Wills Wing

What Wills Wing does

Wills Wing (legal entity Sport Kites, Inc. dba Wills Wing) designed and manufactured hang gliders and related equipment from Orange, California from 1973 until its dissolution in 2025. The company served individual pilots across all skill levels — beginning, intermediate, advanced, and competition/elite — with a horizontally segmented product line spanning entry-level trainers (Alpha, Condor), single-surface recreational gliders (Falcon 4 series), intermediate double-surface gliders (Sport 3, U2/U2C), and full competition-class airframes (T2, T2C, T3), supplemented by harnesses (FlyLite 3, Z5, Covert), the LARA emergency parachute, and performance accessories such as the Litestream control bar, raked tips, keel fairing, and carbon keel stinger.

The company's technical foundation rested on 7075-T6 aluminum airframes, proprietary Variable Geometry (VG) systems, internal four-sprog stability arrangements with composite transverse battens, carbon fiber components, and proprietary strut profiles validated in the University of Stuttgart wind tunnel. Notable engineering contributions included the Litestream Performance Control Bar delivering over 95% drag reduction versus standard AT-style bars and the wide-range 24:1 VG reduction system. Steve Pearson served as principal design engineer from 1977 and Mike Meier held 33 years of HGMA certification testing experience with 97 personally certified Wills Wing models — the highest such count in the industry.

Wills Wing monetized through one-time hardware sales at suggested retail prices ranging from approximately $7,075 (T2) to $8,885 (T2C), with optional upgrade line items. Distribution combined an authorized dealer network responsible for personal delivery of safety-critical items with direct website sales of inventory gliders, supplemented by demo days at sites such as Wallaby Ranch and Lookout Mountain. The company was dissolved in 2025 after more than 50 years and over 20,794 serialized gliders produced; Wills Wing Mexico (willswing.org) is now an independent successor authorized to manufacture and sell Wills Wing designs under new ownership, while all intellectual property rights remain with Steven Pearson and Michael W. Meier.

Name

Wills Wing

Legal name

Sport Kites, Inc. dba Wills Wing

Website

https://willswing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wills Wing was a US hang glider manufacturer (Orange, California) operating from 1973 to 2025, designing and selling training, intermediate, and competition-class hang gliders, harnesses, and accessories to individual recreational and competitive pilots through dealers and direct website sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hang Gliders and Foot-Launched Aircraft

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Glider & Sailplane Manufacturing (IMABAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aerial Adventure & Flight Schools (Paragliding, Hang Gliding, Paramotoring) (THAAAKAA)

Keywords

• Hang gliders
• Hang gliding equipment
• Ultralight aircraft
• Foot-launched flight
• Competition hang gliders

Headquarters

HQ city

Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hang Glider Sales: One-time purchase of hang gliders ranging from training (Alpha) to competition class (T2C, T3). Product categories include Falcon series, Sport series, U series, and T series. Pricing from approximately $7,075 (T2) to $8,885 (T2C) suggested retail. Various upgrade options available at additional cost. Company ceased manufacturing and sales in 2025.
2. Harness and Accessory Sales: Sale of harnesses (FlyLite 3, Z5, Covert), parachutes, control bars, vertical stabilizers, and other accessories. Company dissolved in 2025.
3. Parts and Upgrades: Replacement parts, sail upgrades (205MT, UVPX, UVODL), carbon fiber upgrades, color options, and various performance enhancements sold as individual line items with part numbers and retail pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wills Wing designed and manufactured hang gliders and related equipment (harnesses, parachutes, control bars, and accessories) ranging from entry-level training gliders to high-performance competition models. The company produced a portfolio including the Falcon series (single surface), Sport series, U series, and T series (competition class), serving pilots from beginners to elite competitors until its dissolution in 2025.

Product overview

Wills Wing was a hang glider manufacturer operating from 1973 to 2025, headquartered in Orange, California. The company designed and produced a portfolio of hang gliders ranging from entry-level training gliders (Alpha) to high-performance competition models (T3, T2C), along with harnesses (FlyLite 3, Z5, Covert), emergency parachutes (LARA), and accessories (control bars, keel fairings, raked tips, carbon keel stingers). The product line includes single-surface gliders (Falcon 4 series) and double-surface performance gliders (Sport 3, U2, T2 series). Sport Kites, Inc. dba Wills Wing dissolved in 2025; production and sales ceased. Wills Wing Mexico (willswing.org) is now an independent company authorized to manufacture and sell Wills Wing designs under new ownership. This website is maintained as a historical archive by Steven Pearson and Michael W. Meier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• T3 High-performance competition class hang glider with extraordinary performance and relaxed handling characteristics, designed for top-level pilots competing at national and international levels.
• T2C Full competition version of the T2 featuring carbon rear leading edges, carbon sprogs, UV-film laminate sail, carbon-kevlar LE pocket inserts, and carbon streamlined basetube. The highest performance competition glider in the Wills Wing lineup.
• T2 Highly refined high-performance competition class glider featuring carbon fiber crossbar, wide-range VG system with 24:1 reduction, and rigid sprog stability system. Suggested retail price $7,075.
• U2 / U2C Very high performance glider with handling suitable for intermediate pilots, featuring Litestream control bar and internal four-sprog stability system. U2C variant provides near-topless performance with UV-film laminate sail, speed battens, and black airframe. Available in 145 and 160 sizes.
• Sport 3 Intermediate hang glider with redesigned sail and stability system, offering high performance with an effective VG system that is accessible to intermediates and satisfies advanced pilots. Available in 135, 155, and 170 sizes.
• Falcon 4 The world's most popular single surface hang glider, refined and optimized for over 20 years for accessible stress-free soaring performance. Available in 145, 170, and 195 sizes.
• Falcon 4 Tandem Falcon 4 configured specifically for tandem instructional use in a training environment, with pilot weights covering up to 275 lbs hook-in weight.
• Alpha Entry-level hang glider providing the easiest and most enjoyable introduction to foot launched flight. Designed for training hill and soaring use with easy handling characteristics.
• Condor Hang glider model in the Wills Wing product lineup.
• FlyLite 3 Harness model designed for lightweight pilot comfort and safety.
• Z5 Harness model in the Wills Wing harness lineup.
• Covert Harness model in the Wills Wing harness lineup.
• LARA Parachute Emergency parachute system for hang glider pilots.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Open Distance Record of 475 miles (Dustin Martin, T2C-144, 2012)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wills Wing MexicocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWills Wing Mexico (willswing.org) was originally established with setup support from Wills Wing USA to serve ongoing customer needs. Steven Pearson initially joined as a partner directing factory configuration, setup, and production development. He has since sold his interest and is no longer associated with the company. The company was subsequently acquired and reorganized under new ownership. Wills Wing Mexico is authorized to use the 'Wills Wing' name and to manufacture and sell Wills Wing hang glider designs. No Wills Wing USA intellectual property has been sold, assigned, or transferred to Wills Wing Mexico or its successor; all IP rights remain with Steven Pearson and Michael W. Meier.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Pacific Paragliders (PG): Pacific Northwest US-based manufacturer of hang gliding equipment and instructional services. Comparable in core hang glider hardware and dealer-led distribution, with a stronger regional concentration than Wills Wing's broader North American reach.

Direct peers

• Icaro 2000: Italian hang glider and paraglider manufacturer producing comparable training, intermediate, and performance-class hang gliders. Direct peer through overlapping product architecture (VG systems, double-surface performance gliders) and shared competition pilot customer base.
• Aeros (Combat Aircraft / Aeros Gliders): Long-established European hang glider manufacturer specializing in competition and recreational gliders. Comparable to Wills Wing in product categories covered (training to competition), composite/carbon construction techniques, and reach into world-championship-level pilots.
• Moyes Delta Gliders: Australian hang glider manufacturer and Wills Wing's primary historical competitor in the competition-class and intermediate segments. Customer testimonials in the Wills Wing data explicitly benchmark T2 performance against Moyes 'race ships,' underscoring direct rivalry in the competition-tier glider category.
• La Mouette: French hang glider manufacturer producing a portfolio of training, sport, and competition hang gliders. Direct competitor with comparable product positioning across skill levels and competition pedigree.
• Wills Wing Mexico (successor): Independent successor corporation authorized to manufacture and sell Wills Wing designs under new ownership. Most directly comparable entity post-2025 dissolution — same product designs, same brand, but no inherited IP ownership, making it a peer rather than a continuation.
• North Wing Technology: North American hang glider manufacturer producing single-surface and double-surface hang gliders for recreational and competition segments. Closest US-based direct competitor with overlapping dealer/channel structure.
• AirBorne Gliders / Woodtoy: Australian hang glider and paraglider manufacturer covering training through performance tiers, competing for HGMA-certified model slots and competition pilots.

Others

• USHGA / USHPA: US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association — the national governing body and certification counterpart to HGMA referenced in Wills Wing's scale data. Relevant as the regulatory and pilot-certification ecosystem shaping the addressable market for hang glider OEMs.

Emerging players

• Dudek Paragliders: Polish-based manufacturer primarily of paragliders and paramotoring wings with overlap in lightweight sail and carbon component R&D relevant to Wills Wing's material-science focus.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FLYWillsWing
• Facebookfacebook.com/WillsWing
• Instagraminstagram.com/willswing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wills-wing-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wills Wing