I'm 6'2, 214 lbs. I just lost 40 lbs to be in better shape for flying, and I'm hoping to loose a few more lbs. I have been talking to pilots who fly the 175, and they say it's like flying a boat.
I've been flying the Falcon 225 for the last few years, and you want to about a tank.
So what I'm asking for is advice from pilots who maybe are a little over the weight range of the 155, or at the lower range of the 175.
Why do you like or dislike where your at in the range of your sport 2.
Thanks for any advice. _________________ If I die while I'm in flight,
whether brightest day or darkest night,
spare me your pity shrug off the pain,
secure in the knowledge
that I would do it all again.
At my biggest I was about 230lbs. The 155 never left me wishing I had a bigger wing.
Flying my pop's 175 I thought it was a bit slow to respond but otherwise pretty a solid wing. If I had to do it over I would still go with the 155. _________________ Airborne Climax 14 (C1)
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I weigh 230 and fly with my bags and a 100 oz. camelback. I will be adding a GoPro, a radio, and stepping up to a pod in the future, and have no concerns about the Sport 2 175. I love that bird. I have not flown the 155. When close to the landscape (scratching) I leave the VG off but that is the only concession. When I have altitude to play with, the VG is usually 3/4 to full on, unless the thermals are really tight , then I slack off a bit. I have not played with the hang point setting at all.
I weigh 198 and fly with a Z5 harness and a max size parachute (heavy) and have no trouble with the S2-155. With 10-20 more pounds I am sure you will fly a bit faster but I can't imagine it being much of a problem.
You should be able to test fly before you buy, no?
Flown both and owned 175. The 175 isn't a tank, but is lacking performance if that's what your shopping for. Just a good wing with better performance than a Falcon. My hookin is 230 and still felt sluggish. I now own a U2 160 and meets all my needs. I would say the 155 is the way to go if your capable of keeping weight off. If your qualified skip both and go to the U2 160 _________________ H4 (1979) Lake Elsinore. Ca. U2 160 (Sweet)
I'm 6'2, 214 lbs. I just lost 40 lbs to be in better shape for flying, and I'm hoping to loose a few more lbs. I have been talking to pilots who fly the 175, and they say it's like flying a boat.
I've been flying the Falcon 225 for the last few years, and you want to about a tank.
So what I'm asking for is advice from pilots who maybe are a little over the weight range of the 155, or at the lower range of the 175.
Why do you like or dislike where your at in the range of your sport 2.
Thanks for any advice.
We're just about exactly the same height & weight. My max. weight is around 220 in winter and I'll be down around 200 by summer's end (where I usually vow to stay at but winter food goodies often get the better of me). I'm flying a Sport 2 175 and just sold by Falcon 1 225. I thought the Falcon flew pretty well - handled well. When I flew both the Falcon and the Sport I preferred the Falcon's handling much better. My first flights on the Sport 2 were unpleasant due to not being able to get it to roll into a turn well at all. At that time my suspension point was in the center hole. I then went to the forward keel hole and handling improved but not by much. I've now adjusted my harness at bit and have a bit better handling. I'm also going to add another keel hole in front of the three that are production ones (I'll be doing this properly with the WW dealer). With a bit of speed the Sport initiates turns more easily. But, it still does not handle like the Falcon. Would I have been better off with a 155 Sport 2? - maybe. But, I wanted a better sink rate over handling (although the real deciding factor was finding a used Sport 2 175 at a great price). Do I wish I had a 155? Came close to that until this past weekend while during 4+ hours of flying the Sport 2 175 I got much better at flying it (what VG to use in 360s, speeds to fly in turns, better use of pitch & VG in turns, etc.). So, now I'm pretty happy that I got the 175. I'm also finding some inspiration in flying the 175 from the information in another thread where I've heard about a 160-ish pound pilot who flies the Sport 2 175 and tends to sky out with it often. Basically, I think you'd be happier initially with a 155. But, if you tend to get back up in weight you may be wishing you'd gotten a 175.
Final advice - if you get the 175 just don't float around with it. Practice, practice, practice when your are in the air. Doing coordinated 360s with it and the Falcon are two different things. BTW - You'll like how the Sport 2 lands. I also find the 175 very similar to launch as the big Falcon - tends to lift its nose so you have to concentrate on keeping a good AOA.
Good luck on your choice. The 175 will be more work but that work may just pay off in more airtime.
Eteamjack wrote:
Flown both and owned 175. The 175 isn't a tank, but is lacking performance if that's what your shopping for. Just a good wing with better performance than a Falcon. My hookin is 230 and still felt sluggish. I now own a U2 160 and meets all my needs. I would say the 155 is the way to go if your capable of keeping weight off. If your qualified skip both and go to the U2 160
2nd Final advice - A U2 160 may be just the ticket for you as Eteam mentions. I see one in my future. _________________ U2 160 • Chattaroy, WA - USA
I fly the Sport 2 175 and hook in around 275ish. I don't find it sluggish at all. It rolls when I say roll and I find the handling to be way more responsive than the Falcon 225 I originally trained on. It is like night and day. I guess it is all about the hook in weight. _________________ $!><
____________
Live while you are alive.
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Seems to me the Sport2 could have been a tad bigger as aspect increases typically wing load goes up so 160 for U2 and 155 for S2 does not quite add up and I think the sink rate would be better. Of course the 175 is a different beast with a stiffer frame. Give me 165 or 170
I weight 220 and owned a S2 175 but sold it as it seemed sluggish. Went down to a S2 155 and am now on my 2nd and loving it. The latest has hydranet on the trailing edge as I started to prematurely bag out the last one. I do enjoy cranking and banking. It is noticeably stiffer than the all dacron was which requires more effort but still responds. _________________ H3, WW SPORT2
Thanks for all the help guys. I think a WW demo days would be a big help. _________________ If I die while I'm in flight,
whether brightest day or darkest night,
spare me your pity shrug off the pain,
secure in the knowledge
that I would do it all again.
With your weight at 214 and your presumably near-sea level locale, It's not even a question...get the 155! What a sweet handling, light weight glider that one is.
I've owned a 175 and demoed a 155 (230 weight and 5200 foot and higher desert launches)
I sold my 175 due to sluggish roll initiation, and a related item, much higher 73lb glider weight. The 175 is very stiff and very heavy due to 6061 super beefy leading edges (rated to 320 pounds hook-in ) versus the 7075 light tubing used in every Wills Glider except the Sport 2 175 and Falcon 3 Tandem. [/b]
The Sport 2 175 is NOT heavy and turns on a dime for me. All you little girly men that attempt to fly it always complain it is too big. I laff at you. (Poohaa!). Go back to your little origami wings and clear the LZ before us freaks of the sky land on you and crush you all!!! I swat you out of the way!!!
_________________ If I die while I'm in flight,
whether brightest day or darkest night,
spare me your pity shrug off the pain,
secure in the knowledge
that I would do it all again.
Your right CRV, I should just skip all that sport 2 nonsense, and go straight to the
U2. Thanks for the advice bud _________________ If I die while I'm in flight,
whether brightest day or darkest night,
spare me your pity shrug off the pain,
secure in the knowledge
that I would do it all again.
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A U2 160 may be just the ticket for you as Eteam mentions. I see one in my future.
) versus the 7075 light tubing used in every Wills Glider except the Sport 2 175 and Falcon 3 Tandem. [/b]
