ADVANCING BEGINNER - SINGLE SURFACE
The Falcon 4 represents eighteen years of cumulative refinement of the most popular and successful glider in Wills Wing’s history. Since 1994, the Falcon series of gliders have represented the most accessible, stress-free soaring performance available in hang gliding, and have helped to introduce an entire generation of new pilots to the sport.
What's New
Updates on the Falcon 4 include a new sail cut and new sail panel layout, improved lateral stability at higher speeds and under aero tow conditions, and the option for the glider to be built with a Litestream Control bar for an extra $275. The Falcon 4 comes standard with an airframe that breaks down to shipping length, but is not short-packable into the 2 meter length. The short-packable airframe is an available option on the Falcon 4 for an extra $250. The 195 size features an extra batten for improved airfoil definition, and, on the standard airframe, a smaller diameter crossbar for reduced drag and improved performance. The Falcon 4 is currently available in the 145, 170 and 195 sizes – the Tandem remains a Falcon 3 Tandem at this time.
Notable Features of The Falcon 4
Can be short-packed to under 7 feet (2.1 m) for transport with available optional aiframe
Quick – attach nose cone enhances performance
Optional Litestream performance control bar can be ordered as an upgrade
Transverse batten extends washout support provided at wingtips, allowing for reduced number of reflex bridle lines
All main frame tubes are 7075 – T6 drawn seamless tubing for maximum strength to weight ratio
Improved sail cut yields enhanced aerodynamics
Handling is light and quick, yet remains comfortable and reassuring
Falcon 4 Performance
Less than ten days after the first production Falcon 3’s left the factory, a demo Falcon 3 170 had been flown 205 miles by Davis Straub for a new single surface cross-country world distance record. The Falcon 4 carries forward the tradition of exceptional effective soaring performance of the Falcon line, by providing an unmatched combination of relaxed and responsive handling with exceptional climb rate and low speed glide. For developing pilots, this is a glider that will allow you to have longer flights more often, and as a result will help you improve your flying skills more rapidly. For experienced pilots, the Falcon 4 will remind you of just how simple and how enjoyable soaring flight can be.
Falcon 4 Sizes
The Falcon 4 is in production in three sizes: 145, 170, and 195. The Falcon 3 Tandem remains the recommended Falcon model for solo pilots who are outside the top of the recommended weight range for the 195. (The Falcon 3 Tandem handles and performs exceptionally well for solo pilots as light as 185 lbs.)
Falcon 4 Options
Control Bar
The standard control bar on the Falcon 4 features round downtubes and a round, speedbar (comfort bar) basetube. (Note that these control bars are the same as the Falcon 3 control bars, but are different from, and not interchangeable with AT type control bar used on Falcon 1’s and Falcon 2’s - see the article Falcon Control Bars Not Interchangeable for more information.) This control bar configuration will accept either the 5 inch diameter Hall wheels or the 8 inch diameter Finsterwalder wheels, mounted directly on the basetube. As an option, Falcon 4 owners can order their glider built with the Litestream Control bar – equipped with either a streamlined or round speedbar basetube. The Litestream control bar with the streamlined basetube will accept the Wills Wing Streamlined Wheel Kit as an additional option, and with the round basetube, you can use either the Hall or Finsterwalder wheels.
Sail Colors
All panels in the Falcon 4 sail are available for use of colored sailcloth, if you restrict your choice to the 4 oz woven sail cloth. Inventory gliders will have factory selected colors on Panel One (top surface leading edge) and Panel 5 (bottom surface), and customers can select their own colors for these panels, as well as for panel 4 (trailing edge), for the normal $150 custom color choice charge. When custom color choice is selected, additional color choices can be selected for Panel 2 (top surface immediately behind Panel 1) and Panel 3 (mid-chord panel) for an additional $75 per (full span) panel. The tip panels on the Falcon 4 are not separate panels, unlike the Falcon 3, and will be the same color as the adjacent panel of which they are a part. On a customer color choice order, you can order a Falcon 4 with separate tip panels, and choose a separate color for those panels, for an additional split panel charge of $150.
Sail Materials
All panels in the Falcon sail will be made normally with 4 oz woven sailcloth, except for the #4 panel (trailing edge) which will normally be made with 4.9 oz material (C210 White) for increased durability. The C210 White material can also be selected for the #1 panel. It only comes in white. In addition, 205 MT can be selected for the #1 and / or #4 panels for an extra charge (see options table). Finally PX05 can be selected for the entire top surface for an extra charge. All of these options require the customer color choice option charge as well.
Optional Falcon 4 Short Pack Deluxe Transport / Storage Container
The Falcon 4 with the optional short-packable airframe can be broken down to a short pack length of seven feet (195), six and a half feet (170), or six feet (145) for transport, shipping or storage. Wills Wing offers an optional protective container, specially designed to provide maximum protection and transport convenience for your Falcon 4. The overall dimensions of the container allow shipping by most common carriers such as UPS, and allow you to check the glider as baggage on most airline flights.
The Deluxe Transport / Storage Container consists of a protective corrugated plastic box / liner inside of a heavy duty, ballistic cloth zippered bag. The entire glider – sail, airframe, battens and cover bags – fits inside the container. The internal box provides shape to the container, maintains the specific dimensions of the package and protects the airframe tubes of the glider from damage. The ballistic outer bag provides additional damage protection for the sail and airframe.
