I was flying my new Airush 8m lithium 2012 the other day, very happy with it expect perhaps the bar reach is too long. When suddenly in a gust or similar made the leading edge deform and the whole kite spluttered. The wind was only about 24 knots. The kite was pumped hard so i cannot explain it. Then again when i was doing backroll kiteloops the kite would deform again. Does anyone else experience this?

No man not at all. In fact the canopy is so stable I find I want it to do more!! That is bloody weird? Was it still pumped hard when you came in. Back roll back loops whatever it is stupidly stable and predictable even fully loaded. What bar pressure setting did you have it on? I've looped that kite, both 14m and 10m onto waves driven hard at it, doesn't blink an eye, infact I went out the other day and the only time I looked at it was when I was upside down for the whole session( kind of sick weird game I play now and then). Just strange. I'd expect maybe a very high aspect kite to maybe do this, but the tractor lithuim, no.

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Triggerhappy said...

I was flying my new Airush 8m lithium 2012 the other day, very happy with it expect perhaps the bar reach is too long. When suddenly in a gust or similar made the leading edge deform and the whole kite spluttered. The wind was only about 24 knots. The kite was pumped hard so i cannot explain it. Then again when i was doing backroll kiteloops the kite would deform again. Does anyone else experience this?

... dude, welcome to my world. Luckily its not just Airush Lithium thing but a bridle thing.

This sort of thing happens to heavier or stronger guys and mostly on bridled kites. I know because it happened to me constantly, well it used to anyway.

My first bridle kite I owned, the Rhino 2009 would distort constantly on just about all jumps and hard power turns but when I got my next bridle kite, the Dyno (which is a similar bridle) would happen alot less but none the less, would still happen. The only time I could distort the other kites I own was when I would take the kite in waaay over its wind range (ie 12m Rebel in 40 knots of storm).

Here is a small list of kites I've tried and I can distort: Core XR 17m, Best Kahoona, Cabrinha Switchblade, Ozone Edge, Ozone Zehper, Gaastra Jekyll, Fone Bandit and North 2009 Rhino. All kites with bridles.

I'm not sure if it will wreck the kite but I'm sure as hell know I didn't like it. So, in your case if it happens, its gunna always happen when you give it some. Pumping up the leading edge may help it somewhat but its going to put alot of stress on things so you may have to change your style or at least your expectations of the kite.

Good luck,

Robbie

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Triggerhappy said...

.The kite was pumped hard so i cannot explain it.

What do you call pumped hard.
I pump mine to 10 psi no problems now.

One thing I've noticed, they don't like been totally depowered in very gusty winds. No sweat, keep a bit of tension on or change down a size.

Not swapping anytime soon

Not sure what the psi is i will take the valve next time. It was pretty damn firm however. The first time the kite went all loopy was when the kite rolled and powered up right though the window vertically. After that kiteloops moving slowly are fine but pulling a kiteloop hard and fast freaks out the kite. I can only think after this event something has either happened to the structure to weaken it or the bridle set-up has been damaged. I did not have this problem before the roll. So watch out.

I will pump up to 10psi and see if it makes any difference.

Otherwise this kite is awesome, great for waves, big jumps and lengthy hang times.

Mate it must be your bridles. I have looped this kite hard and fast and Never had a problem.

As puertz said have a look at ya bridles.

..would have thought it been a new kite, there shouldn't be an issue with the bridles? What's your weight triggerhappy? Maybe the 8m is possibly prone to this than the 10 and bigger sizes due to stronger wind it's been flown in?

... actually I didn't mean that the bridles were faulty per say, but its a downside to bridles in general in heavy situation. Not saying this, to have a poke at bridles by the way, just the way it is with heavy or strong guys when the kite is pushed.

Once kited Dongra in 40 knots or so on a 9m Rhino (which has a bridle as mentioned earlier) and the kite got so distorted that it ended up feeling like a plastic bag with massive drag, it was a damn handful. The kite just about stayed distorted the whole time, indicating the kite is well over powered.

Deforming leading edge is gunna happen again, and although annoying doesn't seem to be too damaging but then again, I wouldn't push it too often.

If your light you'll never know what I mean but I think you can simulate it by under-inflating the kite and try for your self. Try it and see if you can come up with a fix (other than pump it up more)!

cheers,

Robbie

I am 78 kilos flying the 8m in 17-24 knots winds. So the kite should not be stressed. Its 21 knots today so i will pump it up to 10psi and see if anything happens.

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Triggerhappy said...
I am 78 kilos flying the 8m in 17-24 knots winds. So the kite should not be stressed. Its 21 knots today so i will pump it up to 10psi and see if anything happens.

... 10 psi will help heaps, good luck!

Wow 10psi feels like concrete but it certainly resolves the problem. Thx everyone.

As Puetz said!

Pump it up hard, take a gauge one time and get it to 7psi at least (airush recommends 7psi, as written next to inflate valve). Lock out the struts then recheck main.
Main makes a nice sound when hard. it wont "jellyfish" when you apply alot of load to kite. then its happy dayz.