The point about the cost is relative anyway. As I wrote in a previous post, if I can switch from a two kite quiver (speaking about light to medium wind, at the moment 11 and 15) to a one kite quiver, cost is less than before. Must wait some real world reviews to understand if the wind range is also higher due to the fact that the kite is very light and will stay in the air also in marginal winds. If I can kite in 9-10 knots with my Bronq XL and enjoy the sail up to 16/18, in my home spot an aluula Flite 12 can be the legendary one kite quiver. If it's less than 9-10, my FS Speed 21 can do the job magnifically
pmaggie wrote:
The point about the cost is relative anyway. As I wrote in a previous post, if I can switch from a two kite quiver (speaking about light to medium wind, at the moment 11 and 15) to a one kite quiver, cost is less than before. Must wait some real world reviews to understand if the wind range is also higher due to the fact that the kite is very light and will stay in the air also in marginal winds. If I can kite in 9-10 knots with my Bronq XL and enjoy the sail up to 16/18, in my home spot an aluula Flite 12 can be the legendary one kite quiver. If it's less than 9-10, my FS Speed 21 can do the job magnifically
You can definitely get more low end with a lighter kite. How much depends if it is the weight that is limiting you. You won't get more top end. Generally though the range of most kites stays quite similar with slight weight differences, 50% is a lot though. I can already manage 6-45knots on one kite, need different boards though. No Aulula just regular fabric. Kite came out in 2008. Twas a good year for kites. Not made like that since! lol.
I'm about 180 lbs at the moment, one only month after Xmas it's not so bad )))
Joking of course. I own two boards, a Bronq 136x42 and a Bronq XL 150x50. The XL is a real light wind weapon, so I imagine that with a very light aluula 12 I'll be planing from about 9/10 to 18/20 knots, that is a dream in my home spot since we normally have 10 to 15/16. Under 10 knots there's the FS 21.
pmaggie wrote:
The point about the cost is relative anyway. As I wrote in a previous post, if I can switch from a two kite quiver (speaking about light to medium wind, at the moment 11 and 15) to a one kite quiver, cost is less than before. Must wait some real world reviews to understand if the wind range is also higher due to the fact that the kite is very light and will stay in the air also in marginal winds. If I can kite in 9-10 knots with my Bronq XL and enjoy the sail up to 16/18, in my home spot an aluula Flite 12 can be the legendary one kite quiver. If it's less than 9-10, my FS Speed 21 can do the job magnifically
You can definitely get more low end with a lighter kite. How much depends if it is the weight that is limiting you. You won't get more top end. Generally though the range of most kites stays quite similar with slight weight differences, 50% is a lot though. I can already manage 6-45knots on one kite, need different boards though. No Aulula just regular fabric. Kite came out in 2008. Twas a good year for kites. Not made like that since! lol.
You may not get more top end from a lighter kite made with current materials, but you probably will get more top end from using new material such as Aluula for LE and struts which would in turn enable the use of previously unviable wing designs.
Just for argument, if you could get, say, 2 knots lower and 1 knot higher wind range, this may not sound like much but with a typical 10-12m kite this really is a large increase in wind range
iriejohn wrote:
You may not get more top end from a lighter kite made with current materials, but you probably will get more top end from using new material such as Aluula for LE and struts which would in turn enable the use of previously unviable wing designs.
Yes exactly. New materials can allow new designs. For example Bruno's high pressure kite.
iriejohn wrote:
Just for argument, if you could get, say, 2 knots lower and 1 knot higher wind range, this may not sound like much but with a typical 10-12m kite this really is a large increase in wind range
You can get a lot more than that. Kites that change projected area have a huge range.
I think if this material's durability is reasonable it will be a huge success. Imagine what a strut less with this will be like? Could make the Peak 4 largely irrelevant.