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Wills Wing glider production history
Wills Wing has been the largest manufacturer of hang gliders worldwide since at least 1984(Ref). The grand total of 29,368 gliders manufactured over 48 years equates to an average of about 606 gliders per year or nearly 12 per week.
This page contains two tables. Each contains the same data, but they are ordered differently:
Bob Wills was originally the main designer at Wills Wing, aided by his brother Chris Wills and their old school friend Chris Price. After Bob was killed in 1977, Steve Pearson designed every Wills Wing glider, although Mike Meier co-designed the 1978 215 Alpha (the 155, 185, and 245 sizes are Steve’s), the 1980 Harrier 187 (the 177 and 147 sizes are Steve’s), and the 1984 Skyhawk 188 (the 168 is Steve’s). (Ref)
These statistics are dated 31/08/2021. This was when Wills Wing ceased manufacture at its Orange County, California, factory in preparation for moving production to Valle de Bravo, Mexico.
Chronological
| Year | Model | subtotal | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Standard Rogallo | 400 | 400 |
| 1974 | Swallowtail | 270 | 670 |
| 1975 | Super Swallowtail | 1016 | 1686 |
| 1977 | Cross Country | 157 | 1843 |
| 1978 | Alpha (78/79) | 633 | 2476 |
| 1979 | Omega | 101 | 2577 |
| 1979 | Omni | 11 | 2588 |
| 1979 | Raven | 1498 | 4086 |
| 1980 | Harrier | 978 | 5064 |
| 1981 | Duck | 1438 | 6502 |
| 1984 | Skyhawk | 307 | 6809 |
| 1984 | HP 170 (I & II) | 1204 | 8013 |
| 1986 | Sport (E & AT) | 2616 | 10629 |
| 1989 | HP AT | 2008 | 12637 |
| 1990 | Spectrum | 558 | 13195 |
| 1991 | Super Sport | 929 | 14124 |
| 1993 | Ramair | 814 | 14938 |
| 1994 | Falcon | 5780 | 20718 |
| 1995 | Cross Country (1995) | 736 | 21454 |
| 1996 | Ultra Sport | 718 | 22172 |
| 1997 | Fusion | 598 | 22770 |
| 1999 | Eagle | 396 | 23166 |
| 2000 | Condor | 247 | 23413 |
| 2001 | Talon | 453 | 23866 |
| 2003 | U2 | 1259 | 25125 |
| 2004 | Sport 2 & 3 | 2033 | 27158 |
| 2005 | T2/T2C & T3 | 1927 | 29085 |
| 2012 | Alpha | 283 | 29368 |
In order of quantity made
The following table ranks each glider model according to the number of that type manufactured (using the subtotals in the preceding table). Most models are superseded after a few years. However, the Falcon, which leads this table, has been in production continuously from its introduction in 1994.
| 1 | Falcon | 5780 |
| 2 | Sport (E & AT) | 2616 |
| 3 | Sport 2 & 3 | 2033 |
| 4 | HP AT | 2008 |
| 5 | T2/T2C & T3 | 1927 |
| 6 | Raven | 1498 |
| 7 | Duck | 1438 |
| 8 | U2 | 1259 |
| 9 | HP 170 (I & II) | 1204 |
| 10 | Super Swallowtail | 1016 |
| 11 | Harrier | 978 |
| 12 | Super Sport | 929 |
| 13 | Ramair | 814 |
| 14 | Cross Country (1995) | 736 |
| 15 | Ultra Sport | 718 |
| 16 | Alpha (78/79) | 633 |
| 17 | Fusion | 598 |
| 18 | Spectrum | 558 |
| 19 | Talon | 453 |
| 20 | Standard Rogallo | 400 |
| 21 | Eagle | 396 |
| 22 | Skyhawk | 307 |
| 23 | Alpha | 283 |
| 24 | Swallowtail | 270 |
| 25 | Condor | 247 |
| 26 | Cross Country (1977) | 157 |
| 27 | Omega | 101 |
| 28 | Omni | 11 |
Reference
Steve Pearson of Wills Wing provided these statistics in August 2021: E-mail exchange with the author of this web site
Hang Gliding History 
Thanks for the history!
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Wow, hard to believe that Bob Wills and I were Test Pilots for Each SST that came off the assembly line back in 1976-1977. I believe I tested about 20 a week for almost a year while working for Wills Wing. That didn’t even seem like a job but we sure had fun. I really do miss Bob and wish he were around today to see all the cool Electronics that have come along since he passed away. AND Thank Chris Wills, Linda and Mike Meier and Steve Pearson for holding the company and making it as successful as it has been for well over 40+ Years!! David Vincent
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