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Scott Barrett <<monicaandscott>>
writes:

I have been pleasantly surprised to find the time to go to a hang
gliding competition and I have had a good time in Gulgong. I was lucky to fly
well and have been able to determine that the new Airborne REV is the best
glider for handling and performance.

Racing every day was great, and, as you reported, I won three days out of the
six. Curt and Jonny shared the other day wins, both of them are flying well.
Rohan also did a good share of leading the gaggles in his new REV 13.5. Cameron
(who was third on the sixth day) was an important team player on a number of
days, leading with us on the REV 14.5. All of these guys are fun to fly with,
working to keep the pace and very cooperative. It is a great atmosphere in the
Australian national team.

Often we were behind Peter Dall in his NEW ATOS when we claimed our day wins.
Unfortunate that I landed before goal on one day, taking me out of first place.

I invited the local press out and enjoyed getting photos and video for them in
the early morning. The photo op flights were in very smooth air, the nil wind
landings with smooth and a lot of fun on the big airstrip. I returned home to
Newcastle with a new Airborne Fun 190 and Monica wants to return to the sand
dunes on it this summer.

On the new product front, Cameron has been happy with the big REV 14.5. He
describes it as floaty and after spending a season on the 13.5, he finds that in
comparison it takes an exaggerated control movement, particularly in pitch (it
slows down a lot in turns), and he would not want anything to be changed on it.
I expect he will stay on the big REV for the season.

Out and return tasks allowed us to arrive back at the start at the airfield, put
the glider in the hangar and take the new Airborne light trike up after the task
and thermal it. It was also used for tree top height flights around the airfield
in smooth evening air. Based on a wing of large Sting 3 origins, combined with a
light short packable minimal trike base (with retracts) and a Bailey four stroke
engine. The self launcher is very slow and responsive. Fuel economy is amazing,
it has a big tank, however I am sure that one liter of fuel would be sufficient
for a couple of days of local soaring flights.

I have flown a lot of different trikes and this one stands out as being
just how you would imagine the perfect easy to fly "Skyhook." Let's see how it
is marketed, that could be a good name for it.