HANG GLIDING , ARE OLDER GLIDERS ANY GOOD

FLYING A 1996 STING 2 XC AT STANWELL , ARE THEY ANY GOOD ? OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION AND OF SOUND DESIGN WHEN THEY WRE MADE , I HAVE PLENTY OF 20 YEAR OLD GLIDERS AND SOME I REALLY LIKE , AND SOME ARE NOT SO GREAT, DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY ANY GLIDER AND HAVE THE SUFFICENT ABILITY TO FLY IT.

[@dkjens0705]

I learned on a Wills Wing Duck 180, moved to many flights on a Seedwings Sensor 510B Full Race, one flight on a Wills Wing HP2, many flights on a Wills Wing HP-AT158 and finally a few flights on a Wills Wing Ram Air 154. The Sensor was a fantastic thermal wing with a small yaw problem during landings, the HP-AT158 was my favorite of the bunch and the Ram Air was the biggest pig ever, super fast in a straight line VG tight, a bear to muscle in thermals VG lose. Todays gliders with ball bearing tips must be a dream to fly.

[@Steve_Matthews773]

A few years back I flew an early 90s Enterprise Wings Aero. An intermediate glider with no VG and had only had about 50 hrs on it. Possibly the best glider I ever flew. Cut through turbulence, excellent glide, very easy to land. Felt like it had spring suspension, and would smooth out any bumps in turbulence.

[@justhangin7186]

The aero is actually the sting , it was bought by airborne and developed into the sting , think Mitsi had something to do with developing the aero

[@Steve_Matthews773]

@@justhangin7186 yeah, he mentioned that to me when I used to fly at Stanny. There’s still a few Aeros around. I gave mine to Vancho. Hope he still flies it.

[@mosiprop]

Loved my Sting 2XC-175... would love to get it back! ;)

[@justhangin7186]

I know where a mint condition one is for 1500 maybe done 20 hours from new 😉👌

[@mosiprop]

@@justhangin7186 .. sounds like a good deal. If it's in Australia, shipping cost might be high.

[@markodonoghue9526]

For coastal soaring, of course they are. As long as you not trying to break cross country records. Are there any 'written in stone' airframe age limits for hang gliders?

[@justhangin7186]

You won't break today's records but look up what it was in 96 and I reckon plenty of these had long flights , current record is nearly 800 Klms I think but 200 is pretty damn good I reckon for a days flight . If it hasn't been crashed hard or overstressed the airframe will last years if looked after , some c okcoastal pilots pull rags soaked in linseed oil through the tubes to protect from corrosion which is the biggest killer of glider frames 👍

[@Cadcare]

Good one Paul. I want to know what you think of the Enterprise Wings, Foil160B.

[@oldwaitekauri]

The Fowl was ok. Issue might be spares?

[@justhangin7186]

Find me one 🤣👍

[@winDfried0866]

The Foil series were shitt y suicide bombers. Even worse now with 30 years of sail shrink. Mine tried to kill me 3 times before i scrapped it for windsocket poles.