Nicolas from Zeeko has posted an extensive reply to many questions also posed here, on kiteforum. I am hoping someone here has the tech savvy to copy it here please.

Waiting for live feed of Gunnar having first go.
kiteforum.com/download/file.php?id=76420&mode=view

damn it....now I want one :). Still enjoying my Jim Stringfellow freeride foil strapless on a Paipo, but I would not be game to take it out in proper waves. The whole foiling escape means more time on the water, whether it is in the bay, or with a rig like this, in the surf. Do you have a ballpark figure for a complete setup (including board)?

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RAL INN said..
Waiting for live feed of Gunnar having first go.
kiteforum.com/download/file.php?id=76420&mode=view

what's the weight ?

Boards are about $1300. Spitfire is going to be $1625 after first batch is sold but there is a special that could save hundreds till Christmas

Considering all my scraps and scratches have been from kicking rear wing when waterstarting getting out of the road is good

The first independent video of first impressions of the Spitfire.
Very long but last minute or so is worth forwarding to.
Also Gunnar has post a detailed first review on kiteforum.

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dafish said..
damn it....now I want one :). Still enjoying my Jim Stringfellow freeride foil strapless on a Paipo, but I would not be game to take it out in proper waves. The whole foiling escape means more time on the water, whether it is in the bay, or with a rig like this, in the surf. Do you have a ballpark figure for a complete setup (including board)?

We have one spare in our shipment on its way now...

Sadly it's Christmas time and spare cash is drained til mid Jan.....but I am keeping my eye on this to the near future...

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coastflyer said..
As a full size pilot, I'm not surprised that this design is so maneuverable! High performance fighters have been using this canard design for a long time, with great success, and having a small front wing in front also reduces the wake turbulence generated in high G turns, over the rear main wing.

"having a small front wing in front also reduces the wake turbulence generated in high G turns, over the rear main wing"

As an Aeronautical Engineer I disagree with this statement on several levels.

The canard design is an inherently unstable design if desired to be so. So much so that the Eurofighter is basically unflyable if the flight control system dies. Depending on design, however, the canard design can also be configured to have more stable flight characteristics than a conventional tail design for some flight conditions. In some ways its actually a much more versatile airframe configuration than a tailed design.

My memories of the Bert Rutan's Veri-easy canard designed little planes were they were easy to fly.
BTW looks like there will be a merry Spitfire Christmas for a few Queenslanders, Vics Nswelshmen and west Aussies.
Have a good one guys and gals.

PirateDunk, I agree with what you say regarding stability with most modern fighter aircraft. Generally, ejection from aircraft is required if the flight control system totally fails, as they are so unstable! My point was that the canard design offers greater maneuverability, and this is possibly what the designer was looking for in the waves.

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RAL INN said..
Considering all my scraps and scratches have been from kicking rear wing when waterstarting getting out of the road is good

You'll just ding the other leg instead.

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PirateDunk said..

coastflyer said..
As a full size pilot, I'm not surprised that this design is so maneuverable! High performance fighters have been using this canard design for a long time, with great success, and having a small front wing in front also reduces the wake turbulence generated in high G turns, over the rear main wing.

"having a small front wing in front also reduces the wake turbulence generated in high G turns, over the rear main wing"

As an Aeronautical Engineer I disagree with this statement on several levels.

The canard design is an inherently unstable design if desired to be so. So much so that the Eurofighter is basically unflyable if the flight control system dies. Depending on design, however, the canard design can also be configured to have more stable flight characteristics than a conventional tail design for some flight conditions. In some ways its actually a much more versatile airframe configuration than a tailed design.

You can make any configuration unstable if that's your design goal -- wing layout isn't the sole determining factor.

The Tornado is fly-by-wire. Doesn't matter how stable it is or isn't, if that fails you're falling out of the sky ;)

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Gorgo said..

RAL INN said..
Considering all my scraps and scratches have been from kicking rear wing when waterstarting getting out of the road is good

You'll just ding the other leg instead.

I've never dinged my shins, legs or feet on the foil. I have sliced open a finger trying to put the cover on though . . .

I split my head open on the mast when assembling it together for the first time. Good start hey!

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eppo said..
I split my head open on the mast when assembling it together for the first time. Good start hey!

That's a first.

Dropped a bolt, bent over, whack. What a doosh. Happy gilmour putting together his happy foil. And on the water I was definetly the water boy staying with the Adam Sandler theme

You better send the script to happy Gilmore