During various discussions on the rec.kites newsgroup regarding topic of single skin traction kites the name "hybrid" popped up and stuck. It aptly described traction kites combining various techniques from other types of traction kite into single skin design. The following is just an introduction to some design issues regarding single skin traction kites.

I was spending quite a bit of time and effort theorising improvements to parafoil traction kites. At that stage my little brother was starting to get interested in a inexpensive traction kite of his own. I was in the local kitestore to buy some bridle line for a NPW5 I had just sewn together for him when I noticed a new brochure. It was a simple computer print-out of a crescent planform kite with a few less cells than I'm used to. Incedently the same pictures currently on the rec.kites picture archive. Peter Lynn's C-Quad and C-Wing range!

Peter Lynn's C-Quad 2.2

The idea of a very efficient single skin traction kite took me by surprise. I was aware of powerfull stuntdelta's like the Speedwing and Force10 but I never like them much for various reasons. Kites like the NPW5 just did not have the upwind performance and other attempts at single skin foils proved almost the same.

I took some time to study a prototype and the photos and went home thinking heavy thoughts of inducing aerodynamic billow in a framed single skin and how to project the 3D shape through combination of seams. The principle was not too difficult to fathom, I had a sail ready in a matter of days though bridling it took a few days worth of ripping apart and reknotting. It flew(though not all to well at first) but the power and performance was quite visible.

There was room for improvement though and I wanted to make those improvements. At this point I'd inherited a windsurf kit form a friend leaving for U.K. and spent a bit of time rigging the sail in the backyard when I noticed the way camber was induced in the sail and my mind has been a noisy clutter ever since.

I considered other planforms but I discovered to many problems with the other shapes especially the rectangular. I might still consider the bi-eliptical shape and if I keep it low-aspect it should serve my needs. I was already familiar with the crescent planform and decided to use it in the future too.

My design concept was simple: Crescent planform, framed single skin, high performance! The rest could wait until I made one first. Refer to the other design topics for further descriptions of my design process.

....to be continued.

Feel free to use these ideas for your own designs. Please e-mail me with your results or share it with the rest of us at rec.kites