Oz Report

Tin Cup, it's time to re-subscribe

Re-subscription (LA, CA, USA)

Gerry and I are starting late this year on our little fund raising drive to get Oz Report readers who appreciate what we do to help support our efforts by re subscribing (donating).  I wasn't settled long enough in one spot with good internet access to allow me to engage fully in the necessary fund raising efforts until this week (thanks to my brother, his home, and his very fast wifi connection).

We don't ask for your subscription in advance, we ask for it after you have agreed that the Oz Report is worth supporting.  You don't pay unless you feel that you get value for money.

Speaking of value for money, by coincidence, this issue is our big money issue.  That is, we examine here (and in follow up articles) the price of hang gliders in the US (and around the world).  Check out the information below to get an idea of the kind of work we do here at the Oz Report and see if this information is valuable to you.

You can send $20 or more for a yearly subscription/donation.  To pay for your subscription with your credit card or PayPal account:

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Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
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Pensacola, FL 32513

These are our supporters (if you are not on the list and have donated to the Oz Report, email me and I'll make sure that you are recognized): http://ozreport.com/supporters.php.  Some of you who I've missed in the past did write to me and made sure I knew just how important the Oz Report was to them.  If I've missed you, please do tell me.

Discuss Tin Cup at the Oz Report forum   link»

Wills Wing prices in the USA

So where is the US dollar today? (Wills Wing Factory, California)

http://willswing.com

http://www.willswing.com/news.asp?newsSeek=341

The suggested retail prices on the Falcon 3's, Sport 2's and U2's have increased by $100, effective March 18th.  The prices of the T2 and T2C have not changed.

The new retail prices are:

Retail Price

Falcon 3 $3,475.00

Falcon 3 Tandem $3,875.00

Sport 2 $4,475.00

U2 $4,875.00

T2 $6,275.00

T2C $8,285.00

This price increase represents about 3% on a Falcon and about 2% on a U2.  It has been three years since our last glider price increase, and all of our costs have risen by much higher percentages during that period of time.  We have held the line on prices up until now by continually increasing our efficiency, but at this time it is necessary that we also institute a small price increase as well.  We thank you in advance for your understanding.

http://www.willswing.com/prod2.asp?theClass=hg&theModel=T2

Options: Note that all listed options are included in the price of the T2C

Slipstream 2 Control Legs (Downtubes) - No Charge -
Custom Sail Patterns - Quoted on Request -
205MT Leading Edge - No Charge -
205MT Trailing Edge - No Charge -
Color in #3 or #4 panel (per panel, plus Custom Choice of Colors charge) 01A-A6 $75.00
UVM10T Upgrade - P1 only 01A-A31 $75.00
Hydranet Leading Edge 01A-A3 $75.00
Hydranet Trailing Edge 01A-A3 $75.00
Carbon-Kevlar LE Insert 74x7.8 (need 2) 15M-2003 $100.00
Slipstream/Litestream Control Bar Wheel Kit 70M-1240 $140.00
Custom Choice of Colors 01A-A1 $150.00
PX All Mylar Top Surface 01A-A5 $150.00
12mm Batten Upgrade (T2 only) 01A-B11 $200.00
UVM10T Upgrade - Complete Top Surface 01A-A51 $300.00
Carbon Speedbar Upgrade (T2) 01A-B3 $420.00

More Options:

http://www.willswing.com/prod2.asp?theClass=hg&theModel=falcon3

http://www.willswing.com/prod2.asp?theClass=hg&theModel=u2

Discuss Wills' Prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Airborne prices translated to the US

Is Lookout really an Airborne dealer? (Airborne factory)

http://www.airborne.com.au/pages/hg_hanggliders.html

http://www.airborne.com.au/images/pdf/Glider_Retail_Prices_Jan_2007.pdf

In US dollars:

C4 Gliders

Glider C4-13.5 M/Drag D/Tube $7288

C4 Alternative Base Bar (One Required)

Speed Bar Round Type 2  $0.00
Speed Bar S/Line 1380 Type 2 $580
Speed Bar Carbon $1031

Options C4

Carbon Insert Climax Ii Set  $269
 
Sting

Glider Sting 154-2xc $4173
Glider Sting 175-2xc  $4822

Fun

Glider Fun 160 $3796
Glider Fun 190 $4049
Glider Fun 220 $4824

Options Fun 160 & 190

Speed Bar Option 160 & 190 $75

Shipping to the US is not included.  These are the export prices adjusted for the current Oz dollar/US dollar exchange rate.  From the Lookout web site it doesn't appear as though Lookout is a very active Airborne dealer, as it doesn't even mention the C4.

Discuss Airborne prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Moyes USA prices

Mon, Mar 24 2008, 5:40:27 am PDT

So where is the US dollar today? (Moyes USA)

http://moyesusa.com/

http://moyesusa.com/downloads/MoyesUSA08RetailPricelist.pdf

As of January 1st, 2008.

HIGH PERFORMANCE GLIDERS
LITESPEED RS	LITESPEED RS MYLAR - 3.5, 4	HG LSRS -M	$6,995.00
	LITESPEED RS SMOKE - 3.5, 4	HG LSRS -S	$7,195.00
LITESPEED S	LITESPEED 'S' DACRON - 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5	HG LSS -D	$6,795.00
	LITESPEED 'S' MYLAR - 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5	HG LSS -M	$6,995.00
	LITESPEED 'S' SMOKE - 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5	HG LSS -S	$7,195.00
LITESPORT	LITESPORT DACRON - 3, 4, 5	HG LSPORT D	$5,630.00
	LITESPORT MYLAR - 3, 4, 5	HG LSPORT M	$5,830.00
INTERMEDIATE GLIDERS (faired K/post, round uprights & base bar)
SONIC	SONIC 165	HG SON165	$3,995.00
	SONIC 190	HG SON190	$4,095.00
	SONIC 190 WITH VG	HG SON190VG	$4,195.00
XT	XT 145	HG XT145	$3,980.00
OPTIONS	ZOOM FRAME WITH CARBON SPEED BAR	HGO ZOOM/CARB	$795.00
	ZOOM FRAME WITH FAST BAR	HGO ZOOM/FAST	$550.00
	ZOOM FRAME WITH ROUND SPEED BAR	HGO ZOOM/ROU	$425.00
	FAST SPEED BAR & FITTINGS	HGO FAST	$250.00
	CARBON INSERTS	HGO CAR INS	$375.00
	CARBON L/EDGE BACK SECT.  FOR LITESPEED 'S'	HGO CAR LEB	$425.00
	CARBON L/EDGE FRONT SECT.  FOR LITESPEED 'S'	HGO CAR LEF	$800.00
	CARBON DIVE STRUTS FOR LITESPEED 'S'	HGO CAR DS	$500.00
	CARBON BATTENS - 4 X U/S (no.  1-2), 8 X M/S (no.7-10) = 12 BATTENS	HGO CAR BAT SET	$550.00
	SONIC/XT - PX20 L/EDGE	HGO PX20LE	$120.00
	SONIC/XT - SCRIM L/EDGE	HGO SLE
	SONIC/XT - SPEED BAR	HGO SB	$80.00
	SONIC/XT - AEROFOIL UPRIGHTS	HGO AU	$150.00

Discuss Moyes Prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Aeros USA prices

Updated to March 1st (Kiev, Ukraine)

http://www.flyaeros.com/

http://www.flyaeros.com/resources/retail_price_list.pdf (this web page may still have the old prices).  As of March 1st, 2008:

Discuss Aeros prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Icaro US dollar prices

At one euro equals $1.57

http://www.icaro2000.com/Home.htm

http://www.icaro2000.com/Products/Hanggliders/Z9/Z9.htm#6

Retail prices in US dollars Outside EU valid from 1.3.2008 VAT excluded

Laminar Z9 sail in "Square" (Dacron) $9,524

Options at order time

Sail in Diax - 60 LSP the new high performance laminate from Bainbridge $288
Sail in Diax - PP60P the high performance laminate from Bainbridge $288
MR competition A-frame in aluminum $772
MR competition A-frame in carbon $1269
Carbon battens $824
Carbon fibre stiffeners $275

Prices does not include shipping to the US.

Discuss Icaro prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

The US prices

I did this "research" when I received the price update from Wills Wing in an email.

1.  The dollar has lost a lot of its value relative to the Euro and to the Australian dollar in the last year and the last few months.  When I went to Australia on November 8th the Oz dollar was $0.85.  In late March it was $0.93.  This would normally push up the price of Australian goods in the US.

2.  The Euro had also gone up significantly over this time period.  This would push up the price of gliders made in Europe to the US, but I don't know how it would affect prices for gliders from the Ukraine (they have gone up since August 2007).

3.  7075 tubing is made in Switzerland (as I recall) and the cost of that aluminum tubing would, I assume, have gone up to Wills in dollar terms over the last three years.  This could also be the case for other manufactures using non dollars funds.

4.  It is somewhat difficult to compare prices across manufacturers because their basic glider contains different options and some options are available from some manufacturers but not from others.  You have to make sure that you are comparing similarly configured gliders.  I have done my best to provide you with the information you need to do that.  Still it will be difficult.

5.  I have contacted Moyes USA (Kraig Coomber) and Aeros USA (Deb McGlaughlin ) to get the latest pricing.  Kraig and Deb have confirmed that these are the current prices.

6.  Frankly, I am amazed that Wills Wing is able to maintain its prices over a three year period given the great pressure on the US dollar.

7.  There does not appear to be an Icaro hang glider distributor in the US (Dangerous Toys is a distributor for the Icaro helmets), but you most likely can purchase Icaro gliders from hang gliding dealers.

8.  Airborne may have a dealer in Lookout Mountain but their web site doesn't even list the C4.  I don't have actual US prices for Icaro and Airborne and have had to do a calculation (which may be wrong, and likely is off a bit as the exchange rate fluctuates).

9.  Yes, I am aware that Northwing is a US manufacturer of hang gliders, but they don't make a model that I could use in the comparison.  You can find Northwing here: http://northwing.com/products_hang_freedom.shtml.

Discuss The prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Comparing similarly configured high end racing gliders

So let's compare

We'll start with the Wills Wing T2C at $8,285 which includes all their options.

The Aeros Combat L with the carbon speed bar and the LE inserts at $7,929.

The Airborne C4 with carbon speed bar and LE inserts at $8,589.

The Moyes RS with the Mylar sail, Zoom A frame with carbon base bar, and carbon inserts at $8,165

Icaro Z9 with Mylar sail, carbon A frame, carbon inserts, $11,356.

Have I done this correctly?  Are these comparable configurations?  Moyes allows for even more carbon for the leading edges if you like.  Carbon battens are available for the Combat L, Litespeed RS and Z9 (which raise their prices).  The WW T2C already comes with the stiffer 12 mm aluminum battens, so it may be fairer to compare gliders with carbon battens with the WW T2C.  What do you think (you can do it yourself)?

Please send in any comments and corrections.

Discuss Comparing prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Garmisch, Free Flight, the big hang glider show

A video overview of the Free Flight trade show (Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany)

Regina Glas, Aeros trolley (Primoz Gricar), AIR ATOS VQ (Felix), Wills Wing (Harald Zimmer - http://seagull-aviation.com/), Icaro (Wolfgang Kaiser), Moyes (Wolfi Genghammer), Manfred Ruhmer and more.

http://www.dhv.de/typo/Drachen.4797.0.html.  DHV TV in German.

Discuss Garmisch at the Oz Report forum   link»

A semi-correction to the price comparison

Carbon sprogs in the "basic" Z9.

http://www.icaro2000.com/Products/Hanggliders/Z9/Z9.htm

The "basic" Icaro Z9 comes with carbon fiber sprogs.  They are an $500 option on the Moyes RS.  I don't see them as options on any of the other gliders.  Readers can, if they wish, adjust the price of the Z9 accordingly.

I apologize for not reporting that Urs Kellenberger is a US dealer for Icaro.  At the time I didn't consider listed dealers as dealers if they didn't have web pages.  There was no listed web page for him on the Icaro web site: http://www.icaro2000.com/Dealers/US.htm, so I missed him.  Sorry.

Urs pointed out the "problem" with the carbon sprogs, making for a less than perfect comparison.  Thanks for that.  He also mistakenly accused me of including VAT in the Icaro price, but later admitted his error (if somewhat grudgingly).

Discuss Correction at the Oz Report forum   link»