Hey Harry,
The thing you want to know about LEI's is that they're ineffecient on purpose. And that ineffeciency takes the form of much less increase in power as
the kite begins moving. The reason is that out on the water, you need a fairly stable and uniform amount of pull, (otherwise, you'd sink every time
you turned or tryed running upwind) This is why they are so big (lots on constant power): So ineffecient (so you're not too overpowered when you get
going): And mechanically depowerable (so you can get air only when you want to)
On land however, we don't have to worry about sinking underneath the sand if we don't maintain power, so we can afford to lose much more power at
times. Consequently, we are able to use much more efficient, and therefor smaller kites (i.e. foils) that naturally depower when we stop moving them.
Conversely, we are able to generate LOTS of power by increasing the kites movement (i.e. looping) or by putting it deeper into the window. This is
what makes foils so ideal for land use.
This is also why comparing the relative power of LEI's and foils is so hard. A 10m LEI inflated, but parked on the ground, will generate an identical
about of pull as a 10 meter foil in the same position. Once launched however, the foil's increase in power will far exceed that of the LEI's. And
because it's exponential, as the wind increases, so does the difference in their power.
As far as "projected" area verses actual area. The easiest way to think about it is: Actual area is amount of area the kites takes up when laid out
flat on the ground. The projected area is the amount of space that the kite "appears" to take up when in the sky. (Scoop's definition it technically
more correct though
)
Hope that helps. Later.
\"There are no stupid questions... There are however, a lot of inquizitive idiots.\"
Quad-Trac Profoil 3m
Eolo Radsail Pro 2.7m, 3m, 6m (x2)
Ozone Razor 5.5m 4.5m and my new 8.5m (The thing scares the crap out of me...but in a good way!)
Advance Io 7.5m
Jojo Rage 12m
Jojo RS 6m (T. Raw\'s old mystery Jojo - still crazy powerful)
Earthboard Rage mountainboard w/8\" tires
MBS Comp 32 board
Flexifoil sport buggies (x3) Highly modified
Peter Lynn Comp w/Bigfoots
Rockville offroad skates w/8\" tires
Homebuilt sandboard
Lots of Ritalin