The HP (High Performance) was Wills Wing's original competition-oriented hang glider, offered in a single 170 ft² size. Introduced in September 1984, it established the HP lineage that would evolve through the HP II and ultimately reach its peak with the HP AT — the glider behind Larry Tudor's legendary world records.
The HP was produced alongside the Skyhawk, which entered production the same year, representing two different segments of Wills Wing's expanding mid-1980s lineup. Serial numbers for HP gliders fall in the 12001–13700 range.
Specifications
| Specification | 170 |
|---|---|
| Area (ft²) | 170 |
| Production era | Sep 1984 – Nov 1990 |
| Serial number range | 12001 – 13700 |
Detailed performance specifications for this era are not available in company records.
See Airworthiness Certifications for complete HGMA and DHV records.
History
The HP was the first model in Wills Wing's High Performance lineage, which would go on to define competitive hang gliding in the late 1980s. The HP II entered production in June 1986, overlapping with the original HP, and continued the design's evolution. Both models ran concurrently until the original HP's production ended in November 1990.
The HP lineage represents Wills Wing's systematic approach to competition glider development: each generation refining aerodynamics, structure, and handling until the HP AT achieved its historic competition dominance.