13m sonic 2 review

[Kamikuza]

It does only fill the middle of the kite, but it gives enough support across the chord that when you start the hot launch, the kite will sit up more into the wind, present the vents nicely and . . . fill quicker. If you just yank the kite off the ground, the vents aren't squished flat so it . . . fills quicker.

In a hot launch position, the Speed3's fill much quicker through the deflate valve than the intakes, which are annoying and fiddly to use in that position.

Each to their own I try to figure out the easiest way to get the best result, as quick as possible.

[socommk23]

Maybe the design of the speed 3 is a bit of a fail then if it inflates quicker through the deflation valves rather than the intake valves.

I pretty much all the time sit my kites in the hot launch position. Lay it out and they inflate by themselves.

This pic was taken after laying the kite out but without flying it. Wind was too low to use the 8m but i had just recieved it and wanted to get it set up n tested.

[foilholio]

I usually hold the middle vent up a bit to inflate the vent so it can catch air on it's own. This takes 5seconds or a bit more in light wind but beats having to walk back because the kite can't catch the wind. I also let the kite 50%~ fill on or near the ground when I launch. Foils have a thing where if you try to fly them with very little air inside they can actually deflate and then refuse to fill while still flying. It makes for quite a handful especially considering it usually happens in higher winds.

[Kamikuza]

Maybe the design of the speed 3 is a bit of a fail then if it inflates quicker through the deflation valves rather than the intake valves.

I pretty much all the time sit my kites in the hot launch position. Lay it out and they inflate by themselves.

This pic was taken after laying the kite out but without flying it. Wind was too low to use the 8m but i had just recieved it and wanted to get it set up n tested.

20160923_153657.jpg

Or maybe an 8m Diablo is a higher AR kite with a lot less chord to prop up than a 21m?

[joriws]

About deflate-valve. Usually when we hot launch the kite the wind is so light that it does not have enough pressure to prefill the kite or it would take looong time. So we prefill and fill by pulling front-lines ie running or skating.

[davesails7]

Or maybe an 8m Diablo is a higher AR kite with a lot less chord to prop up than a 21m?

Makes sense. I think it just depends on the kite. I've seen the Speeds 3 and 4 go up and gradually fill the tips with no user input once the middle of the kite was filled. The race kites though have stiffer material and much different shape, so the wingtips get closed-off/folded-over and won't fill unless you fully backstall it.

[socommk23]

Maybe the design of the speed 3 is a bit of a fail then if it inflates quicker through the deflation valves rather than the intake valves.

I pretty much all the time sit my kites in the hot launch position. Lay it out and they inflate by themselves.

This pic was taken after laying the kite out but without flying it. Wind was too low to use the 8m but i had just recieved it and wanted to get it set up n tested.

20160923_153657.jpg

Or maybe an 8m Diablo is a higher AR kite with a lot less chord to prop up than a 21m?

Doubt it. First launch for my 15m today. Zero inflation and it launched fine with no flapping or issues. Fully inflated in seconds without the need for backstalling it in anyway. So cant be that ^ .

[Kamikuza]

Ok, whatever