Wills Wing Condor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Condor
Role Hang glider
National origin United States
Manufacturer Wills Wing
Introduction 2000
Status Production completed

The Wills Wing Condor is an American high-wing, single-place, hang glider that was designed and produced by Wills Wing of Santa Ana, California. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1]

Design and development[edit]

The Condor was designed as a flight training glider specifically to introduce new pilots to hang gliding. As such it has a very large wing area, low wing loading, a stall speed of 13 mph (21 km/h) and it is intended for use only under very light wind conditions. It was specifically intended for sale only to professional hang gliding instructors for teaching solo students during their early glider-handling lessons. It was designed to be easy to ground handle, launch and fly in very light winds from a shallow hill.[2]

It is made from 7075-T6 aluminum tubing, with the control bar and kingpost made from 6061-T6 aluminum. The single-surface wing is covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 39.0 ft (11.9 m) span wing is cable braced from a single kingpost. The nose angle is 115°, wing area is 330 sq ft (30.7 m2) and the aspect ratio is 5:1. Pilot hook-in weight range is 45 to 120 kg (99 to 265 lb).[1][2]

The sole model in the line, the Condor 330, is named for its wing area in square feet. It is DHV and HGMA certified.[1]

Specifications (Condor 330)[edit]

Data from Bertrand and manufacturer[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 39 ft 1 in (11.9 m)
  • Wing area: 330 sq ft (30.7 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 5:1
  • Empty weight: 53 lb (24 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 24 mph (39 km/h, 21 kn)
  • Stall speed: 13 mph (21 km/h, 11 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
  • g limits: +3.5 ultimate

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 50. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b c Wills Wing (September 2000). "Condor 330 Glider Manual" (PDF). Retrieved March 5, 2016.

External links[edit]