The Wills Wing Falcon represents 20 years of design experience combined with modern materials and manufacturing technology to bring you the easiest possible access to the highest level of effective soaring performance. Whatever your level of skill as a pilot, you will find the Falcon both easier and more fun to soar than any other glider you have flown.
With its exceptionally light weight and simple, rapid setup, the Falcon will have you in the air while other pilots are still setting up. With its unmatched slow flight capability and light, responsive and predictable handling, the Falcon will have you climbing away from launch while other pilots are struggling to find the lift. With its superb flare authority and forgiving landing characteristics, the Falcon will keep you smiling right through to the end of every flight.
Simply put, the Falcon is a glider that will make you fall in love with flying, whether for the first time, or all over again.
Specifications
| Specification | 140 | 170 | 195 | 225 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area (ft²) | 140 | 170 | 195 | 225 |
| Span (ft) | 27.8 | 30.6 | 33 | 35.8 |
| Aspect Ratio | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.7 |
| Glider Weight (lbs) | 42 | 46 | 50 | 59 |
| Hook-In Weight (lbs) | 120-210 | 140-230 | 150-275 | 185-440 |
| Optimum Body Weight (lbs) | 115-135 | 135-155 | 155-190 | 190-230 |
| Pilot Rating | USHPA Novice (II) | |||
| Va (mph) | 46 | |||
| Vne (mph) | 53 | |||
| HGMA Certified | 3/13/95 | 3/13/95 | 8/10/94 | 3/13/95 |
| Original Retail Price | $2,895 | $2,895 | $2,895 | $3,195 |
A Falcon Tandem was also available for instructional use.
See Airworthiness Certifications for complete HGMA and DHV records.
Features
- Exceptionally light weight — all 7075 airframe
- 7075-T6 pre-formed battens
- Keyhole tang attachment system for rapid setup
- Simple, rapid assembly — two minutes for an experienced pilot
- Rear crossbar haulback system
- Unmatched slow-flight capability for tight thermal coring
- Superb flare authority and forgiving landing characteristics
- Deluxe glider bag, control bar bag, batten bag, and Velcro sail ties
- Comprehensive owner/service manual and batten diagram
Review
Read the full review: "Pilot Report: Wills Wing Falcon 195 & 225" by Gil Dodgen
Originally published in Hang Gliding Magazine, December 1996.
"It's light, a breeze to set up, phenomenally easy to fly, reassuring in turbulence and a piece of cake to land. And it costs half what a blade wing does. I really believe that gliders like the Falcon may be instrumental in creating a hang gliding renaissance."
— Gil Dodgen
Pilot Comments
"I launched from McGee Mountain at 11:55 AM and landed in Gabbs, Nevada at 4:55 — 101 miles on a Falcon. My first climb after launch was from 500 feet over the landing field to 17,999! What a day!"
— Dan Conners, July 2001
"I took the Falcon 195 out for some casual soaring yesterday on my lunch break. I got up to 9,500 feet and flew 95 miles from Rock Springs, Wyoming. The Falcon just seems to keep going and going."
— David Glover, June 1999
"Using a Fusion 150 and an Xtralite, I can soar our local sites in all conditions from light to strong. Both are great, but the Fusion lets me fly in conditions that ground the XL. I also use a Falcon 195 for fun — it goes a lot farther than you'd think."
— Pete Lehmann, May 1999
Service
The Falcon is covered by several Technical Bulletins, including:
- Cable Maintenance (TB 19940802) — universal cable inspection procedures
- Crossbar Ball and Socket Changes (TB 20000901)
- Falcon 195 and 225 Crossbar Material Changes (TB 20000902)
- Falcon Leading Edge to Crossbar Assembly (TB 20020801)
- Falcon Sail Mount Tip Webbing (TB 20030910)
- Retrofit Stabilizer Kit (TB 20031021)
Spare parts for the original Falcon are no longer available from Wills Wing. For parts, check with Lookout Mountain Flight Park or the used glider market.
History
The original Falcon was introduced in 1994 and quickly became the world's most popular single-surface hang glider. It redefined what was possible in a novice-rated glider, offering genuine soaring performance in a package that was light, easy to set up, and a joy to fly.
Notable achievements on the original Falcon include Pete Lehmann's 114-mile cross-country flight from Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1999, and David Glover's 95-mile flight the same year — both remarkable distances for a single-surface glider.
The Falcon line has been continuously refined through four generations:
Related Articles
- How to Set Up a Falcon — setup principles apply across Falcon generations
- Falcon Basetubes