Very simply, I wanted to break the king posted hang gliding world record. Unfortunately,  I didn't get much of a chance at it in 2007.

After I set the single surface world record at 205 miles in 2006, I was thinking that it might be nice to break that record. But Rob Kells wanted me to try to set a record in the Sport 2. At first, I didn't like the idea as I didn't see what record I could be setting.

Then I finally realized that the Wills Wing Sport 2 would be the perfect glider for breaking Larry Tudor's world record set out of Hobbs, New Mexico in 1994. Sure we had broken that record using rigid wings in 2000 and 2001 and topless hang gliders in 2001 (and 2002), but no one had flown over 300 miles in a king posted hang glider since Larry did it.

The Sport 2 because no one would expect me to break the record on this intermediate glider. It is not the top of the line king posted glider like the Wills Wing U2 or the Moyes Litesport, but heck it has a VG and has pretty darn good performance. Breaking Larry's record with the Sport 2 would reflect well on me as a cross country pilot and well on the glider.

But then I didn't get a chance to fly in south Texas as the weather didn't cooperate this year. I had gone to Michigan before my expected trip to Zapata to warm up for the big attempt at the record, and fortunately I was able to set the Michigan state record, flying the Sport 2, 170 miles into Ohio (breaking my ATOS state record of 155 miles).

I have traded use of the glider for ad space in the Oz Report. Wills Wing has been a solid and steady advertiser here in the Oz Report, so it definitely cuts into my only income to do this trade. But, I'd rather switch between various flex wing gliders giving every manufacturer a fair shake, then have to choose one, and have it perceived as my favorite. When I fly in the Ukraine, I'll be sure to fly an Aeros (and I did try to break the single surface record in Florida with an Aeros Target on loan from G.W. Meadows).

Thanks to Wills Wing for making this trade for the use of their great little glider. I've sure had fun with it. It goes back to the factory next month, and you can have a chance at buying the Sport 2 that set the Michigan state record. It is in excellent shape, of course.

Maybe I'll get another chance in 2008. Who knows what the weather will be then.

Discuss Sport 2? at the Oz Report forum
   
 
 
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