In the future there will be a new class of hang glider for the new pilot. It will be a true high performance glider. It will offer many of the best features of the most sophisticated competition class gliders. Its design will be a unique synthesis of advanced computer analysis and extensive practical experience.
The Future is Now!
The Spectrum brought true high performance within reach of the novice pilot and the casual recreational pilot, with handling qualities so easy, so refined, and so predictable that it revolutionized what was possible in an entry-level glider. Each unit was production test flown by one of a team of test pilots whose minimum rating of USHPA Master and minimum flight experience exceeding 1,000 hours made them the most experienced and best trained factory test pilots in the industry.
Specifications
| Specification | 144 | 165 |
|---|---|---|
| Area (ft²) | 144 | 165 |
| Span (ft) | 31 | 34 |
| Aspect Ratio | 6.7 | 7.0 |
| Nose Angle | 120° | 121° |
| Glider Weight (lbs) | 54 | 60 |
| Hook-In Weight (lbs) | 110-210 | 140-240 |
| Pilot Rating | USHPA Novice (II) | |
| Va (mph) | 46 | |
| Vne (mph) | 53 | |
| HGMA Certified | 10/30/90 | 6/30/90 |
| DHV Certified | Yes | Yes |
| Original Retail Price | $2,995 | |
See Airworthiness Certifications for complete HGMA and DHV records.
Features
Spectrum 144
A smaller Spectrum for smaller pilots, the 144 brought first-purchase high performance to a whole new group of pilots. A complete 7075 airframe and battens, drag-reducing wingtips, optional streamline downtubes and speedbar, and AT hardware were featured on the 144.
Spectrum 165
The 165 Spectrum took the recreational pilot market by storm. No glider before had combined this level of quality, performance, and value into a glider that was so much fun to fly and such a pleasure to own.
Standard Features
- Light weight, high strength airframe constructed entirely of 7075 alloy aluminum
- Durable and aerodynamically efficient sail, crafted from custom fabrics
- Performance-enhancing faired wing tips
- Advanced technology hardware throughout
- HGMA certified
- Production test flown by USHPA Master-rated test pilots
History
The Spectrum was HGMA certified in 1990 and served as Wills Wing's primary entry-level performance glider through the 1990s. It was eventually succeeded by a combination of models: the Falcon for novice pilots, the Eagle as a step-up glider, and the Ultra Sport for intermediate-advanced pilots.
The Spectrum's handling was often used as a benchmark — when Paul Voight reviewed the Ultra Sport in 1997, he noted that with VG full-loose, "the handling is very comparable to that of a Spectrum 165 — very light, quick and small feeling."
Review
Read the full review: "Pilot Report: Wills Wing Spectrum" by Angelo Mantas
Originally published in Hang Gliding Magazine, June 1992.
"Whether you're a novice looking for a first glider or an advanced 'leisure class' pilot like myself, the Spectrum has a lot to offer."
Angelo Mantas reviewed the Spectrum after more than 30 flights, highlighting its surprisingly competitive thermaling performance and easy handling that let him outclimb intermediate and competition gliders.