SolarSet wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 8:05 am
kitexpert wrote: ↑Mon May 03, 2021 10:36 pm
More interesting question is why smaller sizes are also slower than LEI's. Single skin design of LEI kite is more effective at the start of turn, when airspeed is low. LEi's also have much more canopy curve (shorter wing span) and design is stiffer. Also method of turn is different, there is twist in LEI when foil kite more like brakes inner side of kite.
IMHO foil kites in smaller size are slower than even larger LEI because:
1. Foil kite has less wing surface that is responsible for turning kite (kite shape)
2. Foil kite are not as rigid structure as LEI from mixer which has 4 pulleys vs some LEI don't have any pulleys to kite structure which internal pressure is way smaller than LEI kites.
However, as a result of the above we get wider wind range as kite adjusts more to changeable windspeed conditions by adjust kite shape arch (more wind it opens itself more = bar sheet out) but this comes at cost of risk in kite collapsing, losing shape if wind if too gusty.
There is this noticeable difference when you first time jump on kite foil kite, unlike on LEI it doesn't rip you off water but is seems that vertical acceleration is slower/smoother and I would account it to softer frame and pulleys that foil kite has unlike LEI.
Hang time of foil kite is more to do with kite AR than fact it is foil kite IMHO.
Much correct here but that kite shape thing... When FS had Psycho4 it became more curved when depowered, so it became a bit smaller kite when wind was high.
LEI kites have massive range, pros use 9m kites in over 40kn. Stiff structure is reliable and handling on start and finish is safer and easier. I wouldn't go out with a foil kite in those kind of conditions.
If kite has a lot of canopy curve it usually tries to open it up when powered up. C-kites and late PL arcs (which are actually foil C-kites) do this most, there is additional boost in them.
One important reason why foil kites are slower to turn than LEI kites is foils very often fly further in WW, then there is not much power left to accelerate and turn. Kite which sticks closer to power zone is always ready to react.
In LEI's pulleys are not on steering line side of kite and they are justified allowing some wing movement (twist etc.). Last time I was on pulleyless LEI it felt a bit stiff in turns. But both (or all, there is many different ways to add pulleys in bridles) methods work. I just don't see that fundamentalism some have against pulleys in bridles very reasonable. Your steering lines are straight anyway (ok there is or was some exceptions)