HA, MA, UHA, APF, DWP: Reading Armstrong Wing Designations

MA1190, HA780, UHA1070, APF1675, DWP930, S1 1550, CF950. Here is the system — more logical than it looks.

The number is area

Across every family the number is wing area in square centimetres. HA780 is a 780 cm² wing; MA1190 is 1190 cm².

The logic is the reverse of kites:

• More area → earlier takeoff, lower speed, forgives mistakes.
• Less area → later takeoff, higher speed.

Learning guide by weight: 1300 to 1600 cm² at 70 to 85 kg, from 1500 above 85 kg. A confident rider drops 20 to 30 % below.

The letters are aspect and job

MA — Mid Aspect

MA Mk II — 701 €, areas 490, 590, 690, 790, 1190, 1390 cm².

Mid aspect is the universal compromise. The family to start with if you are unsure.

HA — High Aspect

HA Front Foil — 701 €, areas 480 to 1180 cm².

High aspect: longer glide, higher speed, sharper stall. For downwind and pumping. Mechanics in our aspect ratio guide.

UHA — Ultra High Aspect

UHA — 876 €, areas 570 to 1270 cm².

Higher aspect still. Maximum glide, minimum forgiveness. Not "better than HA" but a specialisation.

DWP — DownWind Performance

DWP — 832 €, areas 685, 755, 930 cm².

The name says it. Note the modest areas — these are wings for riders already accelerating under paddle who do not need an early takeoff.

APF

APF — 876 €, areas 1350, 1675, 1880 cm².

The largest areas in the range. 1880 cm² is a great deal of wing, bought for ultra-early takeoff: light wind, a heavy rider, a paddle start.

S1 and CF

S1 — 438 €, areas 1250, 1550, 1850, 2450 cm².

CF V2 — 482 €, areas 950 and 1200 cm².

These are the affordable families — half the price of HA and UHA. Note the S1 2450: an enormous area at half the top-tier price. For learning and light wind that is a sensible entry.

MMCP900

394 € — the range's cheapest front wing.

Stabilisers: also named by job

• S1 300 — 175 €. The most affordable.
• Flow 235 — 245 €.
• Dart 120 / 140 — 254 €. Small area, for speed.
• Speed 180 — 254 €.
• Pump 202 — 254 €. For pumping.
• Surf Mk II — 254 €, areas 130, 170, 200 cm².
• Glide 220 — 263 €.

The naming here is more honest than at most brands: Pump for pumping, Surf for waves, Speed for speed. No guessing required.

How a stabiliser affects behaviour is in our separate article.

Choosing in two minutes

Learning, 80 kg, wing foil → S1 1550 or MA1190, with an S1 300 stabiliser.

Second season, wanting speed → MA790 or HA1080.

Waves and prone → a mid-area MA with a Surf Mk II stabiliser.

Downwind → HA or DWP with a Glide 220.

Pumping → UHA with a Pump 202.

Light wind or heavy rider → APF1675 or S1 2450.

On a budget → S1 or CF: half the price for the same role.

A rule that saves money

Do not change family and area at the same time. Moving from MA1190 to UHA870 changes two parameters at once, and you will not know what actually changed.

The right way: within a family first (MA1190 → MA790), then family at a similar area.

And before buying a wing, try tuning what you have: stabiliser shim angle and pad position give more than you would expect and cost nothing.

Common questions

What does the number in a wing name mean?

Area in square centimetres. HA780 is a 780 cm² wing.

How does HA differ from UHA?

In aspect: UHA is higher, glides further and forgives less. A specialisation rather than an upgrade.

Which family should I start with?

MA — mid aspect and universal character. Or S1 and CF on a budget.

Why a 2450 cm² wing?

For ultra-early takeoff: light wind, a heavy rider, or a paddle start.

Can I change family and area at once?

Better not: you will not know what changed. Change one parameter at a time.

Where to look

Wings are in the hydrofoil section. To read: our Armstrong review and wing aspect ratio.