Kiteforum.com

My quiver:

7m 9m Element 5
10m 12m Nitro 6,5

With Element 5 gone and God knows what is going to happen to the Nitro, here are my 5 cents:

Element 5 was the only onshore kite left on the market even though it wasn't advertised as such (onshore) just like 2015 Ozone Catalyst which was the best most versatile kite ever produced, killed also.
Before you dump or bastardize the Nitro, here is what I would do:
Take a good look at 15 Catalyst because it is very close to the Nitro and incorporate it's 3 strut platform into Nitro sizes 9 and down. Take it on a webbing diet to make it lighter stronger and long lasting. One company has the best webbing free strut to LE connection (not Ozone) that spreads the load evenly so nothing else is needed and voila you have a killer kite.

Looks to me like the H3 is going to pick up from where the E5 left off, regarding Switch wave kites.

Yes, I think the new 7m-12m Helium 3 is essentially a refined and lightened evolution of the Element 5. Both have a similar aspect ratio but the helium is flatter giving a higher projected area per size which I think is a good thing for foil/wave.

Bletti wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:36 pm

Yes, I think the new 7m-12m Helium 3 is essentially a refined and lightened evolution of the Element 5. Both have a similar aspect ratio but the helium is flatter giving a higher projected area per size which I think is a good thing for foil/wave.

How does a flatter shape affect turning speed and pull through the turn?
Is this effect good for waves and foil?

I'm not a kite designer so I don't know exactly how flattening it out would affect turning amongst all the variables they've changed, but I think you get a more efficient kite for a given weight and potentially more power with less wasted fabric. BRM Clouds are flatter than most kites and they turn well, drift amazing, and are more powerful per area (1-2m greater power).

Bletti wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:59 pm

I'm not a kite designer so I don't know exactly how flattening it out would affect turning amongst all the variables they've changed, but I think you get a more efficient kite for a given weight and potentially more power with less wasted fabric. BRM Clouds are flatter than most kites and they turn well, drift amazing, and are more powerful per area (1-2m greater power).

I agree with everything except that clouds are flat.
(haven't seen one live and I may be wrong)

I haven't tried Helium but from the videos it flies a little too much forward and it turns too pivotly for onshore so if I am not mistaken they can keep that sucker in Hawaii.

As far as I know the H3 has 3 front bridal settings & 2 at the back, so you should be able to tune it to fly how you like.

marlboroughman wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 19, 2018 4:24 pm

I haven't tried but from the videos.....

Ahhh yes. The old video assessment review.
The GOLD standard for kite forums around the world.


Carry on.

POACHER wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:43 pm

Ahhh yes. The old video assessment review.
The GOLD standard for kite forums around the world.


Carry on.

Their description doesn't state where the kite flies in the window nor how it turns except "quick" but I've been pretty consistent spotting these things from the video. But if I am wrong and this is an onshore wave kite - I will be all over it.