kite inflation, helium

> 10 years ago
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kitefriend
kitefriend
NSW
147 posts
NSW, 147 posts
12 Nov 2005 9:18pm
hi guys i was just wondering if anyone has ever tried anything in their kites besides air. maybe we could all try something different and then post our results back here! i will try out helium and everyone can test other gasses.
P.s. cant wait to boost high!
Dazza5210
Dazza5210
WA
1 posts
WA, 1 posts
12 Nov 2005 7:00pm
This sounds very interesting

You would need to check out if Helium reacts with the bladder material either short term or over long term and reduces life? I have no ideas, it would be great if it worked, must means cost each kite

Dazza
HungLong
HungLong
WA
859 posts
WA, 859 posts
12 Nov 2005 7:08pm
I would do a search on the forum for how many times this subject has been raised...

for the cost of the area to be filled it's not viable...
lovey
lovey
NSW
177 posts
NSW, 177 posts
12 Nov 2005 10:24pm
just finished eating 2 litres of curried lentil soup. I plan on inflating my kite with fart gas...will let you know how it goes.
kitecrazzzy
kitecrazzzy
WA
2184 posts
WA, 2184 posts
12 Nov 2005 8:34pm
I have been studying the best gas for filling your kite and the best is amazingly a combination of gases, 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen with traces of water vapor, carbon dioxide, argon, and various other components like pollutants.
This was decided upon after considerations that didn’t affect performance
nebbian
nebbian
WA
6277 posts
WA, 6277 posts
13 Nov 2005 2:15pm
Just got to be a little bit careful with lighter than air gasses, small molecules means it leaks out easily. For example a balloon filled with helium deflates a lot quicker than a balloon filled with air... that's why helium balloons are usually silvery instead of rubber.

You might find that your bladder deflates a lot quicker than it usually does.

Now CO2 on the other hand, might be a good idea. You can get CO2 canisters quite cheaply, you might be able to rig something up to inflate your kite with a little canister! Now THAT would be worth seeing
bondo
bondo
QLD
699 posts
QLD, 699 posts
13 Nov 2005 4:30pm
helium works really well for inflato style kites. I hire a 200 litre gas canister every now and then and find this also saves pumping up the kite.

the main benefits are that the kite goes downwind more efficiently, creates less inertial drag (due to a better laminar flow coefficient) and jumps are obviously much higher. I have also found you should only inflate every second strut with helium - just use regular air for the alternating struts, as this creates better torsional load bias transfer across the canopy.
Hurley
Hurley
ACT
98 posts
ACT, 98 posts
13 Nov 2005 10:51pm
are you frikin serious mate you've filled it with helium - lol - i wish i had money to burn
bondo
bondo
QLD
699 posts
QLD, 699 posts
14 Nov 2005 12:28am
i get a cheap deal on the helium because I get it through the company I buy my stockpiles of ammonia from. I buy so much of the damn stuff they virtually give me the helium for free.
greenleader
greenleader
QLD
5283 posts
QLD, 5283 posts
14 Nov 2005 12:52am
bondo bin kiten.
windangoesoff
windangoesoff
NSW
280 posts
NSW, 280 posts
14 Nov 2005 6:49am
what is the terrorist hotline again? if you ever see bondo with a backpack ... run.
crazyfly
crazyfly
WA
24 posts
WA, 24 posts
14 Nov 2005 10:19am
I tried filling the bladders with water..... doesn't work!
turns too slow... and it sinks before relaunch..ha ha ha...
bondo
bondo
QLD
699 posts
QLD, 699 posts
14 Nov 2005 12:22pm
quote:
Originally posted by crazyfly

I tried filling the bladders with water..... doesn't work!
turns too slow... and it sinks before relaunch..ha ha ha...



try carbonated water
crazyfly
crazyfly
WA
24 posts
WA, 24 posts
14 Nov 2005 10:40am
Aaah! the sweppervescence!
azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
14 Nov 2005 11:27am
quote:
Originally posted by bondo

quote:
Originally posted by crazyfly

I tried filling the bladders with water..... doesn't work!
turns too slow... and it sinks before relaunch..ha ha ha...



try carbonated water



actually... it works much better with lemon flavoured fizzy water, especially the proprietry branded stuff ie "Lift". All my kites have lift!

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