Hi to all of you experts of hovering navigation,
I'm wondering if any of you have tried the AFS 85 and can give me some info on it.
I'm currently flying a Fanatic H9 and what I'm experiencing seems to be rather conistent with test results and forum reviews. Although rather small, it does lift pretty well and becomes pretty fast, all over the ride is controllable but longitudinal stability is disappointing. In addition it does seem to be unwilling to go all the way through the gybe, at some point it seems to start shaking like a wet dog.
I've played around with the whole set up and am confident that the board (Exocet RS 5.5) is not the problem and I as well think that by now I'm not the wobbliest part of the kit any longer.
I've been offered an AFS 85 at a reasonable price and test results indicate it being a lot more predictable than the H9.
Still I'm hesitant to invest in it without any user feedback.
So I'd be more than happy to hear from anyone who has used it.

Cheers,
Sven

Way easier to ride.

Have you tried both of them?
The gybing issue is what bothers me most. I don't feel I'm getting anywhere.

Have not tried the Fanatic but the AFS85 is a pleasant and stable foil. Glissattitude praised its user friendliness and it was the foil Ben Proffitt used when he was working on jibes his second day. The bigger F800 wing is likely even more user friendly and I'd own one if it wasn't so expensive.

I really like it when it's windy.

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ZeeGerman said..
Have you tried both of them?
The gybing issue is what bothers me most. I don't feel I'm getting anywhere.

That's coming from the too soft mast of the H9. I had the same issue with my first foil, a Manta Alu 1. Gen.
After switching to a much stiffer Aeromod Carbon foil jibing was day and night, i flew through the first jibe wondering what was happening with me.
I think with a too soft mast you load/bend it sideways with initiating the jibe and when you come to changing footposition, resp. railpressure, the stored energy in the bend mast releases suddenly, leading to an uncontrollable "snapping" of the board, destroying every jibe attempt.

Alex

Can I slightly hijack the thread, I'm currently foiling a NP Al Foil and I'm thinking about the AFS85. I find longitudinal stability tricky on the NP and 15 knots really minimum breeze. Would the AFS fly earlier and be an easier ride? Would people recommend going with the 800 wing for the genuine 10-15 knot flying, I'm a somewhat light 70kg

Thanks a lot for all your advice which on the other hand might cost me a lot of money. I'm still in negotiations with the seller and will write a short review when (or if?) I've got the AFS.

I've tried the fanatic H9 for only about 20 minutes, and did not like it at all, very wobbly.. tried the afs for about twice as long, very easy and predictable, jibing was a breeze (it often is with me, but not on new kit, I always have to acclimate so to speak).

The second best foiling jiber here [maybe 90 % foiling jibes] uses a NP Glide M at 155 lbs.
He jibes pretty much the same with his Flight wing.
Total stability all the time, what kills his misses is when the wind drops below planable speeds.
15 knots, or 16 mph, he's on 5.5.

Around here, 15 knot winds can have 4 knot lulls, or less.

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Nelle said..
Can I slightly hijack the thread, I'm currently foiling a NP Al Foil and I'm thinking about the AFS85. I find longitudinal stability tricky on the NP and 15 knots really minimum breeze. Would the AFS fly earlier and be an easier ride? Would people recommend going with the 800 wing for the genuine 10-15 knot flying, I'm a somewhat light 70kg

If you are referring to the pinkie, yes and yes. I've never ridden it but everything I've read about it and my experience with the AFS85 suggests it will be easier to much easier. At your weight, the stock wing won't be bad - I've foiled it in about 12-18 with a 5.4. I'm just a bit heavier than you.

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Nelle said..
Can I slightly hijack the thread, I'm currently foiling a NP Al Foil and I'm thinking about the AFS85. I find longitudinal stability tricky on the NP and 15 knots really minimum breeze. Would the AFS fly earlier and be an easier ride? Would people recommend going with the 800 wing for the genuine 10-15 knot flying, I'm a somewhat light 70kg

Another option is to buy the NP Glide fuselage and big wing which will bolt straight on your pinkie mast, will get you going earlier and is much more stable than the pinkie wings. Alternatively contact Adam555 on here who makes fuselage brackets to lengthen the pinkie fuselage which helps the stability. :)

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Maddlad said..

Nelle said..
Can I slightly hijack the thread, I'm currently foiling a NP Al Foil and I'm thinking about the AFS85. I find longitudinal stability tricky on the NP and 15 knots really minimum breeze. Would the AFS fly earlier and be an easier ride? Would people recommend going with the 800 wing for the genuine 10-15 knot flying, I'm a somewhat light 70kg

Another option is to buy the NP Glide fuselage and big wing which will bolt straight on your pinkie mast, will get you going earlier and is much more stable than the pinkie wings. Alternatively contact Adam555 on here who makes fuselage brackets to lengthen the pinkie fuselage which helps the stability. :)

I believe he's also making adapters to mount the Glide wings on pinky fuselages.

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Maddlad said..

Nelle said..
Can I slightly hijack the thread, I'm currently foiling a NP Al Foil and I'm thinking about the AFS85. I find longitudinal stability tricky on the NP and 15 knots really minimum breeze. Would the AFS fly earlier and be an easier ride? Would people recommend going with the 800 wing for the genuine 10-15 knot flying, I'm a somewhat light 70kg

Another option is to buy the NP Glide fuselage and big wing which will bolt straight on your pinkie mast, will get you going earlier and is much more stable than the pinkie wings. Alternatively contact Adam555 on here who makes fuselage brackets to lengthen the pinkie fuselage which helps the stability. :)

I have the original pinkie setup. My thinking is the original wings aren't great either. I did read the Adam555 thread, looks a bit Frankenstein, but sounded very positive. I hadn't considered the Glide. I think I need to test sail a large square cm wing.