Concept'air Pulsion 12"S"

[Regis-de-giens]

Benoit Tremblay has launched last year a "Sport" evolution of the its Free-reice kite Pulsion standard ; a bit higher aspect ratio, in between soul and Navy 2 IMO. A bit more expensive as well.

I have exchanged my loved Pulsion standard to a 12S to feed my curiosity ; now I did 3n or 4 rides, including this one in a new place near my homespot (Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, 6-10 knots);

have fun !

[dave1986]

What line length do you find works best for low winds?

[Regis-de-giens]

low wind : the longuer the best ( if you are looking for early planning and easy ride) ; if you are looking for speed, or upwind , the shorter the best ;
for marginal wind, I use 30m (pulsion 15 or 18m) ; on this Pulsion 12S (which I do not configure for marginal wind but rather wind range, speed, and jump) , I currently have19m (but I think I will add 3-4 meters to open doors on transitions of several types).

[dave1986]

Do you think race lines (thinner) offer much benefit for riding in light winds? Or do they mostly just give a better upwind angles?

[Regis-de-giens]

For a light kite like foilkite yes, and the lighter, the more "significant" thiner lines are.
They count almost like an equivalent weight saving on the kite, i.e. 200 gr possible saving. More over thin rear lines allow a bit more more decrease of AoA angle in the hard lulls to keep the kite at the zenith. Hars to measure but it goes in the " good direction" at least.

[foilholio]

I agree on the lines. It is debatable if more benefit is from the weight or less drag, I would lean to less drag.

The 12S looks lower AR to me? A side by side picture would be good.

I have been experimenting with increasing the depower limit of the mixer. It is surprising even past slack B at the edge there seems much more depower in the window going further. I must say if you are hunting very low winds and you don't have the designed or maybe maximum depower limit setup you are at quite a disadvantage. Which I would say is a lot of kiters out there, given no standard adjustment for it is common or maybe even exists.

[kitexpert]

Apparently it is a new CA Pulsion kite with slightly more AR. It seems to fly and turn.

[Regis-de-giens]

yes the AR is higher, it is quite obvisous when you see them in real ( visually and on the behavior); wind range is slided toward higher winds.

Turning is improved with tension , radius can be shorter (with inner wing backstalling like for race kites), but radius in larger when less tension (wrt Standard Pulsion) ; hence better in speed, jumps, upwind ; but less prone to loops during a sur on-shore. Still very light so hang in the air in very low wind.

My opinion about thin lines : weight and drag will not impact the same things, so the gain in both is great , useful, but not for the same things :
- less weight : zenith limit (while more drag could help a bit the zenith limit) + stability at the end of the window
- less drag : better upwind/speed (so can help KEEP the planning or upwind angle on a TT board) + better boost during a loop or a crossing the window (waterstart) + better control and lower AoA limit (thanks to reduced rear line curvature but the wind when depowered)

[foilholio]

Interesting.. have you noticed anythings obvious about the bridle that have changed? Like is C attached to the front of the wing at the tip? Are the Z bridles moved forward from the TE more?

Don't forget with reduced drag the kite should also be able to actively fly in less wind too.

With regard to reduced AoA because of less weight, the bar has this effect too. Or more it's because a rider won't be actively pushing the bar out all the time. If you haven't tried an ultra light bar I recommend you should!

[Regis-de-giens]

Don't forget with reduced drag the kite should also be able to actively fly in less wind too.

With regard to reduced AoA because of less weight, the bar has this effect too. Or more it's because a rider won't be actively pushing the bar out all the time. If you haven't tried an ultra light bar I recommend you should!

I do not get your point on first sentence, could you detail ?
I have a very light bar (carbon, no floters, for my 15m , reclycled fron FS speed 2 bar). To me it os great for confort an pdychology, but no really gain in light wind ability when you have the bat in hand (maybe a bit if you let the bar go with no hands on it. Hence, only ... personal tastr and better " direct feeling of lulls and gust" IMO

I think that yes a rider (even not expert) will automatically push the bar if he feels he need to depower more, even only to "push" the weigt of its arme, glooves, wetsuit stiffness, ect...) So bar weight has really no impact to me (unless overall weight saving like a light rider for the waterstart). Trim system has a limited impact because its weight is closer to the rider) but still when kite is high in the window, like for the chicken loop as well. Every parts that have no rigid link to the rider actually and that the kite need to "hang" from upward.

Reduced AoA is due to drag reduction (curvature) AND weight (minimum remaining tention of the weight of the line).