Flysurfer have announced their new race kite for the 2015 season.
Would any WA racers let me know if you want me to get a demo kite, and if so, in what size ?
A little scoop on some of the SONIC-FR features:
.. Ultra-high-performance foil with 3D shaped profile, characterized by extreme performance and hangtime.
.. Control, Performance and maximum Efficiency.
.. Advanced RibCell Technology
.. Racebar setup with exclusive "low-drag" bridle- and flying lines, creating less drag, while retaining high breaking loads of the lines.
.. Sizing: 11m2 / 15m2 / 18m2 with IKA approvalhttp://www.flysurfer.com/news/16056-flysurfer-brings-the-ultimate-race-machine/
That's as much as I've been told for now. The Speed 4 Lotus is available in the 8m size, but I figured the WA market would be more open to the larger sizes so didn't bring a demo in.
I'll email and see - from the announcement I gather like they are not quite production ready yet. If I can get my hands on a pre-release version, what size would be best ?
Ok Ive been in touch with Flysurfer and they say realistically mid March is the likely release date. Will keep everyone posted in anycase.
More information released about the Sonic overnight, including a 15m size.
Below is a statement from the SONIC-FR designer, Armin Harich:
“We are very, very happy with the final SONIC-FR. I have never made such good progress in developing a kite like this time. A big thanks to my team who supported me to make this possible. Let me give you a short update of the final Sonic-FR compared to the prototypes some of you could test at our importer meeting in Egypt last November;
.. The Sonic is now flying solid and stable including the wingtips. Which is of course very nice.
.. The remaining backstall has been eliminated. Turning is very fast and accurate. It is possible to propellor the kite, but only if you want it to.
.. The 11 and 15m can be equipped with a 50cm bar, the 18m with a 60cm bar.
.. The depower on the final product is a lot better than the “earlier” protos.
.. The main goal, the Sonic-FR’s performance increased also a lot.
.. We compared head to head with the latest Ozone and Elf kites and know that we are now ahead in terms of performance, usability and durability.
.. So, what is bad about the Sonic you must think? The super thin airfoil sticks more easily to the water and the extreme high aspect ratio makes it a lot easier to “twist” the kite, especially when released to to safety. Overall relaunching is much harder than for example a Speed. But we are still better than most of our competitors.
How does the SONIC differ from the SPEED4?
.. "The Speed4 is the high performance ram-air foilkite for everyone. The Sonic-FR is for freaks and experts how love to push the limits.”
Currently we have several different prototypes out for snowkite racing competitions. The Feedback so far, was very positive.
But after final testing of size 18, with an even thinner airfoil and higher aspect ratio,
we decided to do incorporate this in size 15 as well, as it was working so good, that it would have been a shame not to implement the benefits in the 15m as well.
We will start with delivery of size 11 in the end of March.
A few weeks later size 18 will follow and after that 15. Later size 9 will follow.
I've got an 11m Sonic FR Demo coming to Sydney in the next few weeks if anyone wants to meet up for a go??
Update for everyone.
I have 2x 11m Sonic's arriving in Perth around 17th April according to Fedex. Demos will be available thereafter.
I I believe other sizes are still on backorder but production is very close.
Love to test as been flying the 12m
Chrono for 12months - love the foil kites on my foil board
Keep me in loop on test sessions
Sonic FR 11's have arrived ! One is out on test now, let me know if you want to demo. 15's still in transit, will be here in a few more days. All updates will be posted in the Sonic thread in the reviews section from now on.
