Think Arcs are stable? Looks likes a photo almost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3MPErZBm_0

That's some super smooth flight right there. Funny...I always forget that I can't let go of the bar like that whenever I go from flying my arcs to flying my other foils. Usually I catch it before the kite plows into the ground.

I hear ya Shaggs. Most of the time we don't get the full benefit of Arc auto zenith here either. Wind never stays the same direction long.

That footage was shot on one of the southern big lakes away from the mountains. Wind is pretty steady there.

Still amazing how stable the F-Arc is. Not bad for a kite that's about 10 yrs old.

I love flying this thing. I still haven't flown the 1200 on snow yet. Maybe tomorrow if I'm over this flu nonsense.

How lifty is that 1600?

Not sure yet. But if I were to take a wild guess I bet she's a hell of a glider.

She's got a very similar lifty feel as the Venom 2 IMO. We haven't had any snow until just now so I've been staying on the surface. Maybe today I'll get out and see how it does on small jumps.

Static flying in warm winds blowing about 12mph I could do a little run and pull the bar in, hover about 4' up and get a few second glide.

The turn rate is really goingto determine the jump thing. She turns fast enough if you muscle it. But it's no where near the jump of a Charger. Feels very much like Molly's 19m P4 SA. Very floaty.

Been sick all week but I'm getting out today and in about a foot of soft stuff. Maybe I'll try some small jumps if the wind is smooth enough.

I would like to see a similar video using something like my 10m Charger in similar wind conditions.
Arcs have changed !

I don't think age has much to do with the arc's autostability. It's about design parameters. Methinks you trade quick steering response for lateral stability. Asking for both in the extreme, together, just ain't gonna happen. Or it may happen, but it'll probably take fly-by-wire.

krumly

Like the difference between a B-52 and an F-16.

I agree with Krumly, any loss of Auto zenith is a by product of the increased performance and handling. The F-Arc and one end of the spectrum and the Charger at the other.

Although even the Charger (in smooth winds) auto zeniths well IMO.

After wrestling the Charger in shift winds having the F-Arc in smooth wind is a real treat.