Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype
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taiguy
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Oldman_Dave
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SMJ
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Re: Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype
HUGE!!! Could this possibly replace foil kites for bottom end kite foiling???
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jakemoore
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Re: Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype
My hope is better downwind performance in 5-7 meter winds.
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leeuwen
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Re: Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype
Don’t think it will make much real world difference in the extreme low end. Not saying it won’t be a better and easier kite to fly then the current UFO because I believe it will be.
The problem IMHO is: regular freeriding is not much fun below 7/8 knots. Any mistake will punish you with a swim regardless of how light the kite is and relaunching and getting on the foil starts to be a PITA.
So a kite that is more aimed at wave/freeriding like the UFO probably won’t shine in the extreme low end. Not saying it won’t be possible to ride it, just that it’s something you won’t be bothered with after the initial novelty of it.
Below 7/8 knots it seems that racing is the only real long term fun activity.
I would be happy to be proven wrong though.
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dave1986
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Re: Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype
No chance. Foil kites will always have more peak power than LEIs allowing them to be the best kites for foiling in the very lowest winds (4 to 7knots).
Yes Aluula is a fantastic material and it will allow LEI kites to fly in lower winds. However, the inferior peak power of LEIs will remain unchanged regardless of how light they are or what materials they are made from.
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ffoil
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purdyd
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Re: Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype
Seems like a lot of work for no particular gain.
Looks like Baja to me and previous testing of the ufo was done there.
I have no doubt that lots of companies are testing aluula and other fancy materials all the time, might have been a good aluula marketing move to go with a gold color.
Now whether this goes into production?
I personally think the ufo would gain by having a stiffer material in the leading edge especially for the larger sizes which are flown in very light wind.