Hey all, was wondering if anyone had any profile samples for a blade VIP 8.5M2, can't find it anywhere, any help would be much appreciated.

You making one? Bad idea

I've made smaller airfoils before (3m and 4m) but want something bigger, thought I'd give it a try.

As a kiter with years of experience under my belt, & a former blade VIP owner, I will tell you 2 please be careful when attempting to make and/or fly this kite. Even in lower winds meaning sub 8 miles per hour this kite is a and will spank you pretty quickly. This kite requires very, very smooth wind. Please make sure to wear all appropriate safety gear when flying this kite. The blade has a well-deserved reputation of being called the Widowmaker. Granted, the Widowmaker refers to a 4.9 meter blade but in my humble opinion all blades have earned that reputation. I still have my 10.5 meter blade 3, but it lives in its bag lol

A legend shan't be reproduced. It is born and it's born at flexifoil. It would be impossible to reproduce. I've owned 2 and they are masterpieces at what they are built for.

Is there anything on the profile of a blade VIP or even a blade lll 8.5m2

Pansh has already made your copy for you. It is the Ace.

Sort off need a sample of a blade profile, maybe try see if I can get anything from an ace

I don't think anyone is very likely to provide you with the information to potentially rip off flexifoil here. It has happened before, especially since this topic is the only one you have ever posted in.

Please understand that there has been a history of people taking advantage of quality kite designs for personal gain around here. Our sport depends on companies willing to spend the time and money on Research and Development. The community tends to back and protect these companies even if it means paying for more than just the product in hand. I get that you aren't trying to do that but it explains the cool responses.

The one way this has been done in a respectable manor is a pilot purchased an Ozone Frenzy to deconstruct and got Ozone's blessing to create some very cool precision built kites.

You have found a good site to connect with other kite builders. It seems like the majority of kite builders on this site are exploring the HUGE potential in single skin kites. If building is your passion I might suggest you look into single skins and the new directions they are taking. Being a new / less explored direction you will find people more willing to share ideas and designs.

I also wonder why of all kites you would chose a big Blade to home build ? You are looking to build a kite designed for big air. Not exactly the kind of kite you want to be fine tuning to make work right? You won't be wanting to scrimp on quality of materials, that's for sure!

Quote: Originally posted by mougl

As a kiter with years of experience under my belt, & a former blade VIP owner, I will tell you 2 please be careful when attempting to make and/or fly this kite. Even in lower winds meaning sub 8 miles per hour this kite is a and will spank you pretty quickly. This kite requires very, very smooth wind. Please make sure to wear all appropriate safety gear when flying this kite. The blade has a well-deserved reputation of being called the Widowmaker. Granted, the Widowmaker refers to a 4.9 meter blade but in my humble opinion all blades have earned that reputation. I still have my 10.5 meter blade 3, but it lives in its bag lol

I always thought the Pansh Ace was king widowmaker, lifty, deadly and cheap. Also have I mentioned I love mine? Yet my wife rarely okays flying them

Volock, I assume you have the original ace? Have you seen the new ones? They really look cool

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

Volock, I assume you have the original ace? Have you seen the new ones? They really look cool

I have a 5m and 7m of the originals, that are each about 8 years old I'd guess... I LOVE the looks of the new ones. I'm so tempted to buy an Ace II based on looks alone. I like my Ace but rarely get conditions it flies well in.

Quote: Originally posted by volock

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre   Volock, I assume you have the original ace? Have you seen the new ones? They really look cool I have a 5m and 7m of the originals, that are each about 8 years old I'd guess... I LOVE the looks of the new ones. I'm so tempted to buy an Ace II based on looks alone. I like my Ace but rarely get conditions it flies well in.

I don't normally have the conditions either, but I want the new ace based on looks alone as well and that's my favorite type of kite for the occasional static fly.

just went to pansh site. That's probably one of the coolest looking kites I've seen come out in a long time. In the same league as phantom 1 or outlaw in my opinion (looks wise).

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

just went to pansh site. That's probably one of the coolest looking kites I've seen come out in a long time. In the same league as phantom 1 or outlaw in my opinion (looks wise).

Agreed. When the next buy 2 get 3 free from Pansh comes, I think I'll be getting an Ace II and a Blaze II, and then free stuff to fill in the rest. They aren't as high of quality as other kites, but it's tempting.

I tried to buy a new 2.5m Ace off someone in town on CL but they wanted $85 for a 6 month old one, and the new one shipped was like 90... Needless to say, I did't.

Found this image from a blade V manual. Is the profile something like this and can anyone put any measurements to it.

Ruddock

I'll sell you a used Pansh Ace 7m for cheap if you really want measurements, or to just be done with this kite copying business (the better option). No one is going to help you rip off a design, if Flexifoil won't just give you measurements or permission, when you promise not to use it commercially. You can disassemble the Ace or just fly it or do whatever you want, I don't fly it much, plenty of life left. The only reason I can see for copying a kite (with permission) is you want to do something like the Calvin and Hobbes kite or the like.

My guess is that profile from the blade v manual is not very accurate, just to give a visual explanation of the baffle passages

there are some good kite plans out there, try searching for kite foil maker groups. I think there is one on yahoo. there is also the kite-plans site.

I think that like me, most folks on here are unclear on why you are intent on building a Big Air foil from scratch? Maybe explaining why this is your choice would clear things up? The concept of testing the kite once you have built it is what sends red flags up for me. Do you have experience with Big Air foils as a pilot?

I haven't looked at the construction of the newer Blades but suspect they include some cross ribbing etc. to reduce bridles . Not just the simple rib ports that are shown in your picture. I also agree that the picture is not likely to scale?

C'mon guys... What in the world could go wrong?

Good news bad news.

An 8.5 will potentially give you decent float to ride it out.

In my mind the bad news comes in when you are up there and discover you have a bridle failure, nose tuck etc. due to many ways you could mess up a home build put under this kind of pressure.

Why try and rip-off a Blade VIP, I have one and tbh I now prefer my single skin kites, I'm not looking for big floaty stuff and I'm not looking to get dragged through the courts ripping designs off, the "new" style single skin designs are out on the web and really deliver a punch if you're looking for a project, you can alter every aspect of the design to suit your needs, if you need to know what all the options are then maybe stick to a tried and tested plan or better still Blade VIPs are not that expensive second hand.

Yeah, I had a Blade IV 8.5 and jumped a lot with it. Never got hurt. It's floaty, but if I had let it get behind me just once, well... <foomp>. (That's the sound a human body makes when it hits the ground hard).

I Jumped a lot with smaller kites and got hurt a lot. Most notably, The 3m Pansh Ace (which is arguably a blade copy) and the 4m Pansh Flux. Go buy a used Blade IV or V. Stay away from the Ace and stay away from jumping with your own interpretation of that kite. If you're really into trying it out just for the sheer joy of making / improving their design, please don't jump with it.