This is interesting and Im trying to find consensus around the top end for Aluula wings and kites. I have heard opinions consistent with yours - the kites and wings are too stiff and become unmanageable at the top end of their range, or in gusty conditions. I have also heard others say that the rigidity helps the kites at the top end of their range and actually extends the top end. Very divergent opinions on the matter.Gestalt wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:45 pm
The other major concern is the range, and here i mean the top end range. AT the top of THEIR range A-flites and A-roams handle very well, but their top end is 4 or 5 knots lower than comparable non Aluula kites for a given size. The efficiency of the Aluula design almost makes them too good so they get overpowered much easier given their size. Not exactly a great characteristic for a Big Air kite you want to push to the limit.....Having a small super rigid structure in 30-50knot winds could make the kite extremely twitchy, I think having a little flex is likely a good thing.
How many of these folks offering their opinion about the top end have actually tried the kites?StellaBlu wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 2:11 pmThis is interesting and Im trying to find consensus around the top end for Aluula wings and kites. I have heard opinions consistent with yours - the kites and wings are too stiff and become unmanageable at the top end of their range, or in gusty conditions. I have also heard others say that the rigidity helps the kites at the top end of their range and actually extends the top end. Very divergent opinions on the matter.Gestalt wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:45 pm
The other major concern is the range, and here i mean the top end range. AT the top of THEIR range A-flites and A-roams handle very well, but their top end is 4 or 5 knots lower than comparable non Aluula kites for a given size. The efficiency of the Aluula design almost makes them too good so they get overpowered much easier given their size. Not exactly a great characteristic for a Big Air kite you want to push to the limit.....Having a small super rigid structure in 30-50knot winds could make the kite extremely twitchy, I think having a little flex is likely a good thing.
P.S. Im mixing and matching feedback between the kites and wings, which may differ with respect to range.
All of them! I haven't tried the kite, which is why I need to rely on others who have. Ive also been asking people who have tried the wing, because as you can probably tell, the sample size of people with hands on knowledge of these products is pretty small.knotwindy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 3:51 pmHow many of these folks offering their opinion about the top end have actually tried the kites?StellaBlu wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 2:11 pmThis is interesting and Im trying to find consensus around the top end for Aluula wings and kites. I have heard opinions consistent with yours - the kites and wings are too stiff and become unmanageable at the top end of their range, or in gusty conditions. I have also heard others say that the rigidity helps the kites at the top end of their range and actually extends the top end. Very divergent opinions on the matter.Gestalt wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:45 pm
The other major concern is the range, and here i mean the top end range. AT the top of THEIR range A-flites and A-roams handle very well, but their top end is 4 or 5 knots lower than comparable non Aluula kites for a given size. The efficiency of the Aluula design almost makes them too good so they get overpowered much easier given their size. Not exactly a great characteristic for a Big Air kite you want to push to the limit.....Having a small super rigid structure in 30-50knot winds could make the kite extremely twitchy, I think having a little flex is likely a good thing.
P.S. Im mixing and matching feedback between the kites and wings, which may differ with respect to range.
WAG don’t count for much.
I personally have the 8m,10m Aluula Roam, and the 17m Aluula F-lite. I have personally also flown the 12m and 14.5m Aluula Flite's several times each.
Almost similar to my Zephyr then. Or I couldn't get down to 12, but it would go somewhere around 18 (probably slightly above) and quite far down.