Rigid-wing Models - The Fledgling

The Manta Fledgling was, in its day, the most popular rigid wing hang glider, spanning several generations (Fledge I, Fledge II, Fledge III and Fledge III ET). The Fledge used weight shift for pitch control and tip rudders (controlled by twist or slider grips on the basetube) for roll control. As it was quite fast and strong, it was popular for aerobatic pilots, with loops possible at a time when they were impossible in flexwings.

Writes Eric Beckmann, on September 1, 1998, in the AirHog mailing list:

At the 1981 World Hang Gliding Championships in Japan, Rex Miller of the United States was crowned World Champion in FAI Class O-2 (rigid wings). The glider he flew was the dominant model in the class, and made up the vast majority of rigid wings being flown in the world at that time. The glider was the Manta Fledgling. Manta's market success with the Fledgling reached a peak shortly after the 1979 U.S. National Championships in Crestline, CA where Fledglings captured almost all of the top ten placings (I think every "Fledge" in the meet finished in the top ten). The Fledge virtually defined what a rigid wing hang glider was.

As to whether the Fledge was "rigid" or not:

• "It isn't heavy enough." The Fledge weighed a massive (for the time) 78 lbs.
• "It folds up too neatly." The Fledge folded into a bag smaller than a topless flex wing, but the control bar stuck out.
• "The average pilot can launch it easily." Other than being somewhat tail-heavy, the Fledge was launched easily by many average (and even a few below average) pilots.
• "It doesn't need a ground crew." See above (skill level and glider weight).
• "It's maintenance needs are low." The Fledge was robust and built of standard aluminum and Dacron.

Pictures of the Fledgling

• Fledge 2 in flight (54 kb)
• Fledge 2 (black/white) (47 kb)
• 2 Fledge 2s, one seated, one prone (black/white) (47 kb)

Excerpts from the Fledge Owner's Manual

• Fledge 2 manual, cover page (80 kb)
• Fledge 2 manual, back page (73 kb)
• Fledge 2 manual, introduction and limitations
• Fledge 2 manual, setup instructions page 1 (150 kb)
• Fledge 2 manual, setup instructions page 2 (150 kb)
• Fledge 2 manual, setup instructions page 3 (150 kb)
• Fledge 2 manual, setup instructions page 4 (150 kb)
• Fledge 2 manual, setup instructions page 5 (150 kb)