This section is for (wait for it....) news, hot gossip and items of interest to pilots everywhere - including Safety warnings.
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| Wanna see our demo Stratus flying? You can watch a take-off on YouTube by simply copy and pasting this URL into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WeA2v-Rrhc
This was Mark Reader-Hoer's first ever flight in the trike on a day of very light breezes. He weighs about 13.5 stone, and it sounds as though his foot slipped off the throttle at the start of the run, so it is quite impressive. To quote the editor of Microlight Flyer Magazine "Very impressive". |
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9.5.08. We are absolutely delighted to report that our very good mate Brett Wright has been selected to fly for Great Britain in the Bleriot Cup. Brett is a very quiet and unassuming guy who just flies really well, and flies to enjoy himself, not necessarily to win. As a result, he enjoys a measure of support from Moyes Delta Gliders and from FBUK, because he is such a good bloke.
His climb rate in a thermal is usually much better than anyone else around these parts, and we suspect he will have a great time at the Bleriot. His Litespeed RS will certainly help.
Brett's dad Brian had the misfortune to have to teach Simon Murphy to fly a hang glider back in 1976, so our connection is unbreakable. If Brian were still around he would be so very proud - and quite rightly. Go Brett! |
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28.4.08. The very first Renschler CoMos built to UK spec are here, and they have been well worth the wait! Our photograph above shows that instruments previously regarded as compact are now really huge! But although the CoMo is much smaller than previous market leaders, the display is a very similar size, and the numerals are actually LARGER!
Another aspect of CoMo ownership which has surprised us is just how much more pleasant to use are traditional push buttons than the pressure-pad switches which were, until now, the norm. And as for the alloy Rotary Knob - it is a design triumph.
Don't buy a vario until you have seen the CoMo - for the majority of pilots it is in a class of one. |
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| Any new Moyes glider is newsworthy, but this photo appearing on Curt Warren's website is sensational, because it is a prototype of a new single-surface glider. It is a long time since the Ventura went out of production, and since then the factory has been flat-out building hot Litesports and Litespeeds. The gorgeous Malibu never went into production due to lack of time and space. Let's hope this one makes it! |
 | NEW FIREBIRD DESIGNS! Stand by for the release of a range of new designs from Firebird in the coming months. The Picture shows the new Competition wing, the Firebird Platoon, which is being tested by some chosen comp. pilots.
In a few weeks the new FB F1RST (see below) will be released, and that is likely to be quite something! Designed to replace the incredible Z-One, it has GOT to be good. The Z has been in production since 2002, and has always sold strongly. Z Pilots are often seen at the top of the stack, and are rarely seen in trouble. Let's hope the F1RST has as strong a following, and as long a life!
We are told that the F1RST features a new lightweight construction, but we don't yet have any specific details. What is immediately obvious is the new 2008 Sail design - the Eagle Logo. We think it looks great!
Also new from Firebird is a range of lightweight reserves, starting at around 1,3kg. Should be interesting! |
F1RST Photo - new glider, 2008 sail design |  |
 | Desperation? Your car is being serviced and it's a flyable day. So how do you get your LItespeed to the site? Simple! Buy an Inflatable roof rack and a Double Gliderider and blag the nearest available Mini Metro. |
| 5.4.08. MarkyP, one of our most enthusiastic local pilots, drove a hundred miles to fly when everyone else just said it was too windy. He found a reasonable breeze at Westbury, took off, climbed out, and flew almost 50 miles to the coast (usually at over 5000feet). It all went a bit wrong in the landing field, though. Never mind - a well-deserved reward for all that effort, long overdue. At the time of writing, Mark is thrid in the National XC league! |
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Mark Phillips - after the landing? |  |
| 3.4.08. Jeff Hoer missed a possible XC day to test fly our Stratus/ATF trike. he was mega-impressed! Not least because nobody got away from the hills, but also because of the poise and balance of the little trike. |
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| Brace yourself for some SERIOUS price rises as the effects of the falling pound and the rising price of oil both come into play on most imported goods. The effects are being felt now, and we are implementing the increases as and when they come through to us. |
We recently found out that Litespeed S’s manufactured before April 2004 are of a type which does not conform to the subsequent DHV certification for the type.
I had not previously been aware that the certified Litespeed S’s were a later model having slight revisions to the sail at the tips, and some battens.
We sold eight or nine of these gliders in the UK, on the basis that they were not certified at the time of sale. However, due to my misinterpretation of the DHV certification, we subsequently issued FBUK keel stickers stating that the gliders were certified, and this is NOT the case.
Over 120 of these gliders were manufactured and sold around the world. They won several British and International hang gliding Championships, and Moyes have absolutely no reservations about their airworthiness. In the UK, however, there may be insurance implications for some owners, and we are working with the BHPA to try to sort this out.
We have already contacted owners of the gliders imported through Firebird UK, but we also wish to contact anybody who may have a glider imported privately, in order to advise them of the situation, and to keep them aware of developments. Litespeed S owners who wish to check the status of their gliders can contact us any time, and we will be posting updates on this situation on our website - have the serial number of your glider ready if you want a definitive comment on whether your glider is a certified version. |
| November 2007: The Litespeed RS3.5 and RS4 have both achieved DHV certification. We plan to have keel stickers available soon. |
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