The Team for 2009

David Hadley has spent most of the last year swapping the 2-stroke Rotax 447 engine on his Sluka for a 4-stroke 508 and the new combination sounds good on takeoff. However, the 508 has yet to be seriously tested pulling a 3-axis so we wait with interest to see how it lasts. David was particularly interested to see the Sluka of Lithuanian Kestutis Jurkenas, parked next door. It has a 2-stroke Simonini and, more useful, it has flaps! This is the aircraft that David will be competing with in the solo 3-axis class in which the hot favourite is Jan Lukeš in his composite Test motorglider.

Chris & Claire Wills will be flying their Escapade. Last year they came 4th, a great result for a traditional tail-dragger, and they are hopeful that this year will be better. The favourites in the dual 3-axis class are the Ukrainians Yuri Yakovlev & Igor Pugach in their Aeroprakt.

Rees Keene is flying the Rotax 508 powered Chaser S in the solo flexwing class. Even after some 20 years the Chaser remains very competitive but having arrived early we don't yet know what the competition in this category will look like. There is usually at least one Chaser look-alike in the field.

In the dual flexwing class we have entered 5 aircraft, 3 of which are flown by World Champions. I have brought 3 union flags along just in case.

Paul Dewhurst & Laurie Hurman are in the Air Creation Tanarg 912 ES/iXcess 13. There is no doubt that they will be the most comfortable in their class but will that be enough? Yesterday was the first time that they have flown together and Laurie seemed composed as he returned to camp, which is a good start.

Rob Grimwood & Andy Aiken, current British Champions, are flying the QuikR where comfort is certainly sacrificed for performance but with wet grass will the deck (110 metres at 1800 ft) be long enough? The QuikR is attracting a great deal of attention and its performance will be watched very closely.

Simon Baker & Anita Holmes, who have flown together for many years, will be in the Quik. Simon has always played his cards close to his chest so if he has any secrets up his sleeve we don't know them. Last year a dodgy starter switch dumped them in a field and blew the comp. Simon's hoping for fewer problems this year.

Frank Hodgson & Tim Keene are in the 912 Quantum, a good machine but not cutting edge. Their trick will have to be to fly a steady competition and wait for everyone else to make the mistakes. It's suprising how effective that strategy can be!

Finally, Neil King & Alan Weatherall with a combined age of 130 will be flying the 912 Blade with every probability of taking at least one record!