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Bow kites are leading edge inflatable kite
Leading edge inflatable kite

A leading edge inflatable kite or LEI is a single skin kite flying with inflatable bladders providing structure. It is useful as a power kite or traction kite....
s that incorporate a bridle on the leading edge. They can be identified by a flat, swept-back profile and concave trailing edge allowing the kite greater depower. Bow kite design was pioneered by Bruno Legaignoux, and have been licensed to many kite manufacturers.

Bow kites have a wider wind range than C-kites (traditional LEI kites
Leading edge inflatable kite

A leading edge inflatable kite or LEI is a single skin kite flying with inflatable bladders providing structure. It is useful as a power kite or traction kite....
), so two kite sizes (such 7mē and 12mē) could form an effective quiver for winds ranging from 10 to 30+ knots for a 75kg rider.






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Bow kites are leading edge inflatable kite
Leading edge inflatable kite

A leading edge inflatable kite or LEI is a single skin kite flying with inflatable bladders providing structure. It is useful as a power kite or traction kite....
s that incorporate a bridle on the leading edge. They can be identified by a flat, swept-back profile and concave trailing edge allowing the kite greater depower. Bow kite design was pioneered by Bruno Legaignoux, and have been licensed to many kite manufacturers.

Bow kites have a wider wind range than C-kites (traditional LEI kites
Leading edge inflatable kite

A leading edge inflatable kite or LEI is a single skin kite flying with inflatable bladders providing structure. It is useful as a power kite or traction kite....
), so two kite sizes (such 7mē and 12mē) could form an effective quiver for winds ranging from 10 to 30+ knots for a 75kg rider. This makes bow kites more suitable for beginners to kite sports; however, they are also used by professionals.

Bow kites are used in a variety of kite related sports, including kitesurfing
Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing or kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard ....
 and snowkiting
Snowkiting

Snowkiting is an outdoor winter boardsport, combining similar kites and techniques used in kitesurfing, with the footwear used in snowboarding or skiing....
. Because of their depower range, they allow users to combat problems caused by gust, making them safer to use. They are also used by kite surfers
Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing or kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard ....
 for wave riding, as their unique shape lends itself to this discipline.

Early Kites

While early bow kites allowed kite to be fully depowerable, they had a number of disadvantages compared to classic C-Kites
Leading edge inflatable kite

A leading edge inflatable kite or LEI is a single skin kite flying with inflatable bladders providing structure. It is useful as a power kite or traction kite....
. These included:
  • They can get inverted and not fly properly
  • They are a bit twitchy and not as stable
  • They have heavier bar pressure, which makes them more tiring to fly
  • They are more difficult to relaunch (except if they are on the leading edge).
  • The lack a "sled boosting" effect when jumping (Anyway jumps are higher and longer. The way to jump is just different).


In 2006, second generation flat LEI kites were developed which combine 100% depower and easy, safe relaunch with higher performance, no performance penalties and reduced bar pressure.

Safety

Although bow kites make kite flying safer, it is always advisable to seek professional training, as accidents can still occur.

See also

  • Kite
    Kite

    A kite is a flying tethered aircraft that depends upon the tension of a tethering system. The necessary Lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it....
  • Kitesurfing
    Kitesurfing

    Kitesurfing or kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard ....
  • Snowkiting
    Snowkiting

    Snowkiting is an outdoor winter boardsport, combining similar kites and techniques used in kitesurfing, with the footwear used in snowboarding or skiing....
  • Power kite
    Power kite

    A power kite or traction kite is a large kite flying designed to provide significant pull to the user. They come in three main forms: foil kites, leading edge inflatable kite and Supporting Leading Edge....
  • Leading edge inflatable kite
    Leading edge inflatable kite

    A leading edge inflatable kite or LEI is a single skin kite flying with inflatable bladders providing structure. It is useful as a power kite or traction kite....
  • Foil kite
    Foil kite

    Foil kites are soft Kite flying based on the design of the parafoil. They consist of a number of cells running fore to aft, some or all of which are open at the front to allow air to inflate the kite so it takes on an airfoil section....
  • Kite types
    Kite types

    Various types of kite exist, ranging from materials, shape, usage, skill required to operate, and so on. A modified parachute that has a positive lift/drag ratio is a kite....
  • Kite applications
    Kite applications

    The kite is used to do certain things; one kite or many kites are applied to achieve certain purposes, objectives, or tasks, that is: applications. Humans have applied the kite to bring perceived benefits during peace and war alike....
  • Kite line
    Kite line

    Kites have a wing and a kite line , or sometimes more than one line. Kite systems may have more than one kite and more than one kite line. Solar kites have a gravity mass-less line; but the most common type of kite line has mass; the kite line may be flexible or rigid as in a contemporary speed sailing kited hydrofoiled boat....
  • Kite mooring
    Kite mooring

    Kites are given mooring by many methods. Watercraft and aircraft traditionally have the term "mooring" applied to making the watercraft or aircraft fast to some external object....
  • Kite control systems
    Kite control systems

    Kite types, kite mooring, and kite applications result in a wide variety of kite control systems; contemporary manufacturers, kite athletes, kite pilots, scientists, and engineers are expanding kite control systems....
  • Kite books


External links

- Leading Power Kite Information Portal, Forums, Videos, Reviews, News and Galleries.