wave6ft said..

I would like a kite and board combo that would work from 5 to 8 knots get so many days here like that but don't think that it can be done

It has already been done. Check out the Airrush Lithium Zero. Assuming you are an average sized person you will get out in 5 knots and be overpowered in 8.

I must be bored to join in the thread. How about pumping hot air into the bladder like a hot air balloon. That would help with the initial launch. Then keep it moving as others have said. Drop it in the water though and relaunch might be impossible.

Real solution though is go find other hobbies, like mountain biking :-)

Come on guys have a brain storm.
Hot air could work I reckon. Just if it cools down your in for a swim. And bladder pressure may be an issue.

My god, delete this thread already. I'm getting dumber just reading it

I luv it,Its a great laugh

Chris6791 said..

Even a hot air balloon needs wind for any lateral movement.

In line with this thread, this may be a stupid question but......why is that?

Once the kite is airborne, diving it will generate it's own apparent wind, the curve of the leading edge will then create high and low pressure zones and hence the kite will fly. As long as you keep it moving it should be all good.


...or is my brain still on holidays...

Trapped said..

Chris6791 said..

Trapped said..

Didnt I read somewhere on here something about filling kites with helium or hydrogen?
If the kite had a zero weight then maybe it would be possible.
Thoughts anyone?

That's been discussed before, helium atoms are really small and will bleed through the bladder fabric in no time.

What if we lined the bladders with something similar to latex? just have it as balloons basically.

Balloon Boarding. Its got a ring to it. I can just see them drifting upwind out to sea now.
A bit like natural selection.

Freddofrog said..

Chris6791 said..

Even a hot air balloon needs wind for any lateral movement.

In line with this thread, this may be a stupid question but......why is that?

Once the kite is airborne, diving it will generate it's own apparent wind, the curve of the leading edge will then create high and low pressure zones and hence the kite will fly. As long as you keep it moving it should be all good.


...or is my brain still on holidays...

If you can get the kite to fly because it's light than air like a hot air balloon then it's flying because it's not a wing anymore, it's flying because it's a funky shaped hot air balloon. Pulling on the bar will just change the angle it sits directly overhead.

Hot air balloons get their lift from being lighter than air, and their descent is from that air cooling then becoming heavier again. It's still needs a knot or two of wind to move anywhere else. With absolutely no wind a balloon can happily ascend to 5000 feet and come back down land on exactly the same spot. Throw in one knot of wind and the same 5000 foot ascent will have them landing kilometres away.

To get a kite lighter than air? It's never going to happen. It's possibly the most inefficient shape to try with. Look at a hot air balloon and it's shape and also the sheer volume required to get aloft, now compare that to a kite leading edge tube of maybe 5 -7 metres long and 3-4 inches in diameter.