aspect ratios

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[Zeke]

most of our traction and power foils are high aspect ratio kites.  can anyone offer pros or cons as to a 4-line foil type kite with a low aspect ratio, i.e. where the chord would be greater than the wing span? I guess a poor example would be like quad-lining a small Sutton which would be stable in a very limited window, could be turned or controlled a bit and pull like a truck..

[ezme6]

A long time ago I tried to rig a Roc kite for Quad. It did fly and it worked to turn the kite somewhat, pull like hell or fly over your head, but in reality, it sucked.

I had much better luck with 3 lines using a nice "Y" shaped pecan tree branch about 5' tall. You just stick it in the ground and turn it right or left. Be killer for fighting because you could drop it or raise it quickly. Couldn't stake it out though....

Maybe I should look in my tree and try this again.

[Zeke]

do you suppose that it would pull just as hard if rotated 90 degrees to either side without any other movement?

[inewham]

IME buggying upwind performance is better with high A/R kites. As the A/R gets lower the kite gets more 'user friendly' but getting back upwind is much harder work.

[Zeke]

backto the drawing board...

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