Finally got two sessions with the flite 14.5, bare with my English it is not my mother tongue.
Got the Golden Grin !
As an intro I would mention it is difficult to get excited about a 14 m kite, for me it means you live in a place with very variable wind and that size is a session saver especially if you weigh 90+ kg (200+ pounds). I do not foil so I only get xcited when general whitecaps appear and 12m just does not make it happen (fun riding with a larger TT board ex 153x43). Had a 14m Enduro since they came out and it did a fair job but was looking for something with more finesse, faster flying, and that handled better in minimal winds. I don’t think the Enduro is a light wind (lw) design, and when my wife would try it in the lowest wind it sometimes front stalled, and because of that she had stopped using it. In the 13-16 kt range I was using it it handled well and never stalled but I was more and more avoiding the kite and waiting to go out on the 12 Enduro (forcing my wife to go out on 10). It was time to update and Aluula appeared...ordered n feb, recieved 2 weeks ago (but still waitng for the Roam 12 ordered at the same time).
First session was 7 to 13kn with a squall well over 20kt. Second was 11 to 16 kt.
I have come to the conclusion I can mow the lawn in 10kn but that the lower fun level is 12 kt. Upper range fully trimmed is probably 18-19 kt and the kite handles well fully trimed. I do not xpect to use it past 16 kt or so. In the squal of probably 25 kt I was surprised how stable it was at 12 but was scared to moove it to the side window.
First impression is that the kite flies in nothingness. You simply cannot stall the thing, it’s like on a Tesla autopilot. Looks like my wife will be happy, presume her range will be 8-9 to 13-14 kt.
Second impression is performance, give the kite a bit of apparent wind and it goes and goes. Grunt is similar to my Enduro (of memory) but the power delivery is more consistent as the upstroke is more efficient and also the kite flies and turns faster offering more power potential when you drive it.
Third impression is predictability. The feel is fun, plug and play. Goes upwind well, downloops lke a charm it just does all it is to xpected to do and if you goof going down wind it is so cool, forgiving. The power management of the trow is verry gradual, very Ozone like. It did surprise me once shooting up faster than anticipated in a drift launch. And you need to tie the thing to the ground beached, the autopilot want’s to kick in.
In conclusion it put the fun back into 14m riding. Of the wish list in the kite change it ticks all the boxes. Wort the extra dollar for the reasons mentionned above. Will also be a great addition for the trips in the Carebean like Cuba that often have low teen winds.
Details...reverse pigtails, small bag, the std pump fitting of vwmg does not fit well and lost air, had to use the xtention fitting. Aluula seems to take longer to dry the kite (inside leading edge). Nice thin bridal, kite looks great esthetically, minor colour imperfections in canopy materials.