The Alpha is a new model that looks and flies like a lower aspect ratio Falcon and is intended for flight schools and for pilots who value light weight, convenience, slow flying and easy take-off and landing above other performance attributes. The Alpha 180 has about the same span as a Falcon 4 145 but more area than a Falcon 4 170. The new Alpha 235 replaces the Alpha 210. Compared to the 210, the stall speed is lower and the controllability at speeds close to stall is significantly better.
The Alpha 180 uses the same F3-60 size control bar as the Falcon 4 145, and the Alpha 235 uses a new Falcon 3 64 control bar size between that of the Falcon 4 170 and Falcon 4 195.
The Alphas fly very slowly, and are very docile and easy in handling, take-off and landing, and yet they have exceptionally good soaring performance – better in fact in very light lift and small thermals than a Falcon. Unlike the Condor, the Alpha is a fully airworthy, utility class glider, and can be flown in any reasonable flying conditions, and purchased by new students or experienced pilots. The Alpha is a better first purchase glider for most new pilots than a Falcon, and almost as easy for first training flights as a Condor. In some ways the Alphas are easier for students than the Condor, because they are smaller gliders, and therefore easier to ground handle if there is wind. The Alpha’s launching speed is not quite as slow as the Condor 330, but it is noticeably slower than a Falcon.
How capable is the Alpha? Willy Dydo from Fly Away Hang Gliding
in Santa Barbara shared this with us, “I sold my 144 so I’ve been racking up a ton of time on the Alpha lately ( : I’ve had some amazing flights on it and have even gotten my best out and return to the West on it. So much fun to fly! It’s been making training for new pilots so much easier too. Thanks again for making such a great glider! ”
Features
7075-T6 Drawn Seamless Keel Tubing
7075-T6 Drawn Seamless Leading Edge
7075-T6 Drawn Seamless Crossbar
7075-T6 Pre-formed Battens
Ball-type Crossbar Center
Full Leading Edge Mylar Pocket and Mylar Insert
Rear Crossbar Haulback System
Deluxe Glider Bag, Control Bar Bag, Batten Bag, and Velcro Sail Ties
Spare Parts Kit, Team Hat, Bumper sticker
Comprehensive Owner / Service Manual and Batten Diagram
Control Bar
The standard control bar on the Alpha features round downtubes and a round, straight basetube. A round, speedbar basetube is an available upgrade. This control bar configuration will accept either the 5 inch diameter Hall wheels or the 8 inch or 10 inch diameter Finsterwalder wheels, mounted directly on the basetube.
Sail Colors and Material
All panels in the Alpha sail are made with 4 oz woven sailcloth, and are available for use of colored sailcloth. 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 on non-inventory gliders without any additional custom color choice charge. When a customer is choosing colors for a non-inventory glider, additional color choices can be selected for Panel 2 (top surface immediately behind Panel 1) and Panel 3 (mid-chord panel), and panel 4 (trailing edge panel) for an additional £75 per (full span) panel.
