Spotted a Slingshot UFO Aluula prototype

[grigorib]

I’m not against lighter kites even though I have always been able to fly my largest lightwind kites in way less wind than they would pull me out of water onto the board. 19m Speed3 Deluxe flew in 4 knots. 15 Turbine delivered some amazing rides on 37m lines and 170x50 Flydoor. Yet lighter 14m Rally 2012 flew in less but didn’t have power of Tirbine. 9m UFO flies in nothing but it takes some looping to get out of water in the lightest winds. 9m Peak flew in 4 knots easily but there’s no way it’d produce as much looping power as UFO does to get out of water onto the foil. And Peak turning speed was pretty weak. Some people enjoy them though and it’s kind of cool I guess.

I think Aluula OR Flights are awesome for TT riders yet $2400 price tag is kind of where premium ram airs are and that’s probably acceptable for some. But. Kites don’t live long, 300 hours sun exposure is a killer for paraglider wings, let’s say kites take a bit more but light fabric goes first and that’s a lot of money to be killed by UV. I’d stay in under $1000 range for kites.

[purdyd]

Slingshot was already advertising that the ufo v2 would be 200 grams lighter.

But beyond the weight the new materials are stiffer.

And that opens up opportunities to improve performance outside the weight.

These no strut kites in particular would gain from a stiffer leading edge in my opinion.

[GregK]

... Kites don’t live long, 300 hours sun exposure is a killer ...

and that’s a lot of money to be killed by UV ...

Agree that if you live near the equator where the sun exposure & UV are strong, then 300 - 400 hours of middle-of-the-day sun exposure will cause embrittlement and strength loss in the kite's canopy.

But look at the cost another way : ( $ 2,400 - $ 1,000 ) / 300 hours = $ 4.67 per hour incremental cost for the benefits of a lighter and stiffer kite. Well worth the investment IMO.

Also agree with DrSurf that all of kiting alone won't make a lot of scale, hoping Aluula will be adopted into many high-performance fabric applications willing to pay a premium for increased stiffness and reduced weight. Wider use in kiting will definitely accelerate exposure across outside kiting.

[Frankieboy]

is the UFO much heavier then a BRM Cloud?
Did anybody compare both kites?
tx

[grigorib]

is the UFO much heavier then a BRM Cloud?
Did anybody compare both kites?
tx

My data here for v1
The v1.1 is almost identical and I don’t have Clouds

2020 Slingshot UFO 5m 2.9 lbs
2020 Slingshot UFO 7m 3.7 lbs
2020 Slingshot UFO 9m 4.4 lbs

[grigorib]

... Kites don’t live long, 300 hours sun exposure is a killer ...

and that’s a lot of money to be killed by UV ...

Agree that if you live near the equator where the sun exposure & UV are strong, then 300 - 400 hours of middle-of-the-day sun exposure will cause embrittlement and strength loss in the kite's canopy.

But look at the cost another way : ( $ 2,400 - $ 1,000 ) / 300 hours = $ 4.67 per hour incremental cost for the benefits of a lighter and stiffer kite. Well worth the investment IMO.

Also agree with DrSurf that all of kiting alone won't make a lot of scale, hoping Aluula will be adopted into many high-performance fabric applications willing to pay a premium for increased stiffness and reduced weight. Wider use in kiting will definitely accelerate exposure across outside kiting.

300 hours are only 60x 5 hours days. That’s why kites from kite schools used for a season a near-trash. Given you travel and end up using multiple sizes, kites live for couple of good kiting years and then you need to buy a new quiver. My last purchase of 3/5/7 was still under $2400 tag of a single OR kite.

Again, I’m all for new lighter materials but let’s not forget the windsurfing prices contributed to the near death of the sport

[purdyd]

is the UFO much heavier then a BRM Cloud?
Did anybody compare both kites?
tx

My data here for v1
The v1.1 is almost identical and I don’t have Clouds

2020 Slingshot UFO 5m 2.9 lbs
2020 Slingshot UFO 7m 3.7 lbs
2020 Slingshot UFO 9m 4.4 lbs

3m 993 grams 2.2 lbs
5m 1310 grams 2.9 lbs
7m 1633 grams 3.6 lbs

I believe the weight is comparable to clouds

6601AA24-F5AE-4536-B0AF-7A01963A8261.png (19.54 KiB) Viewed 2962 times

[grigorib]

Here go Peak4. Quite lighter than UFOs. They should make them out of Lotus or in Deluxe to save time more weight

[Greenturtle]

So lets just say for the sake of discussion, that with high tech materials it might be possible to make a strutless lei at a weight that is competitive with single skins like the peak.

What still remains not competitive, would be the price!
and power per size.

Obviously the super light lei wins on water relaunch every time. Plus having familiar feel and handling for a lot of riders.

Here is a question:
*IF* a UFO and a peak4 of comparable power weighed the SAME due to lei material advancements, which kite would drift better?

[watercamper]

Peak4 without a doubt for me.