Recent Posts

21

The Shape Shack / new wingboard design 5'2" 90L - link to 3D

« Last post by jondrums on August 17, 2022, 12:03:19 AM »

Hi all, I just finished polishing up my next wingboard design.  I was having trouble getting a good screenshot of the design so I'm posting a link to a 3D file you can spin around to look at.  All comments welcome!

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/5-2-26-90l-r5-5089e74269e14f76af12bd63909dc4e6

22

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Wingfoiling? Video

« Last post by Dwight (DW) on August 16, 2022, 12:52:48 PM »

I grew up in NY flying. Winter flying is my fondest memories. In the second photo I’m soaring over a sailplane at Harris Hill. Home of the soaring museum and home of Bob Trampenau’s dad.

Small world!

Jacky is behind the camera. We met hang gliding.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-anZUtj6ji/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

23

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Wingfoiling? Video

« Last post by headmount on August 15, 2022, 03:41:20 PM »

Great camera angles.

We flew in the same era. What we lived through back then, is super relevant to where wing ding design is today.

Roy Haggered invented the tight canopy with the UP Comet and changed the sport forever. Prior to figuring out “how” to make a tight canopy, all kinds of failed ideas did not add performance. Like double surfaces and topless. We needed tight canopies first. Then other ideas would work.

Right after that Bob Trampneau invented in-flight variable geometry (in flight canopy tension changes).

Looking at winging, I see so many brands that have yet to figure out how to make tight canopies. My guess, we’ll need models with less tight canopies for the entry level.

Not sure where tip reflex with end up in winging. Best guess, we’ll have some form of load induced twisting like a windsurf sail, while maintaining that tight canopy tension needed to keep the L/D.

Exciting times.

There is a lot of junk in the marketplace to this old hang glider guy who lived through it.

Bob Trampenau built my glider frame in S.B.  when I went up to the Owens Valley in 1979, which featured possibly the first carbon leading edges, or rather carbon wrapped on aluminum.    But if I got inverted, like I had read how some pilots had done, I didn't want to fold up and the carbon wrap would give the aluminum tubing that compression strength.  I did go 'over the falls' once but managed not to flip over, just about barfing with the terror of losing 3-4 grand real fast.  That's why tempting fate with aerobatics, like the pilot does in this video, never really turned me on.  I agree with you about the relevance to foil design for us now.  Washout or twist is certainly being used.  I love it all.  I know there was and probably still is some Hang gliding parks where you are in Florida.  Great thermaling from what I heard and tow planes to take you up to altitude and hook into the development .

24

Gear Talk / Re: New Board, Kalama 9'2" x 30" any experience?

« Last post by coldsup on August 15, 2022, 02:43:03 PM »

I've lost track on how many sessions I've had on it at this point and I absolutely love it. Catches fantastically green waves and performs in overhead conditions. The biggest problem with it is that I snatch so many waves it draws the attention of surfers who come over and start to crowd the spot!

Definitely surfs best as a quad, I thought it was a total dog as a thruster.

Sounds like you are having fun! I have an element too and was wondering how the 9ft 2 Kalama compares in terms of stability, wave catching and types of waves it suits best. I find the Element does most things pretty well but is a bit floaty. I’m 95 kg. Thanks

25

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Wingfoiling? Video

« Last post by Dwight (DW) on August 15, 2022, 12:09:17 PM »

Check out the UP Mosquito in these photos. https://hghistory.org/hang-gliding-2/hg78-79pt2/

I owned the Mosquito. Perfect example of dumb features that did nothing because the canopy was not tight. The Comet was released by UP right after the Mosquito with a tight canopy (by preloading the cross bars) and made it obsolete instantly.

26

Classifieds / Wing Board 110 liters 5'6" x 28

« Last post by Jradtke on August 15, 2022, 11:27:55 AM »

$450 pick up in Wilmington, NC.  Excellent condition. 5'6" x28"x5.5" 110 liters.

27

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Wingfoiling? Video

« Last post by Dwight (DW) on August 15, 2022, 10:42:29 AM »

Great camera angles.

We flew in the same era. What we lived through back then, is super relevant to where wing ding design is today.

Roy Haggered invented the tight canopy with the UP Comet and changed the sport forever. Prior to figuring out “how” to make a tight canopy, all kinds of failed ideas did not add performance. Like double surfaces and topless. We needed tight canopies first. Then other ideas would work.

Right after that Bob Trampneau invented in-flight variable geometry (in flight canopy tension changes).

Looking at winging, I see so many brands that have yet to figure out how to make tight canopies. My guess, we’ll need models with less tight canopies for the entry level.

Not sure where tip reflex with end up in winging. Best guess, we’ll have some form of load induced twisting like a windsurf sail, while maintaining that tight canopy tension needed to keep the L/D.

Exciting times.

There is a lot of junk in the marketplace to this old hang glider guy who lived through it.

28

Sunova SUP / Re: Sunova SOUL thread

« Last post by oceanAddict on August 15, 2022, 07:44:02 AM »

Bringing up this old thread as I just scored on CL.  Used SOUL 9'6" in pristine condition and driving distance from my place. I got as my step down board and cannot wait to try it. Coming down from 10' 170 liters nps allourunder, so goal was to reduce a volume but keep the length around 9 and half and width for my 210 lbs..

Thank you everyone who contributed to this thread.

29

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 3d printing for wing foiling

« Last post by gyre on August 14, 2022, 11:57:51 PM »

Do you still have room to move the mast forward?
Now I really want to try the 1440 with the 158 (maybe +1.0)    

I'm currently all the way forward on the tracks.  I could get another inch or two by drilling out the threaded holes in the baseplate, and/or by changing the extrusion shims at the baseplate and the fuselage to angle the mast (I'm using an Axis mast and baseplate), but I'm waiting to see if it's necessary before going through the hassle.

I did get a new tail that seems quite promising, The Kdfoil 13R works really well with the 1210. https://kdfoils.myshopify.com/collections/tail-wings/products/r-series-tails  I thought the 1210 worked quite well with the 178 and didn't think it needed to be improved, but it seems even better with the 13R.  Kdmaui's site says that the tail works best on the Kujira's 1210 and below, but I'll give it a try on the 1440 anyway, next time the conditions are good for it.

It's hard to know exactly what the differences are between the 13R and the 178 without switching them out in the same session, which I haven't done yet.  So with the caveat that I'm comparing across different sessions and locations, here a few preliminary observations:

• Pitch and pumping control seems easier, I find it easier to ride higher on the mast with the 13R, which makes it much more efficient
• The roll axis feels better, smoother? easier to transition from one side to another and adjust the angle mid turn
• I think the tail is recovering lift after breaching faster, there were quite a times where I should have fallen and almost did, but somehow recovered
• I think it might have more lift than the 178, making takeoff easier
• The 1210/13R is the easiest setup for tacking that I've tried, I think it's easier to adjust the radius of the turn as I go so I'm tracing more of a spiral and less of a circular arc, and exiting the turn is easy.  I tend to overshoot with the 1440 because it locks into the turn more than I'm used to.

Overall, the foil just seemed easier to control, it's easier to get to where I want to be on the swell, and the 1210 was already a very intuitive foil to begin with.  I liked the 13R tail pretty much immediately.  The only negative thing I can say about the tail is it does whistle, but I don't think it'll be hard to tune that out as it's not particularly sharp right now.  Well, that and I thought I was saving money by going with the 13R over the 158, but now I'm eyeing the 12R Blunt.  Anyone have any experience with that one?  Or experiences with the blunt tails in general compared to his standard tails?

30

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Wingfoiling? Video

« Last post by headmount on August 14, 2022, 10:22:13 PM »

This is a wing and a foil is involved.  But the medium is air.  I promise this one will be entertaining.  Best HG footage ever IMO.  Drone footage capturing loops and spins.  This is a great double surface glider and is 'topless' (no top wires so less drag)   I flew a topless glider in 1979 but it had struts. No struts on this one.   Don't ask me how.  I've been out of the sport for 42 years.  The pilot is obviously fearless.  The max pushed out spins certainly blew my mind.  I saw spins when I flew but never this controlled.  I nevah.  Guys were occasionally flipping upside down back then, their bodies landing into the frame of aluminum tubing.   Just imagining it made me freaked and prevented me from even thinking about it.  I knew some great aerobatic pilots but being a Maui pilot,  my focus was always thermaling.   To me, aerobatics were for places with untold lift, like money to burn.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rULtQlmf_Zg