Ok, now that I have stopped lurking and started posting, I have a request... Do any of the North Wing Freedom (or Horizon) owners have pics or videos to share? I just recently ordered a brand new North Wing Freedom 190 from our local dealer and I am in need of a "fix" with regards to pics or video!
Can you help out a new North Wing owner with some eye candy?!
I've been eyeing the freedom as well and I also need a 190. I currently have a Falcon 1-225 and the freedom looks amazing for a single surface glider. I want to go the full mylar version and possibly even do the wills wing slipstream control bar mod. Which options did you choose? What was the out the door cost?
For those who own and are currently flying freedoms please let me know how you like them.
Marc _________________ "If flying were the language of man, then soaring would be its poetry."
H2 Falcon1-225
NW Freedom 190 just arrived...waiting to reach H3 to transition..
I ordered my Freedom with the PX-15 full Mylar sail, PX-15 Mylar leading edges, flip tip battens, comfort control bar and two color (bloue/black) under surface. I am a fairly new pilot, so I did not order the Freedom with the airfoil base tube, but plan to upgrade it later when I have more experience.
I took advantage of the pre-December 5% discount. After taxes and US exchange cost was under $4700.00. I plan on flying this wing for many years so the cost with upgrades just make perfect sense to me. I also love the upgraded features on this wing in it's standard configuration.
I plan on acquiring a 170 Freedom in the new year. I demoed a Freedom at Lookout and was impressed with the glide, handling, and ease of landing. In recent years, my flying has evolved from mid-day, stronger thermally conditions to light thermals/wonder winds/sled runs and the Freedom will fit nicely into this style of flying. I currently fly a 160 Horizon and a 170 Falcon, which I share with my wife when she isn't flying her 9 Meter Pulse. I find myself flying the Falcon a lot more due to its quick set up and light weight. The Horizon is great in slightly stronger conditions and I'll hang on to it for that reason. But, with the Freedom, I'll still get the quick set up with better glide and my wife and I won't have to flip a coin for who flies the Falcon on light days. I believe in supporting our U.S. glider manufacturers and will continue to remain a fan of Wills Wing, but I applaud Kamron and Northwing for a great single surface glider as the Freedom! Happy Holidays!
John Stokes
www.osceolabaldeagle.com _________________ To err is human. To blame it on someone else, shows management potential.
Last edited by Avnav8r on Fri Dec 25, 2009 6:30 am; edited 1 time in total
I own a Horizon 180 ET but haven't flown it yet. I don't even have pics of it yet but it can be seen at the link below. I have been told that it compares with the WW Sport
with VG off but can't verify that either. I can say that the hardware and airframe look first rate. It's not put together cheaply.
If it were a 190 I would have snatched it up. People seem to like them so not many end up for sale. For now my Falcon 1-225 will do to get me through my lessons and I just did Solo #5 from Kagel mountain in Sylmar. I would like to get to the point where I get good enough to Demo a Freedom 190 this summer and then buy one, or if one were to come up for sale used I'd buy one sooner.
Despite being a beginner, my style of flying will be more towards single surface anyhow. My club has a Falcon League for any single surface glider where they do XC for fun and I really like the idea of a level'ish playing field while enphicizing on fun over all out performance. I come from sailplanes and I always preffered flying the trainer or lowest performance single just to get out and float around. When the occasional XC was an option it was one thing to say you did it in a Discus, but a whole nother to say you did it in a Blanik and made it back... _________________ "If flying were the language of man, then soaring would be its poetry."
H2 Falcon1-225
NW Freedom 190 just arrived...waiting to reach H3 to transition..
I believe Jeff Nibler (AKA Nibs) has flown a Sport 2 and had a Horizon 160. Jeff, are you out there for a comparision between the two? Back to the Freedom, Joe Evans, who won the single surface division at Chelan last year, says at slower speeds, the Freedom compares favorably with the Sport 2 in glide and sink rate, of course, at speed the DS Sport excels due to the lower drag.
John Stokes
p.s. Lookout has a 170 Freedom I am looking to fly when the weather gets better. I am too much of a pussy to fly in 30 degree temperatures in soaring conditions. You northern fliers are probably saying, 30 degrees, that's t-shirt weather! _________________ To err is human. To blame it on someone else, shows management potential.
I will spare you the tale of financial pain involved for me to get a new wing. In a couple weeks I might actually be able to afford to fly it. where are you, Connor? You can see my new freedom if you're around the sunshine coast. Theres also a shot of it in hg.org photos
This is really great info fellas, please keep it coming. I have heard about the comparison between the S2 and the Freedom, in fact, I hear it alot from local pilots who have flown both. That's a great comparison in my book.
Aqua, I am in Merritt, B.C. Roughly 2 hours inland from the coast of Vancouver. I'd love to have a look at your Freedom!
The picture I posted is Joe Evans he and our friend Mark have a blast with theirs and both love the handling. They fly circle around me even on a sheet of plywood but it takes vg and speeding up to really notice any difference in glide from my Sport 2.
sorry I didn't get a pic, connor, but last sunday I drove down to duncan and finally flew my freedom for the first time.
It was just a training hill flight, with no wind and a slightly downhill lz , but I have to say she flew really nice!
I had the sail in the loosest of three settings , launch and landing were super easy.
I had to make a slight turn to keep on track and it was no problem. It flew quite a distance in ground effect; partly due to the slight downhill, but further than I thought It would. I should have stretched and warmed up abit, I pulled a leg muscle slightly during the takeoff. I must remember to energize the ol' body after a long drive.
I checked out the lz at mt prevost while I was there, then a few beers with a couple of island pilots. a good time.
let me know when you get yours, mabey the snow line will be suitable for a flight in your area, I'm kinda affected by the olympic no-fly zone for a couple months.
Does anyone have clear, close-up pictures of the control frame hardware on a Freedom? I'm referrring to both the corner brackets and where the down tubes join the keel. _________________ Paul H
U2 160 USHPA # 51178 KE7VOG
H4, FL, AT, PL, FSL, RLF, TUR, X-C, CL, AWCL, 360, HA,
USN ret. A & P mechanic
A 190 would be my size. Mind if I ask you what your hook in weight is? Mine would be around 250lbs maybe a touch more.
Marc _________________ "If flying were the language of man, then soaring would be its poetry."
H2 Falcon1-225
NW Freedom 190 just arrived...waiting to reach H3 to transition..
Around 225lbs. I bounce between the 190 and the 170 with no problems. Easier to wang the 170, and it has a slightly better glide, but the 190 can fly slower and milk lift easier. Both gliders have sweet handling and are a lot of fun to fly. _________________ Hummingbird rancher
The control bar apex and downtube/basetube configurations are like those on the Horizon http://www.northwing.com/horizon-hang-glider.htm Unless you order the Freedom with the WW T2 control frame option.
John Stokes
www.osceolabaldeagle.com _________________ To err is human. To blame it on someone else, shows management potential.
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I am a fairly new pilot, so I did not order the Freedom with the airfoil base tube, but plan to upgrade it later when I have more experience.
