Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 21:22:23 -1000 From: tanaka_be@swam1.enet.dec.com (Bert Tanaka) Message-Id: <9411040721.AA21563@mts-gw.pa.dec.com> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: Kite Review - the Speed Limit While attending the AKA Convention in Wildwood, I had the chance to test fly a couple of kites that we on the west coast don't often see. The best of the bunch is one called the Speed Limit by Aerodrone Sport Kites. After flying it I would concur with the favorable impression it seems to have made with some of my fellow noters as well. The Speed Limit is a variable vented kite that, as its main feature, employs a self adjusting system of vent flaps to control pressure in the sail. Contrary to what you might first think, this system appears to be extremely well thought out so that tuning and flap operation should remain relatively stable and maintenance free throughout the life of the kite. Not at all overly complex, but rather, reflects a workmanlike design that makes it one of most innovative kites I have had the pleasure to fly. It is currently made with riptop nylon, and pultruded graphite spars and weighs about 15 ounces. Consistent with its clever design, construction is top notch. It is rated to fly in winds 5 to 20 mph. What is interesting about this wind range, is that the Speed Limit goes far beyond than just staying alive within these range marks, and instead, performs very well. At the AKA Grand Nationals, a lot of Speed Limits were being used due to the strong winds. In the ballet events, competitors took advantage of the Speed Limits ability to reduce pull, and equally important, its relatively even speed which is important when you have to fly a timed routine to music. The Speed Limit has moderate speed and flies evenly in all parts of the window. The vents cushion its course in bumpy wind by opening in high wind, and closing to maintain sail pressure, in low wind. This also has the effect of making the Speed Limit a slow accelerating kite although much of this may be due to its weight (15 oz.) which is on the high side. I was told that the Speed Limit had difficulty doing stunts but my experience with it was quite to the contrary. Perhaps it was because it has the feel quite similar to my sponsor's kites (Legend IQ's) but my adaptation time to the Speed Limit was basically zilch. It tracks exceptionally well and is very smooth turning. It snap stalls superbly. In 12-13 mph winds I could easily stall it center window, and, hold it there. It is extremely stable in the stall position so not surprisingly, side slides can be done with the Speed Limit virtually locked into position. It flat axels and hop axels beautifully. On ground work it felt sturdy and unfragile. The variable venting makes the average pull on this kite, low, and also will smooth out bumpy wind. I'd call the effort it takes to adapt to the vents, insignificant. Highly controllable, and predictable performance place it up with other top shelf kites. Aerodrone Sport Kites (401)364-8989. Its retail price is high, but probably varies with distribution. -Bert = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 03:52:17 -1000 From: pp@wsinti01.win.tue.nl (Peter Peters) Message-Id: <39deah$h9b@wsinti01.win.tue.nl> Organization: Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands Subject: Re: Kite Review - the Speed Limit tanaka_be@swam1.enet.dec.com (Bert Tanaka) writes: >While attending the AKA Convention in Wildwood, I had the chance to test >fly a couple of kites that we on the west coast don't often see. The best >of the bunch is one called the Speed Limit by Aerodrone Sport Kites. After > [ lots of praise for the speed limit..] > -Bert Are there any pictures of the "speed limit" ? I'd like to see what it looks like. I've never seen a kite with variable vents... Peter. -- Peter Peters, pp@win.tue.nl, http://www.win.tue.nl/win/cs/fm/pp/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 6 Nov 1994 22:16:49 -1000 From: pp@wsinti09.win.tue.nl (Peter Peters) Message-Id: <39knph$pn@wsinti09.win.tue.nl> Organization: Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands Subject: Re: Kite Review - the Speed Limit hayden1009@aol.com (Hayden1009) writes: >In article <39deah$h9b@wsinti01.win.tue.nl>, pp@wsinti01.win.tue.nl (Peter >Peters) writes: >>Picture of Speed Limit? Variable Vents? >You would really need a close-up video. That's Ok too :-) >The vents open and close as the >wind pressure demands to keep a steady flight. So a photo would look like >either a vented (with the vent differing based upon the amount of wind) >kite or a solid sail kite. There is tensioning and a standoff behind the >kite to keep the whole thing taught and working. Well I never have seen a "vented" kite before (except for the 'maze vents' on a rev, so I'm curious about the construction. The effect it has on flying a kite with vents was described in the original posting, but there must be some difficulty in putting variable vents in kites or people would probably use them more often.... Just wondering and trying to learn! >alice hayden :-) | Our lives are what we make them. ^^^^ You're SO right ! Peter Peters. -- Peter Peters, pp@win.tue.nl, http://www.win.tue.nl/win/cs/fm/pp/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 6 Nov 1994 17:54:19 -1000 From: hayden1009@aol.com (Hayden1009) Message-Id: <39k8db$t6m@newsbf01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Kite Review - the Speed Limit In article <39deah$h9b@wsinti01.win.tue.nl>, pp@wsinti01.win.tue.nl (Peter Peters) writes: >Picture of Speedd Limits? Variable Vents? You would really need a close-up video. The vents open and close as the wind pressure demands to keep a steady flight. So a photo would look like either a vented (with the vent differing based upon the amount of wind) kite or a solid sail kite. There is tensioning and a standoff behind the kite to keep the whole thing taught and working. alice hayden :-) | Our lives are what we make them. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 8 Nov 1994 13:05:05 -1000 From: hayden1009@aol.com (Hayden1009) Message-Id: <39p071$eti@newsbf01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Kite Review - the Speed Limit In article <39knph$pn@wsinti09.win.tue.nl>, pp@wsinti09.win.tue.nl (Peter Peters) writes: >Never seen a vented kite. There are probably as many ways to vent a kite as there different kites. The mode now in stunt kiting is to do inserts of mesh. Some kites are on the wings, some the trailing edges, some like the newest california wasps all around the sail. They sell many different vented kites, and many flyers do their own venting in what ever dimensions seem to move them. Some nifty vented kites from Japan (I don't recall if it was Team Ninja or Kiteland that had them at World Cup '93) had 3 mesh vents going up each wing with a velcro patch to put over each. This enabled the flyer (or field crew) to adjust the kites to the wind conditions at a moments notice (on field adjustments without having to change kites, for competitors). Alice Hayden :-) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =