Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

Last post
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13785
Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

I'm thinking that the breeze might be better than predicted. Thinking of VP in the afternoon.

0 Like
ediksail
Offline
Joined: 09/05/2008 - 22:22
Posts: 220
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

There is no wind, but I'll go anyway.
Want to try my Exocet with 8.5 sail.
Ed

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13785
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

Fun day. Planed about half the time, the wind was pretty consistent when it cooled down around 4 pm. Ed and I were the only ones.

Lots of sailboats - looked like a decent big boat race maybe from the LLC all the way to LLIslands and back.

Big board, big sail was definitely the call. It's crazy how little wind it takes when the air is cooler to get things moving.

0 Like
Randy's picture
Randy
Offline
Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
Posts: 4656
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

Well, I was a bit bored on Sunday so I decided to go to Galts and fly my kites. Here's a video of "Bit Bored Sunday."

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13785
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

So, how do the different designs fly?

0 Like
Randy's picture
Randy
Offline
Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
Posts: 4656
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

I'm pretty happy with all but the last one (Model 21) but that may be an issue of tuning the brake line, or my lack of experience with that particular design. While the designs are similar, they all fly a bit differently. The model 5 variants have had a lot of development and refinement by kite makers over the years, so they are pretty well figured out. The model 21 hasn't been developed nearly as much and there have only been a few people making the single keel (low l/d in the NASA wind tunnels probably the reason.) I may be the only one to have flown the single keel with quad lines.

Lift/drag is the "measure of performance" for a kite and the higher the better. Gives a wider wind window, which makes them more useful for pulling upwind. The 21 is supposed to be the best, while the Single Keel the worst (3.5 v. 2.6) but in terms of wind window the 21 is only a little better, and may be tied with the Model 5P. My eyeball measures is like this: NPW5 ~90 degrees; NPW5P~120-130; Single Keel~120. NPW21~120-130.

Speed favors the smaller kite, it the 21 seems slow to me compared to the others. I think the single keel may be the quickest of the other 3, but they are all very close. For stability the single keel is the best (when I fly it with 2 lines) for maneuverability with quad lines they are equal, though the NPW 21 gets in trouble (wing collapses) when turned too quickly.

I have a 1.2 m commercial speedfoil kite called a Prism Snapshot. My sense is my 3 smaller kites are equal in wind window, close in speed, and better in maneuverability on quad lines, about equal on dual lines. As for "pull" - the ability to tow something - its very subjective but I think the NASA kites all pull much better. I think they all fly much better than my 1.4 m trainer kite. I've used a 1 m kite to tow me on a landboard for example. Finally, my kites seem to be able to fly in less wind, being lighter than the commercial products.

So by now, you are probably sorry you asked.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13785
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

So by now, you are probably sorry you asked.

I'm reminded of discussion comparing different NACA profiles (You didn't think I just guessed at what I taped to my trailer did you?). My head spins. It's a cat listening to a Shakespearean monologue.

0 Like
windlord's picture
windlord
Offline
Joined: 02/07/2002 - 10:05
Posts: 835
Re: Big Board Sunday? 2-8-15

Bill Herderich

0 Like