Peter Lynn C-Quad 3.2 (for water sports)

Contact Information

Forever Flying, L.L.C.
2528 Spring Ave, SW
Decatur, AL 35601-6345
(beside Whitt's BBQ)

Link to Directions

Phone: (256) 308-0988
Fax: (256) 308-0658
Email: info@foreverflying.com

Store Hours: Monday-Saturday / 10am-6pm CST
Manager: Shawn E. Donahoo

Member Merchant

Feel welcome to email me (info@foreverflying.com) with questions or comments.

Link to Peter Lynn's Discussion of Buggies, Boats and Peels.

Link to Iridium Icetrek Expedition (using Quadrifoils)

Peter Lynn C-Quad

C-Quad 2.2 (sq. meters)
Wingspan: 9ft 4in (3-spine)
Weight: 13.4oz
Suggested Line: 300lb (top) / 200lb (bottom) Q-Power Line (spectra sleeve w/spectra core)
Price: $159.95 (w/AKA $139)

C-Quad 3.2 (sq. meters)
Wingspan: 11ft 3in (3-spine)
Weight: 19.4oz
Suggested Line: 300lb (top) / 200lb (bottom) Q-Power Line (spectra sleeve w/spectra core)
Price: $202.00 (w/AKA $169)

C-Quad 4.2 (sq. meters)
Wingspan: 14ft 6in (4-spine)
Weight: 24oz
Suggested Line: 300lb (top) / 200lb (bottom) Q-Power Line (spectra sleeve w/spectra core)
Price: $306.00 (w/AKA $259)

C-Quad 6.3 (sq. meters)
Wingspan: 17ft (4-spine)
Weight: 33.5oz
Suggested Line: 500lb (top) / 200lb (bottom) Q-Power Line (spectra sleeve w/spectra core)
Price: $356.00 (w/AKA $299)

C-Quad 8.5 (sq. meters)
Wingspan: 19ft (4-spine)
Weight: 45.9oz
Suggested Line: 500lb (top) / 200lb (bottom) Q-Power Line (spectra sleeve w/spectra core)
Price: $580.00 (w/AKA $495)

Use Quadrifoil Medium Handles (shown above). $29.95 w/purchase of kite. (Reg $34.95)

Or use Jeff Howard's Kite Bar (show below). $69.95

Or use the Advance Boom with articulated joints (shown below):

This control boom from Advance Kites incorporates unique flexible "universal joints" to enable varied control input for maximum response. Flight control is closer to using "handles" than a fixed boom. Lines can be easily adjusted when flying using the built-in cleat system.

Reg $199.95 ($149.95 w/purchase of a kite.)

Manager's Note: Although the C-Quad was designed primarily for water sports because of it's water-launchable qualities, they make great first traction kites for land-lubbers because of the low price per square foot. You can use regular spectra if you're using them on land, but the Power Line is highly recommended for water applications because of the increase stiffness of the line to prevent bird-nesting of the spectra while not under tension as it lays suspended on the water.

Power is derived from applying brakes to the kite instead of from forward speed like a foil. Beware: They will drop right out of the sky if you try to fly them beyond the edge of the wind window like a foil.

29 October 1998

USER INFORMATION
for C-Quad four line traction kites

Their basic layout is "C" shaped with a small diameter fiber reinforced plastic (fibreglass or carbon) rod holding the curve of the "C" which is the leading edge and from one to 6 or more similar rods arranged as spines to provide some form to the skin and trailing edge. These kites are neither soft kites nor framed kites but are of an entirely new hybrid arrangement using single skins with flexible f.r.p (fibre reinforced plastic) stiffeners. Developed to be suitable for re-launching from water (hence the single skin and minimal structure) for use with our new monohull kitesailing boat (the KiteBoard TM ~ )and the FoilBoard ~ itl,our new "snow board for the water", these kites are proving to be very competitive by performance and price for buggying and other traction kite uses

Other sizes, up to 6.3 sqm. are now being developed and already being used by a select group of testers in buggy-racing and kite-boarding. Rip-stop nylon (Toray "Chikara") is used for all C-Quads.

The shaped skins and multiple bridle lines to the leading edge and spine rods create curved airfoil shapes which give good LID (lift to drag ratio- the determinant of upwind performance) and excellent lift coefficients (the measure of power for size). These kites are powerful and easy to use with performance matching and bettering the very best traction kites in the world.

Rod Stiffness: as frame material. We are testing.

Currently C Quads are supplied with fiberglass rods or hybrid rod of 25% carbon in the leading edge which provides excellent performance in the air (more power and easier flying in light winds) but it does require more care when packing the kite in its bag because the carbon is more brittle and could break when the kite is packed wrong!) Generally our experience is that there are few valid requirements in traction kiting for pull of much above the fliers body weight hence rod diameters are set for each size kite so that compressive distortions don't occur

until the pull is greater than about 1 O0kgms. Larger diameter stiffer rods can be fitted during manufacture or at any later stage. Small increases in rod diameter result in large gains in stiffness but there are still significant weight and packing disadvantages to doing this.

As with other forms of four line kite, the main tuning is to set the relative brake line lengths to Suit the wind and your flying style Although we have experimented with many rigging systems, in their current form C-Quads have only the brake lines (no main bridling) to their trailing edges. This results in some flapping in light winds when the brakes are let fully off but facilitates maximum power control and also, at this stage of development, appears to be the most luff resistant arrangement.

Some over steering can occur coming Out of stalls but handling is generally highly acceptable. When introducing new users to C-Quads, shortening the brake lines by a 100 mm or so facilitates quicker adaptation but experienced C-Quad users are now adopting a very different flying style than for conventional ram-air 4 line traction kites. The developing technique is to set the relative brake line lengths such that the handles are gripped a little below the main lines rather than at the main lines with one finger above as is usual for conventional 4 line traction kites. A "Neutral" wrist position then sets the kite for maximum power while pulling on the brakes stalls the C-Quad as for conventional flying but releasing the brake lines a little de-powers the kite (without losing LID but requiring some vigilance against luffing). It is this last technique, which conventional 4 line traction kites can't accept without collapsing, that is probably the main reason for their startling performance in buggy racing and on the water. New users tend to oversteer C-Quads by applying too much "2 Line" control and insufficient "brake" steering. In extreme cases this can cause collapsing.

Peter Lynn ltd. employs two graduate engineers plus support staff full time for traction kite product development and is only able to cover the cost of this if the breakthroughs we do make are not immediately copied by others freeloading on our work. Fortunately we have been able to file for a

comprehensive patent to protect the C-Wing and C-Quad designs and will vigorously pursue copiers. The patent covers not only specific aspects but also the combinations of features we have used. Kite graphics are protected by copyright.

Being single skin, C-Quads do not hold water so have a natural advantage over ram air traction kites in their re-launch ability.

In 1999 we expect to be offering special C-Quads with molded foam pads fitted to the wing tip leading edges to further facilitate water re-launching. For standard C-Quads, flotation can be retrofitted by sticking pieces of 5mm to 8mm thick polyethylene foam (eg, from "Hiker Pads") to the wing tip leading edge areas using double sided tape. The more flotation that is added the easier water re-launching becomes but if more than approx. 0.3kgm of foam is added to the 4.2 C-Quad, light wind handling deteriorates, proportionally for other sizes.

Water re4aunching is easiest in stronger winds and is facilitated by wave action but is not possible unless at least one of the kite's flying lines is tight.

Normally C-quads are flown with the usual 4iine kite handles (not included in the kite package). Contrary to our previous beliefs it has proved to be possible to make a bar, of cunning shape, but without swivels or pivots, that permits the full range of4 line kite control. Comprising a short central straight section that bends down and then out at each end, in conjunction with a hip harness, these allow very easy one hand flying.- especially useful when a spare hand (or even two for short times) is required while getting back on the boat or refitting FoilBoard footstraps etc.. Handlebars do take a little time to adapt to but then offer C Quad control which can be more reliable than by individual handles in many circumstances. These bars will become available in 1999.

All rights reserved. Patent filing number: 330489 

LINK to animated gif w/instructions "How to Fold Your C-Quad."

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Last Updated 4/4/2005