Power Kite Forum

Single Skin - first of a kind?

bigE123 - 27-2-2016 at 02:47 PM

Here is the first flight of my higher AR single skin kite. A 3m2 AR6. Anyone seen or know of anything else out there? Or is it a first?

ssayre - 27-2-2016 at 05:45 PM

holy crap, is that a kite or a ribbon in the air. That looks as high ar as it is. How was it? winds? Come on, give up the details. :D

Randy - 27-2-2016 at 05:59 PM

Beautiful job!

bigE123 - 28-2-2016 at 02:23 AM

Wind was rubbish gusting 5 to 12mph(ish), first off it flew straight up and stopped just short of the zenith (with brakes fully released), anything less than @6mph and it slides out of the sky. Once powered up it feels fast and not like my others, no steady power build, it's bang, did a few figure eights and it's really responsive to input, either just a pull on the handle or handle and brake. Took it up to the top, pull on the right handle and down in to a loop, with the speed it creates the power increase is really good, went from holding easily to being pulled forward as it swung round.
Still needs a bit of tuning on the wing tips but for a first flight I'm pleased, it could have gone one of two ways: flew or be made in to a hammock :D

robinsonpr - 28-2-2016 at 01:48 PM

Wow!!!! Will it be making an appearance near me anytime soon!?

Bladerunner - 28-2-2016 at 03:48 PM

WOW:wow:

The only comparison that comes to mind is the Long Start but this is a completely different beast!

It makes me wonder if one can combine single skin depower and Chrono like aspect ratios to create a single skin race kite?
It will be interesting to hear how it performs as an engine!

Windstruck - 28-2-2016 at 05:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner  
The only comparison that comes to mind is the LongStar but this is a completely different beast!


Interesting that you should mention the LongStar. I was thinking that there was at least the distant cousin sort of likeness, but I agree that they are very different:

LongStar

In some ways this beauty has some kinship with the Monjet Ninox, but it is probably farther from that than even the LongStar:

Monjet Ninox

Nothing wrong with you kite being one of a kind, that's for sure! I've really enjoyed following its evolution on your blog on XK. :thumbup:

bigE123 - 29-2-2016 at 04:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by robinsonpr  
Wow!!!! Will it be making an appearance near me anytime soon!?

It'll be in the car when I'm next down in a field near you :D

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner  
WOW:wow:

The only comparison that comes to mind is the Long Start but this is a completely different beast!

It makes me wonder if one can combine single skin depower and Chrono like aspect ratios to create a single skin race kite?
It will be interesting to hear how it performs as an engine!

That's what made me go for a higher AR, seeing the Chrono, I'm still a little way off cracking the de-power, my 12m2 has depower but the range is not like you get from a foil and I am a bit of a fan of fb. It's really down to time, I have sort of honed in on fb as it's easier to tune the kite for one AoA, than to compromise performance to make it work over a range of AoA.
I like to spend a bit of time static flying so I truly get the "feel" of a kite and it's tuned to how I like it with no surprises before rushing in to the bug.

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck  
Nothing wrong with you kite being one of a kind, that's for sure! I've really enjoyed following its evolution on your blog on XK. :thumbup:

Cheers, I sometimes wonder if ppl get anything out of reading about a build, it may prompt others to try or I may get some feedback that I can learn from.

And from about 2 hrs of initial flying I now know how unfit I am, the top of my back, core and calve muscles, have that we haven't been worked for awhile feeling. Had a 1hr session yesterday and got to the point of being able really lean back on the kite.