Hang glider circa 1998. Described as easy to fly, but there have been issues of unintentional slipping 360’s.
Buzz 140
Wing area: 13.03 sq.m
Pilot weight: 50-75 kg
Wing span: 8.0 m
Nose angle: 118 deg
Aspect ratio: 5.3
Price (1998) AUS$2705
Buzz 154
Wing area: 14.33 sq.m
Pilot weight: 60-95 kg
Wing span: 8. 2 m
Nose angle: 118 deg
Aspect ratio: 5.6
Price (1998) AUS$2705
Airborne started trading as a company in 1983 and operated out of Redhead near Newcastle Australia. Airborne directly employs 30 people and exported to more than 30 countries in 2009. Founders Shane, Ricky and Russell Duncan were the sons of keen water skier and hang glider pilots Anne and Kevin Duncan. Anne and Kev taught the boys to ski and then to fly in the earlydays of tow kites. At the time the boys were as young as 12 years. Kevin was into flying competition. He flew a 1000 foot per minute sink rate tow kite. The aim was to complete as many 360 degree turns before touching down on the water.
Glider design was improving rapidly and before long true foot launch hang gliders were developed and the boys were soon launching off coastal dunes and then cliffs.
The Duncan brothers regularly competed in overseas hang gliding comps. To supplement their income they started to teach hang gliding under the name of Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd. Another partner and friend Chris Brandon was also part of the company.
Airborne imported a microlight (trike) from the UK in the early 80’s. It was to be used as a means to launch hang gliders. The Duncans with their mechanical backgrounds soon designed a purpose built two seater microlight which could be used for taking passengers and training.
1985: Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd,. 39 Grif¬fith St, Charlestown, NSW 2290. Australia.
In 1987 the government Horscotts inquiry into ultralight accidents changed the way manufacturers developed and sold ultralights. Airborne were already load testing wings and had never had problems with structural failure. This came out in the inquiry along with other evidence and subsequently the rules changed. Manufacturers were then required to certify to a standard.
Certification of the Edge model microlight proceeded. Paul Mollison engineer and keen hang glider pilot joined the company. Paul became the technical director and was responsible for writing the standard, which became CASA document called CAO 95.32.
Around the same time Rob Hibberd who was also flying hang gliders joined Airborne as a Director. The now six partners continued to re-design the Edge microlight so that it would comply with the new standard. Meanwhile all were still flying hang gliding comps and supplementing their income through sponsorships and teaching hang gliding and microlight flying. Airborne was still yet to produce a hang glider.
A 3 car garage was where Airborne’s serious manufacturing started, then became too small and the company moved to a “real” factory. Airborne then ventured into glider design and produced an intermediate glider called the Breeze.
Airborne certifies designs to Australian Civil Aviation and UK Civil Aviation standards. Airborne holds production approvals from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
A crop spraying system has been developed to use on Airborne microlights for a low cost option for aerial spraying of crops.
1998: 12/30 Kalaroo Rd, NSW 2290 Redhead, Australia.
Production of the AIR Atos was held up due to the inability of DHV testing in Germany. Pitch testing was passed and was as expected.
A rigid wing hang glider, with a tailplane for extra stability. The 1998 ATOS was for advanced pilots.
The ATOS C of 2002 was for advanced pilots.
The 2003 ATOS VX is for advanced pilots.
The 2004 ATOS VS is for advanced pilots.
The ATOS V of 2005 was for advanced pilots.
The 2005 ATOS VR was for advanced pilots.
The ATOS VQ of 2007 was for advanced pilots.
The 2009 ATOS VRQ 2009 is for advanced pilots.
The ATOS VR10 of 2010 is for advanced pilots.
The ATOS VQ11T of 2011 was for advanced pilots.
The 2011 ATOS VR11T was for advanced pilots.
The ATOS VR 190 BiPlace of 2013 was for advanced pilots
The 2013 ATOS VR11T AF was for advanced pilots.
The 2013 ATOS VRS is for advanced pilots.
The ATOS VQ Race of 2014 was for advanced pilots.
The ATOS VR+ of 2014 was for advanced pilots. The ATOS VR+15 of 2015 was for advanced pilots.
ATOS 146
Glide angle: 19-1
ATOS 02 S
Wing area: 11.6 m²
Wing span: 11.4 m
Aspect ratio: 11.3
Hang glider weight: 31 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 55 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 85 kg
Minimum speed: 34 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Minimum sink rate: 0.72 m/s
Packed length: 5.15 m
ATOS 02 N
Wing area: 13.6 m²
Wing span: 12.82 m
Aspect ratio: 12.1
Hang glider weight: 34 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 90 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 150 kg
Minimum speed: 30 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Minimum sink rate: 0.72 m/s
Packed length: 5.8 m
ATOS V
Wing area: 14.12 m²
Wing span: 12.8 m
Aspect ratio: 12.1
Hang glider weight: 38 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 90 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 150 kg
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Minimum sink rate: 0.7 m/s
Packed length: 5.79 m
ATOS VQ
Wing area: 14.2 m²
Wing span: 13.4 m
Aspect ratio: 12.64
Hang glider weight: 42 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 90 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 179 kg
Minimum sink rate: 0.65 m/s
Packed length: 5.15 m
ATOS VQ Race
Wing area: 14.2 m²
Wing span: 13.4 m
Hang glider weight: 37 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 85 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 179 kg
Maximum speed: 90 km/h
ATOS VQ11T
Wing area: 14.3 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Hang glider weight: 42 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 70 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 142 kg
ATOS VR
Wing area: 14.7 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Aspect ratio: 13.3
Hang glider weight: 44 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 80 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 150 kg
Minimum speed: 30 km/h
Maximum speed: 108 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Max glide ratio speed: 50 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.64 m/s
VR 190 Bi Place
Hang glider weight: 45 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 228 kg
VR+
Wing span: 14.50 m
VR+15
Wing area: 14.3 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Aspect ratio: 14.6
Hang glider weight: 41 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 70 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 139 kg
Minimum speed: 30 km/h
Maximum speed: 90 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Minimum sink rate: 0.65 m/s
Packed length short: 5 m
ATOS VR10
Wing area: 14.3 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Length: 13.4 m
Hang glider weight: 41 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 70 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 142 kg
Min. take-off weight: 90 kg
Max. takeoff weight: 183 kg
Minimum speed: 34 km/h
Maximum speed: 120 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19.6
Max glide ratio speed: 44 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.63 m/s
Transport dimensions: 5.15 x 0.48 x 0.2 m
Certification: 3E DHV
ATOS VR11T
Wing area: 14.3 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Aspect ratio: 13.4
Hang glider weight: 41 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 90 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 144 kg
Minimum speed: 29 km/h
Maximum speed: 110 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Max glide ratio speed: 43 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.63 m/s
Packed length: 5.15 m
ATOS VR11 AF
Wing area: 14.3 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Aspect ratio: 13.3
Hang glider weight: 43 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 70 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 180 kg
Minimum speed: 32 km/h
Maximum speed: 110 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 19
Max glide ratio speed: 45 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.64 m/s
Packed length: 5.60 m
ATOS VRQ 2009
Wing area: 14.3 m²
Wing span: 13.8 m
Hang glider weight: 42 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 70 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 142 kg
ATOS VRS 135
Wing area: 12.2 m²
Wing span: 12 m
Aspect ratio: 12.2
Hang glider weight: 35 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 50 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 134 kg
Minimum speed: 33 km/h
Maximum speed: 100 km/h
Max glide ratio (L/H): 17
Max glide ratio speed: 40 km/h
Minimum sink rate: 0.70 m/s
Packed length: 4 m
Packed length short: 4 m
ATOS VS
Wing area: 11.79 m²
Wing span: 11.49 m
Aspect ratio: 11.8
Hang glider weight: 36 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 83 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 122 kg
Max glide ratio (L/H): 17.60
Minimum sink rate: 0.7 m/s
Packed length: 5.15 m
ATOS Vx
Wing area: 16 m²
Wing span: 14 m
Aspect ratio: 12.6
Hang glider weight: 48 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 110 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 222 kg
Max glide ratio (L/H): 20
Minimum sink rate: 0.7 m/s
Packed length: 5.79 m
Borsigstr.17
D-71277 Rutesheim
Germany
Hang glider manufacturer
The Agur Puma was a 1982 glider.
1979
The 1978 Agur AC-5 was found to be really unstable. It would fly fine, then suddenly flex downwards and become divergent.
There were at least two models: AC and AC 5.
1977
1976
1976
All Aero 