1.5 SUL verses the 1.5 B Series

[ian4c]

My new 1.5 SUL Aqua / Black arrived a few days ago. Not been out with it yet as the wind had been good in the last few days. So have been out in the rain. Brought the Rev B in to dry off and while both kites were standing together I decided to weigh them bearing in mind the sales pitch about the light weight properties of the SUL. The 1.5 B Series weighs in at 6.9oz and the 1.5 SUL weighs in at 5.9oz. Just 1 oz between them! I have a question. How much of an advantage in light wind, is the SUL, over the 1.5 B Series? I am wondering if I could have spent the money more wisely towards my next Rev - the Blast 2-4. Have I made a mistake?

Ian

[imarche]

The key with our settings is to remember... As you're holding the handles, full "pinkies out" (total thumbs-back angle) is forward, with all four lines taut, loading the sail fully.

Hi John,

Do you fly with the same settings for iQuad and solo performance?

Cheers

Clin

[KiteLife]

I do, exactly the same... No difference in frame or sail type either.

iQuad style is made for sheer performance, and patterned after the techniques I use.

[dean750]

Ya know, I fly with my index finger on the metal above the foam. Thats the way I learned. With RescueRev yesterday that one bit of advice in holding the handles had him up an learning dive stops in about an hour and a half. For him and sometimes for myself when the Rev starts to lose forward movment it's because your thumbs have rolled forward. Letting go with the middle and ring finger causes the handle to pivot on the index finger automaticlly give the kite lift again. Just a thought.

Dean

P.S. Had my Rev up one handed for about 15 seconds yesterday with both hands.

[kwmf]

I'm a bit late to this party, but looking at the start of the thread it seems to indicate that a B series will be just as good as a 1.5 SUL. Would that mean that a B series would perform better in low wind than a 1.5 SLE with the same frame?

Steven

[ian4c]

I'm a bit late to this party, but looking at the start of the thread it seems to indicate that a B series will be just as good as a 1.5 SUL. Would that mean that a B series would perform better in low wind than a 1.5 SLE with the same frame?

Steven

Well for me, I would certainly go for the 'B' along with the race frame. Probably the pro's with their experience in low wind would disagree but for the rest of us the 'B' is the business! IMHO.

Ian

[kwmf]

Nobody else got any insight?

[REVflyer]

The simplest solution? order your B-Series pro 1.5 with the SUL leading edge sleeve and complete race frame!

You'll have the revised (and superior!) flight dynamics of the improved sail pattern layout and assembly techniques (plus Bazzer's excellent attention to details!), as well as all the advantages of the lighter weight overall kite.

Remember though, you also decreasing the mass, . . . so you don't get free lift with the glides as easily

(more pilot action becomes necessary, foot steps to add energy, longer throw handles, together with flailing techniques). You gain not having to work as hard to power-up the sail, so feel free to dump all of the air pressure and spank your kite around for awhile (flail!)

You will really notice the weight differences when putting the kites inverted (from the top of the wind window) and letting go. Place both handles way out in front of you and then throw them forward, completely releasing them to the ground. How far away will the kite glide all on it's own? I don't want to hear folks crying about loss of wind or inability to recover their field! The darn thing glides forward for a very long distance, at least on my modifications and tuning. Speaking of tuning, I routinely move my grips on the handles from full forward power position (index finger directly on the metal tube) to maximum braking position, when pinky fingers are resting at the bottom of the handle foam grip. The key is comfort, there's no correct answer, do what feels right and makes the kite dance out there on the end of your lines!

If you want the kite more responsive in low wind consider altering the bridle. The center's leading edge attachment point has some wiggle, as well as the connector point between the two different pieces of bridle, that loop can be reduced in size also. You're not dramatically altering the flight dynamics (compared to the stock bridle), but a more direct connect to the frame equals a quicker change in direction (critics would say it's too twitchy ~ I say it's more responsive). That built-in wiggle is not necessarily a character flaw! It smooths-out the pilot's inputs (dilutes commands is my retort, but I live in the land of no wind)