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Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 7:21 pm
by gl
Yesterday I had my first try of the Firefly 8. The wind was 8 to 12 knots at the local wind meter. I weigh 80 kg. and was on a floaty board and the Slingshot Infinity 76 foil. I was in a large fresh water lake with a long distance that the wind was coming across the lake. So the wind was pretty clean. I was well powered up the whole time I was out except for when the wind dropped to 8 knots or slightly below. The power spike was not large but the pull from the kite was strong and consistent. The kite turns reasonably quickly but does not move very fast across the wind window in those conditions. Just before I dove the kite to get up on the board I did not think I had enough wind. I was up easily and on foil right away, well powered. The kite does not have a large power spike once the wind wind gets below about 8 knots, it still flies well but has little pull. As soon as there is enough wind you know it as there is lots of pull to put you on the board. Gybing was easy with this kite as the kite sits back a bit in the window and has a constant pull as it moves across. So the lines do not go slack easily while turning. I used a bar with a long depower throw and to take full advantage of the depower it was useful. Since this a Firefly version 2 with the updated bridle there is not much flapping depowered but rather all you feel is a slight fluttering on the bar and it not very noticeable. While I out there was twin tippers were using 14.5 kites and large twin tips and for the most part could not go very far upwind until the wind reached 12 knots. I had no problem going upwind but nowhere near as high as I would have with my 9 meter closed cell kite. I drift launched the kite in waste deep water in 9 to 11 knots and had no problem. Once the kite has drifted out to the end of the lines you have to give a series light tugs on the center lines to get it to stand up on it's tail. Once there it takes off easily. In more wind it would have been faster. Laying in the water the kite takes in very little water unlike my full closed cell kites. I am not sure it is for every kiter but I really like it for easy fun foiling. I also have a Peak 4 8 meter that I have foiled with. They are similar with the big different being the Firefly relaunches easily. I think the Peak will fly in a bit less wind comfortably although the Firefly stay up in quite light wind. The Peak appears to depower a bit more and may turn a bit slower. They produce power a little differently but you would have to try them both to see the difference as it is subtle. The Peak flaps more when depowered. I am very happy with my purchase.

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:33 pm
by slowboat
Sounds good. Do you think it stays up in the air as well as the P4 during lulls? Can you get a weight for us?

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 10:07 pm
by gl
It stays up in the air quite well in the lulls. I'm not sure because it's hard to compare but I think the peak is a little better at that. A plus is the first day I tried to fly it on the water there wasn't enough wind. I got it into the air and then the wind died and it sat on the water for about 15 minutes then wind picked up again a little bit and I was able to relaunch it without manually draining it. Of course the wind died right after that and I gave up. Sorry I don't have any scales that will do light weights. I can tell you it's not as light as my Peak but it is certainly not heavy.

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:03 pm
by philemonfilou
Hi
1213 gr....

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:48 pm
by Peter_Frank
philemonfilou wrote:
Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:03 pm
Hi
1213 gr....

If that is the weight of the complete Firefly 8 m2, then it is exactly as light as the Peak4.

Just weighed my 8 m2, some sand in it, with bridles and connections it weighed 1240 gram, so the very same :D

8) Peter

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 12:44 am
by slowboat
Interestingly, the FF 4 meter weighs almost the same as P4 4 meter.

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:38 am
by Regis-de-giens
Peter_Frank wrote:
Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:48 pm

Just weighed my 8 m2, some sand in it, with bridles and connections it weighed 1240 gram, so the very same :D

8) Peter
Peter, one question since you own a light doubld skin Pulsion 15m.
Pulsion vs peak4, which kite flies on less wind with working the kite (loops) and without working (zenith ) ?

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 1:37 pm
by merl
Seems odd (as a firefly and peak 4 owner). The Peak 4 lower half uses the soft flysurfer material that feels much lighter; the firefly looks like more standard material, has a bit more cloth (for the double-skin section) yet weighs the same. I would not have guessed that...

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 10:12 pm
by gl
I used the 8 meter again yesterday. Light wind to start. Drift launched in waist deep water no problem and up on foil easily. A guy with a 14.5 metre Ocean Rodeo Flight could not get his kite into the air drift launching. It would not even lift a tip up. I do think my 9 and 12 Pulsions would start a bit earlier but I have more fun with the tractor like pull of the Firefly once it is windy enough to go.

Re: Concept Air Firefly 8 Meter

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:48 am
by Peter_Frank
Regis-de-giens wrote:
Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:38 am
Peter_Frank wrote:
Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:48 pm

Just weighed my 8 m2, some sand in it, with bridles and connections it weighed 1240 gram, so the very same :D

8) Peter
Peter, one question since you own a light doubld skin Pulsion 15m.
Pulsion vs peak4, which kite flies on less wind with working the kite (loops) and without working (zenith ) ?

Hi - a good question.

Meaning, I dont know :roll:

I can fly the 15 m2 Pulsion when working it, in 1-2 knots.
Parked I need 4 knots, and have to keep it around 12 with a risk of collapsing if a lull comes along, but happens rarely, much more stable than a race kite.

With the Peak4's a little more in doubt, as I only got an 8 as the biggest (have had an 11, sold it as too little additional peak power compared to the small ones), so I rarely have them out in this wind, far away from rideable wind.

With the Pulsion my low end for riding on a foil (@78 kg) is 5 knots wind, and I use it op to 6 or 7 knots of wind max, and then switch to a 12 m2 strutless first, and from 8 knots the 8 m2 Peak4.

I have had my Peak4's out where the wind dropped as in TOTALLY, not even ½ knot of wind.
Luckily on the beach.
I could run backwards and fly the kite up and around, but that does not count, as it is 2-3 knots you can walk/run backwards easily.

It makes no sense to compare different sizes, should be a 13 m2 Peak4 to compare, but it has less powerspike than the Pulsion (the 11 has less).

I would think the Peak4 can hang in at least the same, maybe a fraction less wind than a corresponding Pulsion, is my best guess based on indirect experiences :naughty:

But when flown, I dont think there is this difference, maybe only a tad in favor of the Pulsion, being a "cleaner" more efficient kite. Again, best guess and feel.

8) Peter