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Flight Test of Windtech Kinetik
Courtesy of Paul Haxby, AXB Sports
After five years of flying a range of different paragliders while paramotoring I have had the chance to experience the strengths and weaknesses of the different gliders available. I am always looking at other wings to see how paraglider design is improving and what if I can offer my customers a faster and more stable wing with a better glide. I was eager to try the new Windtech Kinetik because I have heard very positive comments from Windtech pilots and because it was their first wing that had been altered for use with powered flight.
Launching
Forward launching in nil wind conditions is effortless with no tendency to drift to one side or fall back, as long as you keep moving forward. I completed a forward launch with the trimmers full off and despite having to run like a hang glider pilot, I found the launch was very positive. Reverse launching requires a wind of at least 5mph to successfully inflate the wing confidently - but with the easy forward launch características of this wing I would always go for the forward launch if the winds were nil or very light. The Kinetik comes up quickly has no tendency to overshoot or excessively drift to the left or right, if you make sure you position yourself in the centre of the wing. Ground handling is easier than most wings because the cell pressure feels uniform across the whole wing area (most wings that feel this solid usually are heavier on launch).
In Flight
On the first flight with the Kinetik I was impressed by its rate of climb and same positive and stable pressure across the wing. When I reached 2000ft and completed a ten-mile out and return flight I started to test the wing's handling and stability and see how it would recover from adverse manoeuvres and weather conditions.
Inducing a half a wing collapse while under full power wasn't a problem at all, apart from the strain on my left shoulder because of the amount of effort required to pull against the high cell pressure! Self-inducing a half collapse without power was easier to initiate, with a slight tendency to turn to turn towards the collapsed side at a slow rate that would cause very little concern.
The Kinetik is very tuck resistant and always recovers from asy mmetric and frontal collapses quickly and without pilot input. Power on full with plenty of brake, followed by power and brakes completely off didn't cause any problems and proved the very good pitch stability of the Kinetik. Roll stability was excellent and despite my efforts to make the wing roll while using power it would always revert back to level flight when I released the controls. I only managed to get the wing to spin once by aggressively pulling hard on the brake controls, but the wing recovered quickly when the brakes were released.
Big Ears cleat facility
The Kinetik has a useful attachment on the risers that allow the 'big ears' to be kept in, allowing you to use the brake handles with the tips tucked in. I noticed that Windtech have made both cleats facing towards the left hand on the glider which the UK importer, Carlo Borsattino, explained to me was so that the pilot can induce big-ears with the non-throttle hand. I personally would prefer both big ears cleats to face to the outside because I have never had a problem with the throttle getting in the way things - but it proves the designers are thinking carefully.
The trimmers and speed system
The trimmers on the Kinetik have a special 2:1 pulley system, designed to prevent the problem of slippage that normal trimmer systems seem to have, again showing that Windtech have been thinking carefully about the design, and they give a good speed increase to an already fast paraglider. During the last two years I have been flying a paraglider with Silex power risers and the problem of the trimmers slipping has been overcome by having Velcro fastenings. Although at first I found the trimmers a bit fiddly to release compared to the Silex power risers, after a couple of flights with the wing I was getting used to the trimmers and realised it was only a minor complaint.
If you want to go faster, there is also a speed bar with short travel and which gives only a slightly higher top speed and makes indents on the leading edge of the paraglider apparent. Windtech tell me that the speed system is not so much meant to augment the top end speed of the Kinetik, but more to allow more efficient and safer gliding flight in turbulent conditions, as one can easily monitor the pitch of the glider as you glide along, keeping the glider more stable and efficient.
Handling
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The flight to the coast.
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Tight turns, wingovers and spiral dives with the Kinetik give the feeling that there is some kind of aluminium structure within the wing that gives it its rigid feeling.
The second flight was a thermalling/height gain exercise to prove the wing wasn't a slouch in active air, and I was quickly up to 4500ft feeling confident enough to take my hands off the controls and admire the view in 300fpm thermals.
The final test was a 50-mile flight to the coast on an overcast day. I completed the distance with at least a litre left over from the eight litres I set off with, despite having to complete some of the flight on a crosswind track. My flying companion used at least two litres more than myself during this flight.
Conclusion
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High flying with the Kinetik.
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The Windtech Kinetik offers an excellent combination of stability and performance for powered flight. It is the best powered wing I have had the chance to fly so far.
I would be happy to encourage people to fly such a good wing because they would achieve far more with their powered flying. This is not your average DHV1/2 paraglider however and you will need to practice launching and flying the wing in calm conditions if you are used to a more idiot-proof wing. The price seems good, and I think most people would be happy paying a little over £2000 for a quality wing.
If its quality, exceptional performance and handling you are looking for, the hundreds of miles and hours spent will surely warrant the debit from your account.
I managed a total of 60 miles and 9000ft height gain in just three flights using the Rad MXL paramotor so this would definitely be a more enjoyable option than a conservatory or garden decking.
Paul Haxby, AXB Sports
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