Zeeko Spitfire Hydrofoil

[ronnie]

This is just a guess, but if the canard foil works by transferring % of the total lift back and forth between the wings depending on the angle of attack, then I expect that the pumping could be improved if the canard wings were both the same size and were closer together. That could reduce the pitch stability though.

It would be like moving more toward a biplane monofoil, but with the potential for more pitch stability than a biplane monofoil.


This is just a biplane box wing (not a canard) with a rear stabiliser, but it is an illustration of a possible layout for a box wing canard foil, if the two wings of the box foil were designed as canard wings, and there was no rear stabiliser.

[lederhosen]

This is just a guess, but if the canard foil works by transferring % of the total lift back and forth between the wings depending on the angle of attack, then I expect that the pumping could be improved if the canard wings were both the same size and were closer together. That could reduce the pitch stability though.

It would be like moving more toward a biplane monofoil, but with the potential for more pitch stability than a biplane monofoil.


This is just a biplane box wing (not a canard) with a rear stabiliser, but it is an illustration of a possible layout for a box wing canard foil, if the two wings of the box foil were designed as canard wings, and there was no rear stabiliser.

Never having tried monofoil, i wonder if a canard feels like a monofoil with more pitch control.

I think you are right that having the two wings on top of each other would make it easier to angle them back up towards the surface for pumping. Has anybody tried to build a canard with wings that have a joint at the front so they can flap down when pumping?

[borist]

Never having tried monofoil, i wonder if a canard feels like a monofoil with more pitch control.

Not really. Spitfire is lot more stable than mono and closer to a regular foil by comparison, even with small wings.

[gbrungra]

If I could have learned on a spitfire XLW for the price I bought my slingshot hoverglide, with short masts included, I would have chosen the spitfire.

I keep waiting for someone to add a spring to the wing(s) for more efficient surf pumping.

Also, the trend of huge surf wings should make canard setups more attractive, because they don’t need such huge wings for the same lift.

[3InletsWindsports]

Pumping on the XXLW Spitfire for me is a series of let it rise quickly then stomp on front for a slightly accelerating dive then back up.
Certainly I don’t notice a need to react quicker in this department.
As a Windfoil I have progressively been moving it forward and soon will be in the Sup position.
As the forward progress of position goes on so does the stance move toward the centre line of board.

I’m thinking the Spitfire is the making of style of Windfoil that could be in the vein of the Drexler style.

[ronnie]

Pumping on the XXLW Spitfire for me is a series of let it rise quickly then stomp on front for a slightly accelerating dive then back up.
Certainly I don’t notice a need to react quicker in this department.
As a Windfoil I have progressively been moving it forward and soon will be in the Sup position.
As the forward progress of position goes on so does the stance move toward the centre line of board.

I’m thinking the Spitfire is the making of style of Windfoil that could be in the vein of the Drexler style.

I think it could go together well with a wing.

[NYKiter]

If they put some anhedral on the wings I might try it again....

but I sold it off pretty quick after seeing how unstable it was...

[Peter_Frank]

If they put some anhedral on the wings I might try it again....

but I sold it off pretty quick after seeing how unstable it was...

I dont understand this ?

Anhedral is often used to make them less stable so they turn easier so to speak, but usually for avoiding ventilation if high AR/span wings.

I find the Spitfire extremely stable, and many others do too, so very odd you had this experience, can you elaborate a bit more on what you mean by "unstable"?

Was it the std or the XLW?

The standard is really pitch sensitive and lively/fun yes, but I dont think that is what you mean, as it got nothing to do with anhedral or flat or whatever.

XLW is a lot more pitch stable

PF

[3InletsWindsports]

The std wing does take a bit of adapting to and does not like the back foot too far forward.
This sensitive nature has its own rewards.
The XLW is more forgiving
The XXLW is extremely forgiving

[zerogee_ca]

I am about to get the Spitfire with XLW wings and excited to learn foilboarding with it. Are there any specific tutorials or tips available to make learning on it easier? Or, Can the existing online how-to's work?

For example, would the info in this part of this tutorial still apply to the Spitfire?