Power Kite Forum

Flexifoil Blurr

acampbell - 7-4-2008 at 12:48 PM

The new Flexifoil Blurr is due out on May 18th. We got a close look at it at NABX. Flexi Team rider Will let me have aclose look, but I never had a chance to fly it. Dave and Will describe it as a low lift kite that sits right between the Rage and Blade. It features a the same ground adjustable angle of attack system as found on the Blade V [correction Blade IV]. This kite is purpose built as a great speed buggy engine for intermediate riders.

Pricing is due out in a couple of weeks.

sizes available include 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 7.0
Colors will be ...
Petrol (red, white, navy blue)
Rasta (red, green, yellow)
Hulk (green, white, black)

KiteProject - 7-4-2008 at 01:19 PM

Blade V? You mean Blade IV?

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
The new Flexifoil Blurr is due out on May 18th. We got a close look at it at NABX. Flexi Team rider Will let me have aclose look, but I never had a chance to fly it. Dave and Will describe it as a low lift kite that sits right between the Rage and Blade. It features a the same ground adjustable angle of attack system as found on the Blade V. This kite is purpose built as a great speed buggy engine for intermediate riders.

Pricing is due out in a couple of weeks.

sizes available include 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 7.0
Colors will be ...
Petrol (red, white, navy blue)
Rasta (red, green, yellow)
Hulk (green, white, black)

acampbell - 7-4-2008 at 01:41 PM

Yes, thank you. Edit made.

But now that you mention it, Will seemed to think that the next Blade realease would be dialed up with more power (or at least he hopes). He explained that the current production Blade was tamed a bit fom the prototypes first flown in order to broaden their market. He reasoned that, now that they have the Blurr filling in the intermediate market, they could safely turn up the heat on the next Blade and still have all market segement covered. This was more musing out loud than official Flexi dogma, but good food for thought.

Can you imagine a more dialed-up Blade? sheesh.

Sthrasher38 - 8-4-2008 at 01:09 PM

Nice! I can't wait to see these come out!

zloty - 15-4-2008 at 10:25 AM

Here is a web link for Blurr http://www.blurrkite.com/ and pics of 2m ,3.5 and 5m are in my NABX gallery http://www.flickr.com/photos/slawek2006/sets/721576044768783... . I can't give You more info atm but all I can say is if You had problem with handling race kites and looking for speed here is a product You've been looking for. More info will be published on April 18th including pricing. I must say that it is a great price for this setup.

BeamerBob - 15-4-2008 at 10:35 AM

I'm just fine with the power of my Blade. I won't be putting mine on the market for a "hotter" one. I'm still careful about when I get mine out. I can get it out more if I'm coastal with a nice smooth wind but the threshold is lowered inland with choppy gusty winds. I've used kite killers twice already, and it was my last resort. I keep learning. Maybe the day will come when I'm craving more than a 6.5 Blade IV offers but I can't see it coming yet.

On the other hand, I was comfortable with the 6.5 Blade on the beach in a buggy with at least as high as 10 mph winds, and maybe could go higher before the lift becomes a problem. I did have it set on the low lift setting.

acampbell - 15-4-2008 at 10:38 AM

I've just put dibs in for a 5m Blurr. Could not resist.

zloty - 15-4-2008 at 10:44 AM

Forgot to tell You about new handless they are the s{{t . Brand new design injected plastic. They are molded so it fits Your hand just perfectly with nice rest for Your thumb. What is really cool about them is new attachment for strop, heavy duty pin screw from the top of the handle so You don't have to deal with bunch of knots. They are unbreakable. Couldn't break them and even We try so hard. Now I can go for those inverts with peace of mind. All blurrs come with them :thumbup:

BeamerBob - 15-4-2008 at 10:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
I've just put dibs in for a 5m Blurr. Could not resist.


Congrats Angus!

acampbell - 15-4-2008 at 11:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by zloty
Forgot to tell You about new handless they are the s{{t . Brand new design injected plastic. They are molded so it fits Your hand just perfectly with nice rest for Your thumb. What is really cool about them is new attachment for strop, heavy duty pin screw from the top of the handle so You don't have to deal with bunch of knots. They are unbreakable. Couldn't break them and even We try so hard. Now I can go for those inverts with peace of mind. All blurrs come with them :thumbup:


Yeah, Will showed me the handles and they looked bomb-proof. Very solid in the hand. The strop attachment is clever and secure. Vinyl tubing replaces foam fabric around the power leader lines as padding where they com out of the handle tops. Comfy between the fingers and won't wear away easliy.

Sthrasher38 - 15-4-2008 at 11:22 AM

Nice! let us know how it flies asap.

acampbell - 15-4-2008 at 11:38 AM

OK, Prices are in. All Flexi prices went up 10% due to added labor and material costs. Blurrs come in at just over the Blade IV prices for similar sizes. Exact prices posted soon.

Sthrasher38 - 15-4-2008 at 11:41 AM

Thank you!:cool:

acampbell - 18-4-2008 at 05:05 AM

The new Blurr site just went active a few minutes ago...

http://www.blurrkite.com/

Blurr kite only/ complete with lines and new handles...
2.5 m $399.99 / 529.99
3.5 m $509.99 / 639.99
5.0m $619.99 / 749.99
7.0m $729.99/ 859.99

[Edit: I just realized that posting these prices may have looked like an advertisement but that was not my intent. Someone had asked about prices on another thread and I thought this was an appropriate place as a news item.]

WELDNGOD - 18-4-2008 at 05:27 AM

COME TO PAPA!:lol:

BeamerBob - 18-4-2008 at 07:54 AM

Man, those guys are really getting the good out the their equipment. The slides are HUGE. A buggier could really learn some tactics by just watching those guys. The kite must be a real power generator as well. That would be comforting to have access to the power without the fear of lift. They must've been riding in some serious winds as fast as the kite was moving and considering the speed they had in their turns.

tridude - 18-4-2008 at 09:12 AM

nice looking kites..........would they be classified as an intro/intermediate racekite? On the price list, I asked you to post those Angus, did you forget?:puzzled:

tridude - 18-4-2008 at 09:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by WELDNGOD
COME TO PAPA!:lol:


so those rages going up for sale soon?
"come to butthead" was that before your time?

acampbell - 18-4-2008 at 10:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tridude
nice looking kites..........would they be classified as an intro/intermediate racekite?

Could be though of as such, I suppose. Funny that they do not publish A/R- not that it's the only important thing- but I'll be curious and do a field measurement when I get my 5m.


Quote:
On the price list, I asked you to post those Angus, did you forget?:puzzled:


Yeah-thanks for covering for me ;)

WELDNGOD - 18-4-2008 at 01:47 PM

funny you say that, I was hearin Buttheads voice when I was typin it!:lol:

WELDNGOD - 18-4-2008 at 01:48 PM

With the AAA kit on it wouldn't it be variable a/r ? And no way I don't sell gear I get more. I might pass some to family, friends. We get some kick butt winds here when there are noreasters so I use my little kites alot. What I want is the 7.0 for when the winds are just not enough for the 4.7 rage.

acampbell - 18-4-2008 at 01:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by WELDNGOD
With the AAA kit on it wouldn't it be variable a/r ?


Uh uh. AAA kit changes angle of attack (AoA) for more grunt/ slower speed or higher speed, lower lift, better upwind penetration.

Sail planform and shape stays the same.

nhlrule56 - 18-4-2008 at 05:22 PM

Do you think the release of the Blurr they are trying to compete against the Yak market? Or is this essentially a higher performance Blade IV? I love my Yak, but seeing the Blurr...I think I want one of those too! I totally agree on watching the guys the the buggies. Nice slides...

BeamerBob - 18-4-2008 at 06:53 PM

It looks like the pull of the Blade with maybe more speed and reduced lift. It was very fast in the sky. I wonder if the wind was crazy high and that made the kite so responsive. I bet they weren't flying those Blurrs in 13 mph winds. Word has it that the Blurr sits between the Rage and Blade in lift, and that they will kick the blade up a notch. Kinda like increasing the performance of a Z06 Corvette in my book. I guess there are those that could make use of a hotter Blade. I'm tickled with mine and would be interested in adding a Blurr to the quiver when I get a buggy, but I wouldn't get rid of the Blade for anything. I think its a lifer in my quiver.

acampbell - 19-4-2008 at 08:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by nhlrule56
Do you think the release of the Blurr they are trying to compete against the Yak market? Or is this essentially a higher performance Blade IV? I love my Yak, but seeing the Blurr...I think I want one of those too! I totally agree on watching the guys the the buggies. Nice slides...


Something like the U-Turn Nitro Evo II is aimed squarely at the Yak. It has a rece-kite pedegree and the same look and feel.

It seems that with the Blurr, they tried to take the design objectives of the Rage (low lift, higher speed, very stable) and then add as many racekite elements as they could and still keep the stability.

Bladerunner - 19-4-2008 at 08:21 AM

The video seemed totally single minded ?

It only showed folks ripping it up. No race, not any freestyle besides spins, no air, no snow, no ATB, No BLADES :mad:

Are they trying to project this kite as buggy cruising specific ? :puzzled:

Isn't this just a further development of the Bullet ?

The Euro sure seems to be effecting new kite costs these days !

acampbell - 19-4-2008 at 08:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
The video seemed totally single minded ?


Yes, that was the intent, I think
Quote:

It only showed folks ripping it up. No race, not any freestyle besides spins, no air, no snow, no ATB, No BLADES :mad:

Are they trying to project this kite as buggy cruising specific ? :puzzled:


Yes, absolutely

Quote:

Isn't this just a further development of the Bullet ?


The bullet was replaced by the Rage, and this is a further development of the Rage

Quote:

The Euro sure seems to be effecting new kite costs these days !


More the dollar and fuel costs for shipping. Flexi just announced a 10% increase accross the board.
Peter Lynn prices are now up near the Flexifoil range, where they used to be a more affordable perfomance kite.

Bladerunner - 19-4-2008 at 09:21 AM

PERFECT !
You are so COOL ! :cool:
Thanks :thumbup:
Seems I work well with visuals :wink2:

zloty - 19-4-2008 at 09:56 PM

Someone was asking here about Aspect Ratio. it is 4.2 with 21 cells. As far as is it a race kite?. My buddy couldn't keep up with me on his 3.4 Yak while I was relaxed on 3.5 rasta blurr. After flying it 4 hours so far all I can say it is super stable and lots of speed with being super fast and easy to fly in the window. Bladerunner this Video is about new kite like in title. It is to show You potential of the kite and they did it. We all have seen how high You can go with the blade but no one heard about the Blurr so he it is. Most of the year I fly my blades and i have to tell You that after I got my hands on 3.5 I felt like a little kid in candy store.So much fun...

WELDNGOD - 20-4-2008 at 07:32 AM

In aviation, the aspect ratio of aircraft tapered wings is found by dividing the square of the wing span {b} by the total wing area (S):

AR = b2/S

If the wing has a constant chord, the aspect ratio is the result of dividing the wingspan (b) by the value of the chord (c):

AR = b/c

Similarly, if the value of the mean geometric chord is known, the aspect ratio is the result of dividing the wingspan by the value of the mean geometric chord:

AR = b/cmean O.k. I got it now!

KiteProject - 30-4-2008 at 07:53 AM

They got to do something about the high winds. I can't fly my Blade IVs in high winds as they are just too powerful. The smallest size is 4.0 m and even that can be too big in 17 mph winds for some.

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
Yes, thank you. Edit made.

But now that you mention it, Will seemed to think that the next Blade realease would be dialed up with more power (or at least he hopes). He explained that the current production Blade was tamed a bit fom the prototypes first flown in order to broaden their market. He reasoned that, now that they have the Blurr filling in the intermediate market, they could safely turn up the heat on the next Blade and still have all market segement covered. This was more musing out loud than official Flexi dogma, but good food for thought.

Can you imagine a more dialed-up Blade? sheesh.

OreBeamer - 4-5-2008 at 10:38 PM

Angus- Did your Blurr come in yet?

acampbell - 5-5-2008 at 02:45 AM

No, not yet.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

I want my Blurr.

Waaaaaaaaaah!!!

Oh yeah, and where is my Crossfire II?

Waaaaaaah!

BeamerBob - 5-5-2008 at 05:55 AM

I've been watching for the brown truck myself. I wonder if the CF II's are on the warehouse floor yet.

acampbell - 5-5-2008 at 08:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
I wonder if the CF II's are on the warehouse floor yet.

They arrived Savannah last Thursday and are clearing customs now.

tridude - 19-5-2008 at 12:43 PM

Angus,

Are you going to have a CF2 demo available? Im thinking about an 8m but would like a little more time on the 2. It flew nice last Sept but as you know I spent most of my time on the M3...............:thumbup:

acampbell - 19-5-2008 at 12:51 PM

I have a 5m CF II arriving tomorow. Still waiting on the Blurr. Flexi had lost my previous order.

acampbell - 20-5-2008 at 12:17 PM

Blurr shipped and arrives tomorrow, wednesday

BeamerBob - 20-5-2008 at 12:23 PM

Wow, that's some good karma. Two new kites in two days. I'm hanging around work as late as I can to wait for the big brown truck.

Sthrasher38 - 20-5-2008 at 12:24 PM

Lucky You!

acampbell - 25-5-2008 at 07:07 PM

I flew the new 5.0m Flexi Blurr and the new 5.0m HQ Crossfire II this aftenoon in 15-20 mph.

My arms are tired and 3" longer.

The Blurr was awesome. Wind was 15-20 mph and about 35 degrees off of straight on, so it was a good test. Upwind acceleration was amazing. I did not have my harness so I probably did not get the full upwind performance out of it due to my arms giving out. I normally do not hook in to a new kite untill I complely understand it, but after two passes with this kite, I felt I knew it well. I should have gone back to the car for the harness.

Downwind deep broad reaches were incredible. It was easy to keep the kite flying while racing downwind without a nip or a tuck. Theyare right about the super stability. I would be comfortable putting this kite in the hands of a rank beginner but an experinenced kiter will yank a lot of performance out of it.

I could depower the kite by taking it to the top but I never felt I was going to be tea-bagged. I flew on the base setting of the ground adjustable bridle.

The Crossfire II was great as well. With the wind being what it was, I went to the low-lift buggy setting onthe ground-adjustable bridle riight away. It was more aggressive than the Blurr and a few times I still felt that an OBE was immenent but it never happend. It was more sensitive to nip and tuck at the edge of the window and requires more attention in that department, especially with a sloppy jibe in a deep broad reach. The Blurr was more forgiving in that area.
If I had the CF II in its default higher lift setting, it would have been more stable but the lift would have been scary in these winds. On a KGB or on skis it would have been most welcome.

It seems like the CF II is a more versatile kite covereing more disciplines, but is more demanding on skill. The Blurr is a flat-out awesome buggy engine as advertised and is stupid, stupid stable and easy to fly.

This was a busy holiday weekend at the beach and very crowded even for Jekyll Island standards, so I had only a couple of hours after 5 pm when the crowds went away to fully light up on the beach, I 'll need more time to really put them through their paces and I still want to compare to my trusty PL Reactor 4.9m. I'm going away this next weekend for a couple of weeks overseas on vacation so will have to close the shop, but will be sure to pick up and continue evaluation when I get back.

Dagon - 25-5-2008 at 11:22 PM

It is about time flexi made a race kite.

KiteProject - 26-5-2008 at 02:25 PM

How would you rate this kite for landboarding?

How well does it handle gusts?

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
I flew the new 5.0m Flexi Blurr and the new 5.0m HQ Crossfire II this aftenoon in 15-20 mph.

My arms are tired and 3" longer.

The Blurr was awesome. Wind was 15-20 mph and about 35 degrees off of straight on, so it was a good test. Upwind acceleration was amazing. I did not have my harness so I probably did not get the full upwind performance out of it due to my arms giving out. I normally do not hook in to a new kite untill I complely understand it, but after two passes with this kite, I felt I knew it well. I should have gone back to the car for the harness.

Downwind deep broad reaches were incredible. It was easy to keep the kite flying while racing downwind without a nip or a tuck. Theyare right about the super stability. I would be comfortable putting this kite in the hands of a rank beginner but an experinenced kiter will yank a lot of performance out of it.

I could depower the kite by taking it to the top but I never felt I was going to be tea-bagged. I flew on the base setting of the ground adjustable bridle.

The Crossfire II was great as well. With the wind being what it was, I went to the low-lift buggy setting onthe ground-adjustable bridle riight away. It was more aggressive than the Blurr and a few times I still felt that an OBE was immenent but it never happend. It was more sensitive to nip and tuck at the edge of the window and requires more attention in that department, especially with a sloppy jibe in a deep broad reach. The Blurr was more forgiving in that area.
If I had the CF II in its default higher lift setting, it would have been more stable but the lift would have been scary in these winds. On a KGB or on skis it would have been most welcome.

It seems like the CF II is a more versatile kite covereing more disciplines, but is more demanding on skill. The Blurr is a flat-out awesome buggy engine as advertised and is stupid, stupid stable and easy to fly.

This was a busy holiday weekend at the beach and very crowded even for Jekyll Island standards, so I had only a couple of hours after 5 pm when the crowds went away to fully light up on the beach, I 'll need more time to really put them through their paces and I still want to compare to my trusty PL Reactor 4.9m. I'm going away this next weekend for a couple of weeks overseas on vacation so will have to close the shop, but will be sure to pick up and continue evaluation when I get back.

acampbell - 26-5-2008 at 02:40 PM

The Blurr would be fine for landboarding if you understand that it is purposely designed as a low-lift kite. With the ground adjustable bridle you could dial some grunt into it I suppose but I have note tried that yet.
I flew it once in smooth winds 15 variable to 20 (not gusting). I think it would be better in gusts that a lot of other high perforamance kites since it seemed to power up smoothly. Its A/R is about 4.2 which is not super high, so that should help.

KiteProject - 26-5-2008 at 02:42 PM

Have you flown Blade IVs? I wonder how it compares to Blade IV (set on low lift).

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
The Blurr would be fine for landboarding if you understand that it is purposely designed as a low-lift kite. With the ground adjustable bridle you could dial some grunt into it I suppose but I have note tried that yet.
I flew it once in smooth winds 15 variable to 20 (not gusting). I think it would be better in gusts that a lot of other high perforamance kites since it seemed to power up smoothly. Its A/R is about 4.2 which is not super high, so that should help.

acampbell - 26-5-2008 at 03:06 PM

Yes and nothing like it. Blade is violent and the Blurr is smooth. Not sure I would call it a race kite yet (Dagon), maybe because it is easy to fly ;-). It is bridled every cell with no D ribs, which surprised me but maybe that is what contributes to the stable canopy (?).

furbowski - 29-5-2008 at 08:35 AM

no D ribs? I'm not sure what you mean...

ribs define the edges of cells and hold the wing profile in shape, with holes for air flow from cell to cell....

is my understanding anyways...

thought maybe you meant cross-bracing across the cells, at 90 degree to the ribs, usually installed in a row across the kite where the bridle attaches to the canopy?

Putting a power bridle leader on every cell on all 4 rows (ABCD rows) does sound like over kill to me, especially near the tips.

????

furbo

acampbell - 29-5-2008 at 08:48 AM

Sorry, meant "D ribs" as Daigonal ribs, sometimes called "V-ribs". Normally installed to help hold the shape of the cells and sail in absence of a bridle point. Fewer bridle points mean less drag. But at least the bridles are un-sheathed and skinny.

furbowski - 29-5-2008 at 09:40 AM

Yeah, what i mean by cross-bracing you mean by diagonal ribs...

just that with most diagonal rib set-ups I've seen the canopy ties seem to be at every other cell, I get the skinny unsheathed lines, but still seems to be a lot of extra drag.

How many rows of D-ribs on the blurr?

hope you don't mind all the Q's

furbo

acampbell - 29-5-2008 at 09:57 AM

No D-ribs on the Blurr, as it is bridled every cell and therefore not needed
Different than, say, the Crossfire II that is bridled in a two-cell, then skip-a-cell pattern.
But at the end of the day, the Blurr remains a fast kite that is easy to fly.

furbowski - 29-5-2008 at 10:14 AM

sorry, didn't put two and two together...

No D-ribs would make for a lighter kite with more airflow inside the canopy, then?

are the cross-vent holes larger than normal in the ribs?

Sounds like it might be quite good in low winds...

one last Q, eh?

furbo

acampbell - 29-5-2008 at 10:42 AM

The weight of the diagonal ribs, if present, I think would offset any wieght savings from losing a bridle segment. The conventional wisdom is that the advantage gained (with D-ribs) is less drag in the bridle.
I have to imagine that they bridled every cell in order to preserve precise canopy shape. I will say that even with a luff resulting from a mis-timed gybe, it would pretty much stay in place without a tendency to bow-tie before it reinflated. The kite was still fast, even accelerating upwind at points of sail where other kites would top out.

Slawek out there? Any comments? (Slawek is one of the Flexi Tream Riders out at NABX with the Blurrs)