Alpha

ALPHA 235 — It makes the instructor

I just received a new Alpha 235 and after the test flight I was so amazed with the result that I wanted to call Steve Pearson to thank him for such an amazing design.

It is so nice to be an instructor and after flying the Alpha 235 I can now teach students who are not natural pilots. The Alpha 235 is so forgiving in every aspect.

Basically the minimum speed is so slow that it makes take-off really easy. I test flew it with aero towing. The tow is really stable, there is not too much pitch pressure and after release I was really amazed by the slow speed.  You feel that you are floating. The sink rate is really impressive. The turns are very coordinated. It is easy to do an approach and the landing is so easy.

I really recommend the Alpha 235 for teaching Hang Gliding to make the sport easier. It will make a beginner pilot safer, students will learn faster and be more confident. Altogether it is a historical improvement for Hang Gliding.

Test flew a customers 235, what a pleasure!
Really light conditions and was able to scratch and hang onto everything.
Couple of small light butter smooth 2000′ climbs eventually. Really had a fun, stress free time.
No wind landing with a flare window the size of Texas 😉

He is really going to enjoy it.

Alphas are Awesome!

I have been using the Wills Wing Alpha now for more than two years and they are just great. The Alpha is a very light weight, easy to fly and a great all around glider that is very forgiving yet enjoyable to fly, launch and land. I have many hours of personal experience teaching on our training hills, allowing me to compare the Alphas with the Falcons. Integrating the Alphas in our training program at Lookout Mountain Flight Park has been a very positive experience and I am pleased to say that I could not be happier with them. We now have 10 Alphas in our school and I look forward to the day when the Alpha is our only training glider for training hills and first mountain flights. To date, the Alpha has replaced both the Condor and the 145 Falcons.

I find the Alpha 180 works very well for light-weight small-framed individuals and the 210 Alpha works great for anyone up to about 230 pounds. The Alphas are much easier for a new pilot to achieve initial success, progress and are much more forgiving for landing, flying slow or slow launches compared to the Falcon. The Alphas also soar very well and are very easy to thermal. The Wills Wing Alpha is not only the easiest, safest first glider that money can buy but also very rewarding to fly – altogether an exceptional glider!

Training tip for instructors using the 180 Alpha: I have had much better success with the washout tubes installed even during initial training. Without washout tubes, some students have trouble controlling pitch during takeoff. The tendency of the nose to drop a little while running with the glider is almost completely eliminated by using the washout tubes. Instructors would have some difficulty demonstrating a no hands take off without the washout tubes but with the washout tubes it is one of the easiest launching glider ever.

Thank you Wills Wing!

Sincerely,
Matt Taber – Lookout Mountain Flight Park