2014/15 Fly Designers Notes
First things first, what’s the biggest change in the 2014/15 FLY design?
The 2014/15 Fly is an evolution of the 2013/14 version with a focus on improving the turning by making the kite more “pivotey” and making it fly further forward in the window.
To achieve this, we reduced the LE taper, which translates into a smaller diameter in the center and a slightly increased diameter in the wing tip area.
How does the NEW Reduced Leading Edge Taper affect the feel of the FLY?
The new reduced leading edge taper stiffens the leading edge in the wing tip area, creating a better distribution of the twist generated by the bar’s input along the entire length of the LE. So basically, the kite pivots around an axis that is located slightly closer to the center of the kite, resulting in sharper turning.
What are the benefits of two struts for a lightwind kite?
Two struts offer significant weight savings, and when the wind is light, you want to maximize the ratio of power to the weight of the kite. To do that, you want to have as much power with the lightest kite possible. At the same time, having no center strut allows the center of the kite to act like a spinnaker, expanding slightly to harness more wind.
Why does the FLY turn so fast despite its size?
The Fly is based on the Park platform that is proven to turn fast. To make it even faster, we’ve worked on the bridles to minimize the amount of tension on the lower front bridle. Having only two struts in the kite also allows the kite to twist easily, which makes the kite turn sharper. By having one mini-batten, we are also able to keep the foils profile clean at a low angle-of-attack without sacrificing any of the turning speed.
Why is the FLY so easy to relaunch off the water in light wind?
The Fly has increased sweep, which allows it to rotate easily when resting on the water. Its lighter weight is also a key feature for relaunching in light wind because there is less weight to get out of the water compared to a kite of similar size with more struts. It also features our anti-stiction windows which help get rid of the water trapped in the wing tip.
Can I use the FLY for racing in light wind?
Racing was not our primary goal with the Fly, so we recommend that you use a Draft if you want to race. On the other hand, if you want to freestyle in light wind, (like our pro team), you should definitely get yourself a FLY!