the world’s top pilots. T2 pilot José Lessa (Zé Gala) finished 4th. The results are posted at http://www.superrace2008.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Nenê and Zé Gala!

07/19/08
Dustin Martin Flies 410 Miles On His T2 144!
On Saturday, July 19th, Dustin Martin launched his T2 144 out of Zapata, Texas, and just kept going – landing 410 miles later, north of Big Spring. Dustin figures he was one thermal short of being able to go over 450 miles, and that 500 is definitely possible. “The flight was basically easy,” wrote Dustin afterwards, “the glider is flying sweet and I felt fresh the next morning.”

Congratulations, Dustin, on an incredible flight!

07/19/08
Daniel Velez Wins 2008 Colombian Open HG Nationals
With weather that allowed flying five of seven days, with technical and tricky conditions and tasks between 35 and 60 km, the Colombian Open Hang Gliding Championship is complete.
Daniel Velez won four out of five tasks, and finished second on one task, flying a Wills Wing T2C 144 against a Litespeed, Icaro, and Airborne. Congratulations to Daniel on placing first! Congratulations also to all the pilots who flew in the meet!

2008 Colombian Open HG Nationals
July 13-19, 2008
Final Results

06/16/08
WW 35th Anniversary Shirts – Limited Time
We have a selection of commemorative shirts from this Spring’s big event at Wallaby Ranch in Florida.
Golf shirts, short sleeve and long sleeve tee shirts, and ladies scoop neck shirts are available. Sky Blue shirt with spectacular Wills Wing / Wallaby Ranch artwork on the back.
Adult: S, M, L, XL

06/12/08
Wings Over Wasatch to host Wills Wing Demo Days
Wings Over Wasatch to hold a Grand Opening and Demo Days, June 14-22nd at Point of the Mountain; 15 minutes south of downtown Salt Lake City. Most current Wills Wing models and sizes will be available to demo through Ryan and Paul Voight.

For more information contact Ryan Voight at (801) 599-2555 or Ryan@WingsOverWasatch

Also visit the website at:  www.WingsOverWasatch.com

06/08/08
Dustin Martin Wins the East Coast Championship
Dustin Martin, flying a Wills Wing T2C, upset the World Number 1 flex wing pilot, Jonny Durand Jr., beating him decisively on the last day. Dustin won four of the five tasks flown. Congratulations Dustin!

Congratulations also to Wills Wing top 10 pilots Kevin Carter, Davis Straub, and Ric Niehaus!

ECC – HG Flex Wing
Overall Results After Day 5

05/13/08
Really Strong Hang Gliders
Eric Raymond, Owens Valley pioneer, Sunseeker designer, and all-around pilot, is living in Switzerland and working as an engineer at SolarImpulse, which is developing ‘around the world in a solar airplane’. When he’s not working, Eric flies a Wills Wing U2 145. He recently sent us this note and some in-flight photos.

I am glad you guys liked the pictures. I froze my hands getting them! I have realy good Flytec gloves, and neoprene bar mitts, but had to get out of the mitts to take pictures.

I neglected to mention that my glider was backed over by a car in the landing area, (by a big heavy car), but other than a small tear in the bag I can find nothing wrong with it! Based on the tire track, it went right over where the ends of the cross bar join the LE. I have been crawling around in the double surface, and all the tubes appear to be double or triple wall there. Not even a bent bolt! The ground was very soft, and the glider was pushed down into the ground a bit.

Keep up the good work. I’ll try to visit next time I’m back.

Eric

05/07/08
T2 Pilot Wins First Round of British Open Championships
Bruce Kavanagh, flying a Wills Wing T2 144, placed first in the recently concluded first round of the British Open Championships. Graham Phipps, also flying a T2 144, placed 7th, and Trevor Birkbeck, in his first outing on his Wills Wing Talon, placed 10th. Trevor has now decided to move up to a T2 and is getting ready to place his order.

Congratulations to Bruce, Graham and Trevor!

04/27/08
Wills Wing Team takes Four of Top Eight Spots in Santa Cruz Flats Race
The most exciting news from the contest is that all the Wills Wing pilots loved their gliders! It also was exciting for everyone flying to see that any performance difference that may have existed previously is now gone. The field was made up of very competitive international pilots from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and the U.S.

There were 21 Wills Wing gliders (40%), 31 Moyes gliders (60%), 3 Aeros gliders and 1 Icaro glider in the meet.

Daniel Velez and Dustin Martin placed 3rd and 4th; and Leo Dabbur and Nene Rotor placed 7th and 8th, all on T2C’s — Congratulations guys!

Nene Rotor and Jeff O’Brien, both flying T2C’s, won two of the meet’s five tasks.

Wills Wing pilots took FOUR of the top EIGHT places; and TEN of the top TWENTY places overall in the contest – congratulations to all:

12. Jeff O’Brien
13. Jeff Shapiro
14. Chris Zimmerman
16. Eduardo Olivera
17. Zac Majors
19. Larry Bunner

The top nine placing Wills Wing gliders were T2C’s.

Under the new Wills Wing competition contingency plan for major meets, Daniel Velez was presented a $500 check for his 3rd place finish.

Congratulations Daniel!

04/03/08
WW Wallaby Demo Days 2008
WW Wallaby Demo Days 2008

We’re just back from our 11th consecutive Annual Wills Wing Wallaby Ranch Demo Days, during which we celebrated our 35th anniversary. During the four days from Wednesday through Saturday we had virtually perfect weather, and launched a total of 656 aero tows. More than 75 pilots had multiple oportunities to take demo flights on our complete line of gliders. We wrapped up the official event with our traditional dinner party on Saturday night, a 35 year retrospective slide show, and, for those with enough energy to continue on, live music and dancing late into the night. By all accounts this was our best event yet. We were fortunate to have Chris Wills and his parents, Bob and Maralys Wills in attendance this year, along with a huge crowd of pilots and family members. On Friday night, Chris gave a great video presentation on the early bamboo and plastic days when he and his brother Bobby and Chris Price were figuring out simultaneouosly how to design and fly early Rogallo type kites. Maralys Wills even took a tandem flight on Sunday morning with Malcolm Jones.

Our most sincere thanks go out to everyone who made the trip to attend the event, (some from as far as Tahiti and Japan!), and most especially to Malcolm and the superb Wallaby staff who worked so hard to make the event possible, and to make it such a success! For those of you who didn’t make it this year, please come and join us in 2009!

03/18/08
Price Increase on Falcon 3, Sport 2 and U2
The suggested retail prices on the Falcon 3’s, Sport 2’s and U2’s have increased by $100, effective March 18th. The prices of the T2 and T2C have not changed.
The new retail prices are:

This price increase represents about 3% on a Falcon and about 2% on a U2. It has been three years since our last glider price increase, and all of our costs have risen by much higher percentages during that period of time. We have held the line on prices up until now by continually increasing our efficiency, but at this time it is necessary that we also institute a small price increase as well. We thank you in advance for your understanding.

03/18/08
Nene Rotor is Winning in Brazil
Nene Rotor sent us the following information recently:

Two weeks ago first state championship I took the first place!!!!

One week ago first national championship I took the first place!!!

Great Flying, Nene!

02/17/08
Wolfgang Siess Glides His T2 Well in German Competition
This last weekend they held a hang glider and rigid wing glide angle contest in Anga, Germany and Wolfgang Siess did quite well with his T2 154. The contest is to get the fastest speed flying a 2 mile, 10:1 course. Wolfi had the only T2 out of 40+ pilots and he tied for the second-fastest speed of 76.3 kmh (47.4 mph) in the topless hang glider division. His speed would have placed him 4th in the rigid wing division! Wolfi flew with a little ballast, to hook-in at 143 kg, and they were flying against a bit of a headwind.

A PDF file of the results for the topless category is available online

Nice Gliding Wolfi!

02/11/08
Wills Wing T2 Sweeps in Japan
Wills Wing T2 sweeps the first round of Japanese Hang Gliding Series, the Kinokawa Sky Grand Prix held from Feb. 8th to 11th, 2008.

KINOKAWA SKY GRAND PRIX
Place,Pilot,Wing
1.,KATSURA Toshiyuki,Wills Wing T2
2.,SATOU Hiromi,Wills Wing T2
3.,ITAGAKI Naoki,Wills Wing T2
4.,SUZUKI Yuji,Moyes Litespeed RS
5.,WADA Norihisa,Moyes Litespeed RS
6.,UJIIE Yoshihiko, Moyes Litespeed S
3 valid days with  4000′ cloud base, 41 to 60km tasks and 56 very competitive pilots.

Sincerely,
KATSURA, Toshiyuki
Sports Opa Kite

Congratulations Toshi, Hiromi, and Naoki!

01/26/08
What Model Is That?
Here’s a snappy looking Sport 2 155 at Marshall Peak, CA, before a nice flight between January storms. Note the fresh snow on Crestline in the background.

This wing is going to Germany, where we’re sure it will get noticed!