downunder wrote: @ foilholio, I could not fly this kite with a struts inflated coz the valves were all gone long time ago. I just replaced the main bladder valve (screw on) and removed completely the spare one, which Cab provided for pumps with no screw attachment. So, no, would be expensive to replace all valves on 10y years old Cab just to prove flying capabilities.
I see your point
do to town on it then.
I read somewhere that nylon shrinks when wet. My Pansh use nylon but is waterproofed with silicon rubber and I believe my Flysurfers use Polyester(Dacron) which is only waterproofed with Polyurethane on one side, crap. I haven't noticed much difference in the fabrics how they perform. They do feel different, but PU is much stiffer than silicone. I use PU coated nylon I buy off ebay for repairs it works well and is cheaper than polyester. Nylon is stronger than polyester so I guess the effects of water must have some merit. Otherwise why would the kite companies use a weaker and more expensive fabric? Maybe nylon stretches more?
PanTau wrote:Hi,
it's not a good idea to control the trailing edge tension by using a tension line. That doesn't work. You are are just bending it down. Fluttering will get a little less but drag will increase.
PanTau wrote:a tension line in the trailing edge doesn't prevent the nylon from stretching. It's even worse since the nylon stretches and the line is pulling the sail down like the flaps on a wing. Always use fabrics with a similar stretch. From the same reason as you would not use carbon on your kiteboard to make your glass stronger.
Leech lines do work. Only mentioned it because Greg said he used it on the cloud at some stage, they have been used on foil kites as well. Peterlynn Arcs use adjustable straps inside the kite. Cambering the airfoil like flaps when powered is actually very beneficial. You could use a sliding leech line in a relationship with a pulley and the front and rear lines to only tighten at a certain AOA giving increased lift then. I wonder if that has ever been tried.
If downunder wants to skip to the future I suggest he install a full TE bridle as most kites will eventually use them.
Downunder probably understands this well but things like carbon and glass are mixed, they have different desirable qualities, glass is harder with better wear and impact protection. Glass is actually stronger than carbon when you factor in it's ability to flex and absorb energy. Only problem is boards that flex that much will not work for kiting. The basis of all composites is the combining of different components usually to achieve something new and better. Resin, glass, foam, wood, carbon.
They way I look at straps and lines in the kite is as some sort of internal bridle. In the same way as external bridles they distribute the load across the kite in a way the fabric can not. You can make them out of fabric though, look at the ribs used on single skin kites like the Flysurfer Peaks. Foils often have fabric straps inside the kite too.