some experimental stuff..
using a tubekite in "paraglider mode".
full AoA control via brakes - it is very easy to control pitch.
downsinde: strong roll moment - hard to keep it overhead.
very sensitive to weight-shift trough harness.
the ozone zephyr can be kept floating in as little as 3-5 knots.
(warning: this is just to show that tubekites *might* be an interesting option for paragliding in very smooth coastal winds. i would strongly
discourage to try similar things in the mountains / gusty inland wind with intermixed thermals)
some short gliding trials:
groundhandling:
elnica - 1-9-2014 at 08:12 PM
What happens when a tube loses pressure?herc - 2-9-2014 at 02:19 AM
of course, if that idea ever might turn into a "commercial" product, there should be a redundant setup with two tubes or several disconnected tube
compartements along the leading edge.
i would guess that a slow pressure drop is not that worse, it might give you enough time to land.
1. struts are not important for the profile - hence, if a bladder in the struts leaks, it doesnt matter.
2. leading edge bladder leakage might be worse, because span-wise forces established by the tube are probably important .
here, the idea could be to have the leading edge splittet into maybe 5 compartements in such a way, that if one of these bladders leaks the whole
thing can still fly reasonably to make a proper landing.
at the end, you could ask the same question to a hang glider pilot: what happens if your leading edge aluminum-pipe breaks during flight ? should
never happen (do a proper pre-flight check!) !! B-Roc - 2-9-2014 at 06:23 AM
Its kind of already been done before. Different circumstances for sure but better results. Pretty sure there are some vids of a modified Flysurfer
floating around too where a guy starts with his board on a sand dune and floats / rides down to the water where he surfs, paraglides away.
Pretty sure there are some vids of a modified Flysurfer floating around too where a guy starts with his board on a sand dune and floats / rides down
to the water where he surfs, paraglides away.
ATB,
SamPHREERIDER - 2-9-2014 at 01:53 PM
what about the vid of a guy who jumped out of hot air ballon with FS , can't find it.
yep ..that was sick. FS no joke folks! thanks for the dig EW!herc - 3-9-2014 at 05:55 AM
yes, i know all of these videos. the (small) difference is the line lengths ! i use a modified bridle , just 5 meters from person to leading edge.
that way its more like the setup of a paraglider and close to what sylvain does with his flysurver: that very cool cross-over
dune-flying+sandboarding+kiteboarding.
i just wanted to know if a tubekite works in "forward-glide" aka paragliding mode with short lines + modified bridle.
sadly, the day i made these mini-glides on the cliff at coast of denmark, the wind was weak and not perpendicular to the front. otherwise i *might*
have tried a short soaring session. unfortunately i am there only once a year, so further testing is on ice.
here, thats the coolest and most inspirational video from sylvain:
p.s. behaviour of flysurfer kites with closed cells can get dangerous in turbulent wind situations. if one side of the gldier collapses, it cannot
deflate, forming a solid wall inducing a strong momentum, immediately putting the flysurfer into a spiral dive with strong g-forces. therefore,
sylvain only does this in those fantastic, smooth coastal winds.
with a tubekite, a collapse is less likely, even in turbulent air. yet, it is completely unknown, how a tubekite / "tubeglider" behaves in strong
turbulent air. thats what i would like to know (but certainly never will test by myself)..PHREERIDER - 3-9-2014 at 06:34 AM
likely to cross wind gradients if really high, definitely sketchy. tubes would certainly work but high load distribution would worry me. the canopy
just split open Bladerunner - 3-9-2014 at 03:27 PM
I don't know much about gliding but wouldn't you have had more success trying to ride that ridge above the dunes?
I never get tired of watching Alex gliding with that best kite. Even love the music.
