Offering an Artik2 Size 25 for sale. It has only 32hrs since new ( bought Sept 2011) In excellent clean condition no repairs or rough treatment at all. Colour Sunset (or orange in non Niviuk speak).

This wing comes to me, as an very good condition trade in glider. It has been well looked after and has not be flown a great deal at all.

Priced to sell £975

Ava Sport

Ava Sport have recently overhauled their website and  it looks and works a lot better now. They have also improved their back office systems so we are all go with Ava this year after some difficulties during 2012.

Here is a quick look at some new models for this year

The New RACER

This new, light and very comfortable intermediate harness is the successor to the very popular sprinter model.

 The RACER sports a newly designed seat board which incorporats into  a back former to maintain its sleek aerodynamic shape; An elevated position of the reserve handle and new reserve container for even  easier use of operation should you ever need.

 

The RACER is also available in two options with and without  leg cover and we are very impressed with its reported weight – about 3.9 kg for L size without legcover or 4,9 kg for same size with cover.

weight is without karabiners and rescue parachute

 Colour options

 

  

The TANTO RACE

Although this was available in 2012 we thought with the new proposals for CIVL competitions wanting to make it mandatory to have two reserves  that this Harness, the Tanto Race would interest performance-oriented pilots requiring a harness with the security of a twin reserve  system.

Like the older Katana model the neoprene skin of this harness covers the entire upperbody and back ensuring a cosy snug fit for perfect aerodynamics with optimised trailing edge.
The Tanto Race has 2 rescue containers (left & right), and is now certified. The size Large is about 6,5 kg which is fantastic considering all the extra material used to seal the gaps between pilot and harness.


What ever your harness needs  we are confident that amongst the AvaSport range is a harness which fits your needs perfectly.

Richard Westgate

It is with great sadness that I write this post about the passing of a friend a team mate and a true xc legend. Richard Westgate lost his battle to regain his health on the 12-12-12. Richard was an exceptional pilot and an inspiration to many. He was also an influential part of the UK Gradient Team, Multi UK XC Champion and former World record holder. He was passionate about the sport and very encouraging to others entering the sport. He will be sorely missed by many but will live on in our memories as a generous and genuine man and a true cross country legend. R.I.P. my friend.

Aspen 4 - A short flight test

Finally got the opportunity to have a go on one of our own demos - Ok it wasn't the correct size but I just had to have a go.
So off to my local site for an afternoon boat about. My first impressions was it wasn't unpredictable or maybe as nimble on the launch as I'm use to but there was certainly no tendency to want to overshoot making it a very simple wing to get up and go.

In the air it was certainly nimble and after effortlessly gaining height on the dynamic ridge lift it was time to see what it was like in the air. Spin point is easy enough to find but you had to go deep to get to it . This gave me the confidence that my customers are unlikely to encounter it by accident. The leading edge feels very solid but I did let it front tuck once to see how it reacted and recovered. It was reassuringly predictable giving plenty of warning and was fast to recovery though being over the weight here may have changed the feel so won't say any more. In wingovers it was easy to get smooth high amplitude wingovers without feeling you were on the edge. A real pleasure and very hard not to spend the whole flight doing just that.

I was now joined by three other pilots - so an opportunity to compare. though knowing i was overweight on the wing I wasn't expecting to sit on the top of the stack. How wrong was I the Aspen 4 drifted effortlessly to the top without any particular effort, with my reward being more wingovers and asymmetric spirals. It was becoming addictive. Condition did shut down for a time and it wasn't long before we were at ridge height or below and slowly the others were forced to bottom land while the aspen 4 was able to maximises and opportunities for lift - I held out for a further 20 mins after the last had conceded before conditions resumed normal service again and it wasn't long before I was toping out and my previous altitude gains. - Time to fly home. The speed bar is smooth and progressive with only a noticeable drop in glide after 3/4bar. This should be a very good mile muncher for the xc pilot and although it hasn't quite got the range on the xc3 is pretty close. Edit. While managing Team GB at the recent European Championships I would often hear reports from the team in disbelief that the Aspen 4 pilot was often in the mix and was not being dropped by the gaggle that easily. My conclusion is the Aspen 4 is very much a player in the new generation EN -C and a real pleasure to be on board with.

Gradient reserve -GRP1

For those that might not be in the know Gradient have been working on designing their own reserve - The GRP1 is now a reality.See link for details.

Gradient Nevada EN - B

Here is a short tube from Team Freestyle demonstrating the simple delights of Gradient New EN -B wing the Nevada. Demo wings are now in the country. Call to arrange a test fly and explore the invisible.

Team Freestyle in UK

We have just received confirmation  from the organisers of this years Lakes Charity Classic / Buttermere Bash events, that they have  booked the Gradient Freestyle Team (former Renegades) to absolutely Rock the skies above the Buttermere valley during the this years Lakes Charity Classic.

This is a ticket only event so make sure you book yours now ( see Lakes Charity Classic link for more info).