What are they planning to do with it? C? SLE? Hybrid? Delta? High AR or low AR? 4 or 5 line ...??? Any gossip?

yeah, waiting for news, also regarding other new products !

I was going to ask Rip' in private but maybe as well ask on here because I can't be the only one wondering this ?

WHY is Peter Lynn going LEI ?

WHY at the time when they have the least choices ever available in arcs?

I have no doubt PL will come up with a top notch LEI . I suspect they wil come out with something forward thinking . They won't have to make a C kite. The Charger already flies as much like a C kite as it does an arc.

oh, crap, I'm going to have to stock pumps?

Triag was testing one in May.
There is a mention of an inflatable in his blog but no details.

I never got to fly it, since I was at De Panne, and Matt Bedford was working on the bridle of it when visiting VLOP.

Yes, its true, there is a LEI coming from PL. how far a long R&D i cant say, nor tell the public yet.

Why an LEI? the TS market is small and PL is growing in the right direction with things at the moment from both land and water. With the current kites on the market the water kite will be developed the same way. PERFECT!!!

you'll see that other brands are already jumping on the same band wagon that use to tailor to land / snow / cross-over too.

for example Flexi use to be land / snow only, and now they also produce a wicked LEI from beginner to pro. IMO the only issue is they have pushed back on the freestyle market with the Blade V, but who knows whats instore for next season. I dont work from them so i have no intel there.

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell oh, crap, I'm going to have to stock pumps?

Coleman double action pumps @ Wal-Mart.....$9.88

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell oh, crap, I'm going to have to stock pumps?

i thought you already were with Flexi?

yeah, and Best but I bring in the water stuff as needed.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner I was going to ask Rip' in private but maybe as well ask on here because I can't be the only one wondering this ? WHY is Peter Lynn going LEI ?

That is where the money is.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner WHY at the time when they have the least choices ever available in arcs?

Not enough sales of arcs. I suspect that the charger will be the last arc. Sorry to have to say that, but why would they invest in R+D for something hardly anyone flies? As I've said before, recently I saw someone else flying an arc at my local kitesurfing spot; it was the first time in over 2 years (probably longer). A quick search at kiteforum.com shows the last post with "peter lynn" related to an arc was May 6th. When ever I fly and have someone new catch my kite, I always have to ask if they know where to grab (we really should have directions printed on the wingtips..)

We may talk about these kites daily, but we are the oddity.

Time to stock up?

I agree Flexi and Ozone have shown that a good kite company can go blimp and be succesful. The money is definately there.

I sure hope you are wrong about the arc going the way of the Skynosauer !

I thought that arc sales were better overseas?

the arcs are not going out of style, its just another avenue for PL in the LEI market.

relax and breath, dont jump to conclusions so fast.

Good on PL/VO if they decide to join the inflatable skeleton kite fray, but bummer if they decide to slow down on the TS development as I think the single skin kite is nearing the top of the development curve while the TS is still in infancy. There is a lot of potential for a TS kite to develop characteristic properties with airfoil camber, while single skin kites develop all capabilities with profile and angle of attack. An internal bridled TS has the potential for a flatter airfoil, but also could be developed as an adaptive profile airfoil. So, in theory, instead of relying on changing the angle of attack, you could change the airfoil to achieve different lift characteristics - like the F*&king jets we all fly on. Ever look out the window on approach to the airport? This isn't new technology; it isn't even new to kites as Sr. has already embraced internal bridling and even brought an adaptive profile kite to Seattle. It just needs to happen. Well, if PL/VO drops the TS ball, maybe I'll start playing around with my B-17. Hope they don't mind if I run with it.

Yeah I doubt the PL would just drop its top kite design just yet. I like the idea of a internal bridling. Pull in to tighten frame and gain power push out and she opens to spill more wind all with less drag of a external bridle. Also a thinner profile like flysurfers for aerodynamics. How would jet flap technology affect an arc???? Many avenues to explore that's for sure!!!! Closed cells are just beginning to break the surface, maybe one day they will surpass the great tube!!!!!!
:bigok:
shaggs

fear the tube.............................but dont forget those Phantom 2s.............

I dont see PL inflatos making a dent in the Chaz market.....Its all about North, Naish, Cabs, and Ocean Rodeo in these parts.......

I can tell you the locals are afraid of the 12m Phantom............afraid PL may fall into the "foil kite company" sterotype...........good on them for branching out.................

fear the tube, respect for the rabbit gang..............

Shaggs

Thickness on airfoils is not an issue - a faired cylinder in the wind can be 20X thicker with no additional drag. As far as stiffness - think of shoe laces or bridge trusses or corrugated cardboard and the 2D support is obvious.

The camber to lift relationship is a fascinating science. On jets, at slow speed (lower wind) more lift is generated with higher camber on take off and approach. More efficiency and lift is generated at higher speeds with less camber.

The key concept is this: The camber of an airfoil is the relationship between the curve of its upper and lower surfaces. Only a TS kite can adjust flying characteristics with camber. And on top of that, only a TS kite can use camber to vary the lift characteristics from the center (power) and tips (steering).

A basic intro to camber here: http://www.dynamicflight.com/aerodynamics/airfoils/

But sooooooooooooooooooooo much more has been developed and integrated for flight. There is no reason that it couldn't be developed for kites. It's really a cool science, check out more on the web. NASA has a bunch online.

Dave

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Originally posted by tridude fear the tube.............................but dont forget those Phantom 2s............. I dont see PL inflatos making a dent in the Chaz market.....Its all about North, Naish, Cabs, and Ocean Rodeo in these parts....... I can tell you the locals are afraid of the 12m Phantom............afraid PL may fall into the "foil kite company" sterotype...........good on them for branching out................. fear the tube, respect for the rabbit gang..............

the phanny II will come but before that the Tube

Tri / Cool / I are the rabbit gang, 2011 is just a graphic change from what i here.

Well, what do we want in an PL tube kite? Autozenith? Gotta figure it's a anything but a pure C kite

I hope they're here by next summer. Never thought I'd want a tube kite, but if it's made by PL I guess I can try it. I'm moving to a heavily wooded area and the thought of drift launching arcs in unknown water just doesn't sound that appealing. I'd like it if it flew exactly like an ARC. But I'm sure it won't. It's gotta pretty much fly like all the others if they want a piece of that consumer base.

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Originally posted by erratic winds Well, what do we want in an PL tube kite? Autozenith? Gotta figure it's a anything but a pure C kite

a bow with lower AR they will have their low wind machine.......or a faster turning C or Delta with a directional/door provides decent low end.................I can maintain my position with the 12m Boss/Spleene Door combo in 11/12 mph..........3 strut design makes for a fairly light inflatable.................Im sure PL are looking at all these variables for their new design...........oh and no pulleys ala the North Vegas.....................