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Peter Lynn Arc - Review Part 1 (2nd Generation 7.2m)
The Peter Lynn Arc has been a long time coming and promises to be a kite to beat. This is a review of a "second generation" ARC. I'll post a review of a production model and the new twistgrip control bar very soon. I was fortunate to find a second hand 7.2m Arc and a "Naish" style bar (with "sheeting" system) from Oz which have proven to be "interesting" !!
The Arc is a double skinned foil kite with sewn and taped seams and a number of "valves" on the leading edge. They're the same as the "valves" on a Waterfoil and on my particular kite are made from Icarex rather than Chikara. Unlike the Wipika and Naish kites there are no inflatable battens. Inflation is best carried out with an electric pump e.g. the new rechargeable C-pump from Peter Lynn which means you don't have to set up close to the car if you've only got a similar unit running off the cigarette lighter socket - just like this one -------->
The 7.2 was delivered with a Naish style bar - a short bar with a hole in the middle. The top / main lines are connected to a rope which runs through the hole in the bar and ends up in a small loop (often refered to as a "chicken loop" or depowering loop in Wipika or Naish terminology). The brake lines are connected to the bar ends with scope for adjustment. The image on the left shows this set up. The line near my hand is a safety device - the wrist strap runs to a short line linking the left hand main AND brake line about 4m from the bar. If the bar is released the RIGHT hand side of the kite floats away from the bar and the kite decends - it works very effectively (of course it can be swapped to the other side of the bar !). Once the cells are about half inflated the Arc will launch (off land) - it rises slowly and hangs in the air until the cells become more inflated. Once overhead you can clearly see the cells filling out. Obviously the more pre-inflation you do using the pump the quicker the procedure. One of the most noticeable characteristics of the Arc is brake line tension. The tips of the kite are "cut off" and are supported with a carbon fibre batten (check out the image on the left). The lines attach to the ends of the batten. For take off the brake lines need to be slightly slack however with a fixed bar this isn't possible. I use a harness and flip the "chicken loop" over the harness hook. If the bar is pushed forwards the brake line are released and the kite can be launched however at this point the slack brakes allow practically no turning response. Once overhead the brakes are tightened by pulling the bar forwards and into a neutral flying position. This particular kite has taken some time to get used to. If for example the brakes are slightly tight in the neutral position the kite is very sluggish but turning response is excellent. Too loose and the opposite happens - the kite flies forwards but the turning response is poor. There's a very fine line between these two settings.
At 7.2m (flat area) it's a big kite however the projected area is much less - I'd guess about 5.5 to 6m. In a direct (in-flight) comparison with a 7.2 Blade the projected area is significantly less and it needs a wind of about 8-10mph to really get going. Its possible to fly in lighter winds but there is a tendancy to stall - it simply stops flying and hangs in the air. Release the brakes and the kite usually gains forward flight again. The feel is very similar to a 2 line Wipika - it needs to be powered up to really perform. Any less and its slow and lazy. In winds of about 15mph the power is excellent- enough for nice long floaty jumps, in fact I suggest its as good if not better than a Blade in this respect. Static overhead pull is not too strong and diving generates fantastic power. There have been many reports of the Arc's stability and I agree its very good - there are absolutely no signs of collapse / luffing. In a really light wind it can just about hang in the air. It sometimes begins to close up but always in total control.
An idea of the flat area of the 7.2 compared to the car !!
Another shot of the kite ready to launch

Now, there has been much debate over the "depowering" of water-relaunchable kites. We all are aware of the fact that 4 line Wipika and Naish kites can be depowered and if cam cleats are used on the bar the power can be "locked". The second generation Arc does NOT depower. I understand that the production models have a limited depowering facility which I'll explore in part two of the Arc review, however I'm sure this kite has been designed with a fixed angle of attack. If for example the kite is overhead and the bar is pushed forwards to release the brakes, the kite remains completely still and the power remains constant. In fact in a smooth wind it doesn't move an inch !! My comments are echoed by a number of other flyers who use early Arcs and post responses on the Peter Lynn message board. I've had messages to the effect that production Arcs can be depowered as the brakes are released slightly but if the brakes are fully slack the effect does not increase and the result is a lack of turning response as I experience. Currently I have the kite set up so it remains in the air with the brakes in a neutral position i.e. the "chicken loop" is against the bar. In order to land I can pull very gently on both brake lines and it reverses smoothly. So, overall it's an interesting kite but it needs time to learn and more importantly "feel" its characteristics.

I can't comment on the water performance since I've not tried it but it works well with a buggy but again if the wind is too light the Arc stalls and its awkward to regain flight without jumping out and running backwards !! Upwind performance feels very strong. It is possible to fly this kite on handles but turning requires a VERY strong input on the brakes - a simple twist of the wrist doesn't work !

Looking at general construction of the kite its obvious to see that a lot of R & D has gone into it - although the sewing is not that good (in comparison with Flexifoil) there are thick lines sewn inside which support the structure and the design is intriguing. This is clear in some of the pictures.

Part 2 will detail a production Arc !!!