New Eagle 164 Released!
We are very excited to announce the release of the new Eagle 164. The Eagle is a medium performance, double surface glider that is exceptionally easy to fly. We developed the Eagle in response to your feedback that the jump from the Falcon to the Ultra Sport was too demanding for many pilots. We see the following as the primary markets for the Eagle:
- The perfect move-up glider for the pilot ready to graduate from the Falcon.
- An ideal glider for the casual intermediate to advanced recreational pilot who is interested in low-key local soaring and wants the maximum combination of convenience, easy flight characteristics, soaring performance and fun. 3) A great second glider for the serious advanced pilot who wants a more convenient alternative when flying just for fun.
- We strongly believe that the Falcon will continue to be the best first purchase glider for the vast majority of pilots, and we will continue to energetically promote it as such. However, we do recognize two other markets for which we believe the Eagle will be an excellent alternative:
- A first purchase glider for pilots who fly almost entirely by aero tow in the flat lands, where the combination of weak thermals and moderately strong winds require additional penetration in order to be able to follow the thermal drift and still glide back to the field.
- A first purchase glider for pilots who simply refuse to purchase a Falcon because they don’t want to buy a glider that they’ll “grow out of.”
Any pilot buying the Eagle as a first purchase glider should have received training from his instructor on the Eagle, should have very solid Novice level skills and should have actually demonstrated those skills for his instructor on the Eagle. We believe that the Eagle is an extraordinarily easy glider to fly for it’s level of performance, but at the same time we strongly believe that one of the biggest problems hang gliding has is that most pilots are flying gliders which are beyond their skill level.
Eagle Specifications
Eagle164
Area-164 sq ft
Span-32′
Aspect Ratio-6.2
Glider Weight-58.5 lbs
Pilot Weight Range-150 – 250 lbs hook in
Optimum Pilot Weight-175 – 225 lbs hook in
Pilot Skill/Experience-USHGA Novice & Instructor Recommendation
Base Retail Price-$3475
Eagle Standard Features
- Quick Mount Vertical Stabilizer
- 7075 – T6 Leading Edges & Keel
- Double Surface Sail / Enclosed Crossbar
- Full Leading Edge Mylar Pocket and Mylar Insert
- Nosecone
- Pre-formed 7075 – T6 Battens
- Speedbar Basetube
- Streamlined Kingpost
- Kingpost Hang System
- Rapid Set – Up
- Deluxe Glider Bag, Control Bar Bag and Batten Bag
- Velcro Sail Ties
- Delivery Kit with Owner’s Manual, Batten Diagram, Hat, Bumper Sticker,
- And Spare Parts Kit
Eagle Options and Retail Option Prices
Streamline Downtubes Upgrade-$35.00
Folding Speedbar Upgrade-$85.00
Hall Wheel Kit-$89.50
Finster Wheel Kit-$129.50
Custom Choice Of Colors-$300 .00
Custom Sail Patterns-Quoted on request
About The Eagle
The Eagle comes configured to be able to be flown with or without the keel mounted stabilizer, and a stabilizer is included with the glider. The Eagle without the stabilizer is, on average mid way between a Falcon and an Ultra Sport in terms of the pilot skill required to optimize the glider. With the stabilizer mounted, the Eagle becomes remarkably more docile and easy to fly. Most significantly, with the stabilizer, the Eagle is every bit as resistant to roll / yaw oscillations as the Falcon. In this configuration its inherent turn coordination and ease of thermalling are also as good as a Falcon. Because it has a flatter polar curve, the Eagle retains more energy when flown fast, and therefore does require more skill in setting up an accurate landing approach. It also requires a more accurately timed and executed landing flare than a Falcon, though in comparison to even an Ultra Sport it is a very easy and forgiving glider to land.
The Eagle has remarkable sink rate and climb performance, slows down exceptionally well, carries a broad range of pilot weights with excellent efficiency, and is very comfortable and confidence inspiring in turbulent air.
All of the vehicle tests for the Eagle are completed, and we will shortly begin documenting flight test documentation for certification. We will have several Eagles at Wallaby Ranch, and expect to deliver the first dealer demos shortly thereafter. We should be ready to ship the first customer gliders by late April or early May.
Wills Wing’s 27 Anniversary At Wallaby Ranch
For the third year we will celebrate our anniversary at Wallaby, March 21st – 26th.
We have planned a Parachute Seminar, a Brauniger Clinic, Tuning seminars, and of course a big party Saturday night the 25th. With a catered meal by the Ranch’s Jeremy, a band, some beer, and a bon fire, it should be loads of fun. This event has been announced throughout the world, and could turn into the largest fly-in the sport has ever seen. We hope to see you there!
Directions To The Ranch
From Orlando Florida, head west on interstate 4 towards Tampa. Continue past Disney World. Turn North on highway 27. Go 1.5 miles, then turn left on Dean Still Road. The road becomes red dirt after 1.1 miles. On the left after a total of 1.7 miles from the turn onto Dean Still there is a mail box labeled “1805”. Turn into the driveway and watch for low flying aircraft.
Hotel Information
Mention the Wallaby discount when making your reservations to get a discount!
Super 8 Motel (941) 420 8888
Paraswivel Recall and Inspection Advisory
This advisory covers all Wills Wing Paraswivels manufactured prior to March 10, 2000. At a recent parachute seminar in Vancouver, a Wills Wing Paraswivel was found that was not properly manufactured. Wills Wing Paraswivels are blue anozided, and all such swivels should be inspected to determine whether or not they have the following manufacturing defect.
The paraswivel consists of two machined aluminum barrels held together by a large diameter hex head steel bolt. This bolt passed through a hole in one barrel of the swivel and is threaded into machined threads cut into the other half. In the side of the second half, there is a small hole which into which threads are also machined to accept a small hex head screw. After the swivel is assembled and properly adjusted to allow for free rotational movement, this small screw is threaded into the small hole in the side of the barrel until it bears against the side of the large screw which holds the two barrels together. The small screw is then tightened down securely and thus prevents the large screw from rotating in, and backing out of the barrel.
On the defective swivel, the threads for the small locking screw were not machined all the way through to the inside of the barrel. As a result the locking screw bottoms out in the hole in the barrel, and cannot be tightened against the main bolt, and the main bolt is thus not secured. This ultimately could cause the two halves of the swivel to separate, and as a result the parachute would become separated from the pilot.
The paraswivel is designed to be a permanent assembly, and cannot be disassembled for inspection. The small locking screw is secured with permanent Loc-Tite, and any attempt to remove it in order to disassemble the unit will damage it and render it unsafe to use. The only proper way to inspect a swivel for the defect is to secure the large hex head screw against rotation, and apply a torque of approximately 40 inch lbs (ten lbs of force on a four inch lever) to the swivel barrel in which the small locking screw is installed. There should be no more than ½ turn of relative rotation of the large hex screw and the barrel under this load before the barrel “locks up” and will not turn further under this amount of torque. (The ability of the small locking screw to restrain the large bolt is dependent on its position relative to the threads of the large bolt. Some initial slippage under load is acceptable, as long as the bolt is eventually locked against at least 40 in lbs of torque. There is no way for the parachute during operation to exert more than a fraction of that much torque on the swivel, and even with the main bolt not locked at all, the main bolt will normally not unscrew if the swivel is rotated under load.) If the main bolt will continue to rotate beyond one half turn under 40 inch lbs of torque, it means that the small locking screw is not adequately securing the large screw, and the swivel is defective and must be replaced.
A specially modified 5/16” hex wrench (cut down so that it fits into the slot in the swivel) is required to secure the large hex screw against rotation. We will be providing these along with a tool for securing the barrel of the swivel to you so that you can inspect your customers’ swivels. Defective swivels will be replaced at no charge.
Wills Wing / Brauniger
We are proud to have been chosen by Brauniger instruments to sell and service their products in the USA!
We will stock the Brauniger IQ Basis, IQ Classic, and IQ GPS Competition. Each vario comes with batteries, a carry bag and Owner’s manual.
For product details check out our web site’s Bräuniger section
| Part Number | Description | Retail |
|---|---|---|
| 70K-4110 | IQ BASIS II BRÄUNIGER VARIO | $399.00 |
| 70K-4120 | IQ CLASSIC BRÄUNIGER VARIO | $499.00 |
| 70K-4130 | IQ COMP BRÄUNIGER VARIO | $649.00 |
| 70K-4140 | IQ COMP GPS BRÄUNIGER VARIO | $859.00 |
| 70K-4201 | HG MOUNT BRÄUNIGER VARIO | $39.00 |
| 70K-4202 | PG MOUNT BRÄUNIGER VARIO | $24.00 |
| 70K-4203 | COMBI-MOUNT BRÄUN/GARMIN-BALL | $75.00 |
| 70K-4211 | CABLE- GARMIN TO COMP GPS | $39.00 |
| 70K-4212 | PC CONNECT CABLE CLASSIC/COMP | $39.00 |
| 70K-4213 | PRINTER CABLE CLASSIC/COMP | $39.00 |
| 70K-4221 | AIRSPEED PROBE S2 BRÄUNIGER | $120.00 |
Inventory Gliders On The Web
Check the web at www.www.willswing.com for gliders in stock ready to go!
Sign up for WW E-News
We are currently building an e-mailing list for those interested in our paragliders, hang gliders, harnesses, and other related products. We’ll send you information about our new products, changes to current products, safety news, notices, and other useful information. If you would like to be included in our e-mailing list visit our web site at www.www.willswing.com and click on “sign up for WW E-News”. If you choose to join our list, be assured that we will not share your e-mail address, or any other personal information with any other businesses or individuals.
Where’s My Closest Dealer?
To find the dealer nearest you, please go to www.www.willswing.com, click on ”Learn To Fly!” then click on the map where you live. A list of dealers in your region will appear.
Contact Us
If you have questions we might help you with please feel free to contact us in any of the following ways:
On the Web – www.www.willswing.com
By E-mail – Comments@www.willswing.com
By Phone – (714) 998 – 6359
By Fax – (714) 998 – 0647
By Mail – 500 West Blueridge, Orange CA 92865-4206
That’s it for now, thank you for your interest in Wills Wing!
We welcome your suggestions.
Please Fly Safely!
The Wills Wing Crew