Wills Wing October 1999 Info Bulletin

The Fusion 150 SP

The Wills Wing Team has been competing on a new, factory “works” Fusion 150 this summer with excellent results. We are proud to announce that this glider is now available for general release. For the first time in recent history, you can purchase the same glider that the factory pilots flew in the World Championships and other major meets this year. Or, alternately, if you don’t want to go the full competition route, you can individually select those options that most appeal to you and custom tailor your glider for optimum value. (Note: We will ship gliders with the stability devices set in the stock, certifiable configuration. We are aware that many of the top competition pilots are choosing to fly with the sprogs and washout tubes at a lower setting. We do not endorse or recommend lowering the stability devices.)

New Type III Airfoil and Sail

This is the latest airfoil iteration from designer Steve Pearson. Last year, Steve won the Morningside Glide Angle Contest flying a Fusion with an experimental “Type II” airfoil. The performance increase was so significant that Steve beat Rob Kells who was flying a stock airfoil Fusion, even though Steve was limited in launch efficiency by a pulled hamstring. This year, Rob and Steve finished first and second at Morningside on the new Type III airfoil, which offers even greater performance gains over the Type II. The Type III airfoil and other sail changes seem to increase performance by nearly a full L/D point compared to the original Fusion. In addition, all of the competition pilots and factory test pilots agree that the Type III airfoil offers a significant improvement in handling. All Fusion 150’s are now being made with the Type III airfoil. (Note: The Type III airfoil includes, and requires changes to the cut of the sail, and cannot be retrofitted to earlier Fusions.)

Spring Retained Battens

This is one of the cleanest looking options we’ve ever offered. Excluding the #1 and #2 battens out at the wing tip, which remain conventional at the rear batten tip, all of the rest of the top surface battens are enclosed within the sail, with the rear tips spring loaded and retained in the trailing edge hem. The difference in visual cleanliness that this smooth trailing edge presents has to be seen to be appreciated. The spring battens are a $100 retail option.

Full Carbon Faired Control Bar

The new full carbon faired control bar designed by Steve Pearson is a true work of art. Streamlined carbon downtubes mate seamlessly to a streamlined carbon basetube through a beautifully crafted set of machined aluminum streamlined fittings. The basetube is assembled with an internal safety cable. Streamlined downtube and basetube sections feature a specially designed low drag profile with a minor axis of only 0.77″! The major axis is 3.0 inches. The production version uses a ball lock pin to secure the non-VG-side basetube corner fittings, which come apart for folding the control bar. The carbon basetube is a one-piece unit (i.e. not a ‘folding speedbar’).

Front to rear wires of 5/64″ diameter cable and side wires of 3/32″ diameter cable complete the minimum drag configuration. Calculations and field measurements indicate that the control bar set up alone increases the L/D by nearly a full point at best L/D speed. The performance improvement can actually be physically sensed first hand if you stand on the ground while a Fusion SP cruises by at 30 mph just overhead. Instead of the normal whistling hiss of the glider’s passage, what you hear instead is … silence! You’ve got to (not) hear it to believe it!

The full carbon faired bar and wire set is sold only for the Fusion 150 – as an added accessory – for $1000 retail. This means that if you order a Fusion 150 SP with the full carbon faired control bar, you also get the normal stock control bar and wires fitted to the glider. This allows the pilot the option of using the bar only for competition if desired, and retaining the bar when he sells the glider later on. (Note: The carbon bar will withstand normal maneuvering loads within the placarded operating limitations of the glider, but is NOT strong enough to withstand aerobatic loads or loads from abrupt maneuvering or very rough air at very high speeds. The carbon bar is not recommended as the best option for recreational flying. It is not as durable as the aluminum bar, is much more expensive to replace if you break it, and will subject the pilot to a greater chance of injury in a crash landing. The carbon bar is intended for serious competition and cross country pilots who want the highest possible performance from a flex wing.)

Carbon Mylar Pocket Inserts

Updated Information, 10/18/99:

This is a thin sheet of carbon, measuring 96″ long by 9″ wide, which is installed into the mylar pocket in the front section, either on top of or underneath the existing mylar insert. It provides additional support for the leading edge of the top surface of the sail, helping to keep the leading edge clean, especially at higher speeds. Unit is “EA” which means that you need two for one glider. It will fit any glider with a mylar pocket, although it will be difficult to impossible to install on a glider that has only a small opening to the mylar pocket, and in such a case may require that the mylar pocket be opened up (unstitched) at the front for installation. Each one weighs .81 lbs, so a set adds 1.6 lbs to a glider. Part designation is 15M-2001.

Note: We have pitch tested the type III airfoil and done component load tests on the carbon control bar. The Fusion SP 150 is not, at this time, HGMA certified. Check our web site for updated information on the certification status.

Fusion SP Suggested retail prices:

See the Fusion Information Page for complete glider specifications, etc.

1999 Competition Team

We would like to welcome some new members to the worldwide Wills Wing competition team. Richard Walbec and Françoise Mocellin, the men’s and women’s French National Champions, have joined the team flying Fusions this year. Richard placed 6th in the World Championships this summer in spite of having just recently flown the Fusion for the first time! Also, German League pilot Felix Wölk will fly the Fusion this year. Returning international team pilots include Carl Reicheigger from Italy, Austrians Stephan Waldhart, and Thomas Strauss, Norwegian Andreas Hobbesland, Colombian Champion Luis Rizo, Venezuelan Champion Sandy Dittmar, Mexican Alex Olazabal, Canadian Champion Chris Muller and US National Champions Jim Lee, Chris Arai and Kari Castle.

Drogue Parachute In Production

The new Wills Wing drogue chute is in production and ready for immediate delivery. The drogue chute includes a container for your harness, installation instructions and an owner’s manual with instructions for use. Please see the Wills Wing Drogue Chute page for more information.

Control Bar Millennium Update

The control bar Millennium project is still under development, but we cannot project a release at this time. As you are no doubt aware, the other new designs in this market are now 20 lbs. lighter in weight than was the competition when we began the project. To compete successfully in this market we need to be competitive in weight and performance with the latest entries. We are presently working on the necessary engineering to bring down the weight, while maintaining the necessary levels of strength and performance. We do remain enthusiastic about the project.

Falcon Price Increase

The price of the 140, 170 and 195 Falcons will increase $100 to $2995 for all orders received after November 15th. We have inventory Falcons in stock.

Suunto Wrist Computers

The Suunto “wrist computer” altimeter / watch is now available in two models – the original VECTOR, and the new ALTIMAX. The Altimax is a slightly less expensive version that has all the same features of the Vector except for the digital compass. Both models feature a very accurate altimeter, a lighted dial, are water proof to 100 feet, and have batteries that can be replaced by the owner. If you don’t mind the size, (it’s a little big) it’s a great instrument.

Charly Insider Helmets by Finsterwalder

The Charly Insider Helmets have been very popular and we’ve just received a new shipment, so we have them in stock.

There are some new helmet colors:

Black – This is a true black, as opposed to the dark gray that we had before.

Blue/Purple – This is a deep, bluish purple color that has been described as “blue,” or as “purple” by different people. We’ll split the difference and call it Blue/Purple.

In addition, we will continue to stock white and burgundy. For the time being, we will also stock the turquoise (light blue) color, though that has been discontinued, and supplies are limited. The dark gray has also been discontinued – we have just a few left in stock but there are no more available.

Free Helmet Deal Expires

The free helmet deal with the customer purchase of a new Z5 harness will expire on November 15th.

See our website at www.www.willswing.com for color pictures and sizing information. Even if you have to pay for it, it’s a great helmet!

Wills Wing Team Jackets

We once again have Wills Wing Team Jackets! These popular, medium-weight nylon fleece lined Fall (or Southern California Winter) jackets come in black, sport the “Wills Wing” logo and embroidered hang glider on the left breast, and the large embroidered “Wills Wing” across the back. See our website Apparel page for pictures of the jackets and all the popular Wills Wing apparel. Jackets are available in sizes medium and large.

Contacting Us by Phone – Our New Phone System

As some of you probably already know, we have a new phone system. This is another part of our effort to give you better service. It includes voice mail, and the capability for calls being answered by the “auto attendant,” though we are committed at present to answering as many of your calls personally as we can. Before we describe how the system works, let us first apologize to any of you that we have inadvertently hung up on during the last few weeks. It has taken some time for us to learn how to use the system.

Here’s a brief summary of how the system works:

Our regular phone number – 714 998 6359 – is still the primary way to contact us if you’re not sure who you want to talk to, OR if there is more than one person here who can help you. During normal business hours (8 AM to 5 PM PT) this phone rings in the front office, and if there’s anyone available to answer it, we will. (After hours, or if everyone here is tied up, your call will be answered by the “auto attendant” using Gene Atkins’ voice.)

If you know who you want to speak to, and you want to dial that person’s desk directly, please call one of the three “back door” numbers and you will reach the auto attendant directly. The numbers to call, in the order that they are least likely to be busy, are: (714) 998-7371, 7631, and 1532. When you hear Gene’s voice you can immediately enter the person’s three digit extension, or wait for options on how to obtain a list of extensions. If the person is away from their desk, or on the phone already, you will get their voice mail, and you can leave a message. Here is a list of extensions and there is also a card enclosed with this list that you can post by your phone.

100 Rob Kells (Sales and Marketing, dealerships, demos)
101 Linda Meier (Placing, routing and checking on orders, accounts receivable)
103 Mike Meier (Placing orders, technical support, accounts receivable)
104 Steve Pearson (Product design and engineering, technical support)
105 Rick Zimbelman (Purchasing)
106 Gene Atkins (Harnesses, hang loops, accessory department)
108 Ken Howells (Website administration)
111 Robert Robles (Shipping department)

If you are in the voice mail system, and wish to reach another extension, you can either enter it immediately (while the auto attendant is still talking), or, after leaving a message, wait through all the options until you hear the woman’s voice say, “Your message has been sent. If you need further assistance, press the # key now.” At this point, pressing the # key will return you to the start of the voice mail process, and you can enter a new extension.

That’s it for now, thank you for your interest in Wills Wing!

We welcome your suggestions.

Please Fly Safely!
The Wills Wing Crew

Last Modified: 26 April, 2001