After pulling out of the World Human Powered Speed Challenge last September due to an unready machine, Graeme has continued to work on his Beastie.  Development has now reached a stage where fully faired trials can take place and a Scottish venue has been found.  The Bicycle Design blog reported on trials that took place at Machrihanish in Argyle.  The site is a former RAF airfield with a 10,000 ft or 3 km (1.8 mile) runway, though part is still used as Campbelltown Airport.  Being both quiet and having the longest public runway in Scotland makes this ideal for Graeme’s attempt, given his self-imposed constraints.  He will however loose all the advantage of altitude at Battle Mountain, as Machrihanish’s runway is very close to sea-level.

The trial itself was limited by weather in particular the inability to see through the spray landing on the fairing.  This necessitated some surgery to the front to open a viewing port but Graeme reported that the Beastie handled very well.

Having confirmed the design there will be further tweaks, particularly to the fairing, and then a wait for ideal weather.

A much more full report with more images is available on Human’s Invent.  Human’s iNvent are also to be credited for the above photos.