The Talon is here: Volume 131

Introducing the Wills Wing Talon 150

Wills Wing is delighted to announce the release of our new, curved tip competition class glider, the Talon. Under intensive development since October of last year, the Talon – in the competition edition – offers true world-class performance right out of the box. From other manufacturers, you can purchase a glider with the same name as the gliders that their top factory pilots are flying. However, as is well known (and fully acknowledged) on the competition circuit, you cannot purchase, at any price, the same glider that their top pilots are flying. With the Wills Wing Talon you can.*

The Talon features a curved tip planform, composite tip wands, spring tip battens, a newly designed cam VG system with greatly expanded range, and a highly effective four sprog stability system. The competition edition adds the Slipstream Performance Control Bar system with Faired Carbon Basetube and a drum tight mylar sail with a highly refined sail cut that fits the airframe as if it came from a mold. Fully equipped and able to run with the factory works gliders from the other manufacturers the Talon competition edition costs less than the stock production version of that other glider.

Two prototype Talons, flown by Paris Williams and Richard Walbec, competed recently in the Brazil Nationals, and finished 3rd and 9th against a world class field. Five prototype Talons are set to fly in the Florida competitions this month. Final hardware design refinements are underway, and we expect full production on the Talon 150 within about six weeks.

The performance capability of the new Talon the idea that you can have factory works performance in a production glider is pretty exciting. But what we are just as excited about is the way the Talon flies. The handling qualities are exceptional, the Talon circles and climbs effortlessly in thermals, and is exceptionally well mannered in non-uniform air. At speed, the Talon tracks straight and true, and pitch pressures are delightfully light, yet progressive and secure.

You can order a Talon today!

* The Wills Wing factory pilots will be flying competition edition Talon 150s equipped with optional carbon mylar leading edge inserts, and equipped with full carbon control bars, (carbon downtubes as well as basetube) and competition thin 5/64 bottom wires. You can buy your glider in this same configuration if you want to, though we would recommend a few changes. We recommend the aluminum slipstream downtubes over the carbon downtubes because they cost substantially less to purchase and to replace and they offer the same performance, though the carbon downtubes are lighter in weight, and do look very cool. We recommend 3/32 wires over the optional 5/64 wires because they have a significantly higher safety margin, will likely last at least twice as long before needing replacement, and because the performance penalty is minimal. (How much drag is one 64th of an inch, anyway?) We will deliver production Talons in a production state of tuning (the way we like to fly them) and you should know that the competition pilots tune them differently. We will, however, be more than happy to tell you exactly how they tune them, and you can set up your glider that way if you want to

Wills Wing Talon 150

Wills Wing Talon 150 Features

•  Curved Tip Planform
• Composite Tip Wands
• Four Sprog Stability System
• Composite Transverse Battens
• Tubular Composite Cross Spar
• Extended Range Cam VG
• Slipstream Performance Downtubes
• Fully Streamlined Carbon Basetube
• 7075 Leading Edges and Keel
• 7075 Battens Integral Keel Stand
• Competition Mylar Sail Available
• Pocket for Carbon Leading Edge Insert
• Heavy Duty Glider Bag

Wills Wing Talon 150 Specifications

Communication Breakdown

We lost our DSL internet connection unexpectedly on March 28 when our DSL service provider’s bankrupt subcontractor, Northpoint, ceased operations completely and disconnected our service without notice . From what weve heard, about 100,000 others were similarly affected. The most important problem this caused was that our email was interrupted for about 20 hours. There is a good chance that some emails were permanently lost during that period. If you have any reason to suspect that a message you sent then did not get through, or if you think you may not have received a message from us, we suggest you contact us to check on it. We have DSL service restored at this time, and have had email capability since March 29.

The Rotor Harness

The price for the Rotor Kick Ass harness is $995. The harness as priced does not include a carabiner or a hook knife both are available.

We will have product and ordering information on the Rotor Harness on our web site in the near future. In the meantime, for information on the harness, please go to www.wallaby.com.

To order a Rotor Harness, download an order form from the Wallaby web site, fill it out, and contact your Wills Wing dealer to place your order. Delivery time for stock sizes and colors is 3-4 weeks, custom colors and sizes will be about 8-10 weeks.

Fly Safely!
The Wills Wing Crew