Kite buggy

The tank with kite , also called kite-buggy or buggy, is a vehicle on wheels evolving/moving thanks to the traction of a Cerf-volant. Its design is close to that of the Sand yacht. The practice which is associated for him can take the form of a leisure calms (to make stroll) or of a more sporting activity (lifting speed and figures), according to the material, the force of the wind and the temperament of the pilot of the tank. It can also be practiced on lawns, sand or Macadam, the principal restrictions being a not very broken, rather broad ground and without obstacles.

Sat on the tank, the pilot controls the direction with the feet, on the level of the nose gear wheel, and the kite (known as “of traction”) with the hands. The pilot is not attached to the buggy (girthing with the tank is rare because it can be dangerous), and the kite is attached by Harnais to the pilot (except for the beginners), but never with the buggy itself. Traction thus passes by the body of the pilot.

It is thus possible to reach speeds of more than 70 km/h (in fact, until twice more quickly than the wind).

History

The ancestor of the tank with current kite was invented in 1822 by George Pocock, teacher with Bristol in Great Britain. It consisted of a barouche from 4 to 5 places, tractor drawn by two kite cumulating a surface of approximately a dozen square meters. It in would have deposited a patent in 1826. These means of transport were then faster than the barouches drawn by horses.

The invention of the tanks with kite, under its current form, is generally allotted to the New Zealander Peter Lynn, inventor of kite. Its machine, baptized buggy , was noticed at the time of the International festival of the kite in Thailand in 1990. This invention would come from a project of floating boat ( kiteboat ) to which wheels would have been added.

The tank

The tanks with kite, very different from those with veil, are generally tricycles (a nose gear wheel directional, two with the back). The various models can have various characteristics, according to their use (macadam, ground, soft sand…), or their price (nine in France, between 300 € for the beginners etreposent on toe-clips welded directly onto the framework of the nose gear wheel. There is no swing bar as in the sand yacht, nor of brakes on the wheels. The fork before is not perpendicular on the ground, which allows its autostabilization: the nose gear wheel thus remains in the axis of the buggy, even without intervention of the pilot.

The buggies can be classified in two types:

those adapted to freestyle are light, their length and their wheel axle postpones are short, which allows tight operations. N the other hand (or to increase the pleasure, according to the tastes), this type of tank is unstable and slips much.
those adapted to the race are heavier, and their length and their wheel axle postpone are longer, which increases stability and allows larger speed.

The wheels of the tanks can also be very different, and depend on the ground: on soft sand, broad and soft wheels make it possible not to be inserted, and on hard surface, the small well inflated wheels allow high speeds:

wheels of small diameter, broad and

The buggies can be classified in two types:

those adapted to freestyle are light, their length and their wheel axle postpones are short, which allows tight operations. N the other hand (or to increase the pleasure, according to the tastes), this type of tank is unstable and slips much.

The buggies can be Cl The buggies can be classified in two types:

those adapted to the freestyle

The buggies can be classified in two types:

those adapted to freestyle are light, their length and their wheel axle postpones are short, which allows tight operations. N the other hand (or to increase the pleasure, according to the tastes), this type of tank is unstable and slips much.
those adapted to the race are heavier, and their length and their wheel axle postpone are longer, which increases stability and allows larger speed.

The wheels of the tanks can also be very différentessont light, their length and their wheel axle postpones are short, which allows tight operations. N the other hand (or to increase the pleasure, according to the tastes), this type of tank is unstable and slips much.

those adapted to the race are heavier, and their length and their wheel axle postpone are longer, which increases stability and allows larger speed.

The wheels of the tanks can also be very différentesassés in two types:

those adapted to freestyle are light, their length and their wheel axle postpones are short, which allows tight operations. N the other hand (or to increase the pleasure, according to the tastes), this type of tank is unstable and slips much.
those adapted to the race are heavier, and their length and their wheel axle postpone are longer, which increases stability and allows larger speed.

The wheels of the tanks can also be very different

those adapted to the race are heavier, and their length and their wheel axle postpone are longer, which increases stability and allows larger speed.

The wheels of the tanks can also be very different notched, for macadam;

fine wheels and of large diameter (like wheels of bicycle), for other hard surfaces;
the wheels standards have a diameter of 40 centimetres out of 8 cm broad, for various grounds;
the largest sizes allow cross-country (as soft sand), and give to the buggy name " big foot" . It is small a roude of some millimetre…

A preference remains for those without rays, which can cause wounds in the event of breakage of the wheel, like for those without crantage, which, in turn, limits adherence but makes it possible to avoid the barrels.

Various equipment can be added: often mudguards, protection for the , bag, file, seat bottom postpones straps (belts) to block the feet, a meter speed/distance, and sometimes of the suspensions…

The tanks can be put out of tandem, either to trott a second nobody, or for two pilots. This last requires a great experiment and a good communication between the pilots.

Other forms

an alternative of the buggy is the Crab ( Crab-Buggy ), with three wheels, invented by Olivier Suire in 2003, whose originality lies in the fact that the pilot sat vis-a-vis the kite (contrary to the version of Peter Lynn where the pilot finds himself most of the time with the kite on the side, generating a certain discomfort). The vehicle moves then in " crabe" , approaching the mode of navigation adopted on a kitesurf or a mountain-board.
There also exists of other buggys with 4 wheels, or even with 5 or 6 wheels (rarer).
the kitebike is a buggy with 2 wheels, which is controlled a little the made-to-order of a bicycle lying.
Icebuggy, mainly developed with the Quebec since 1996, is practiced on the frozen lakes and hardened snow. They are also used in forwardings in Scandinavian medium. The wheels are replaced by skis equipped with blades with carbide coming from the competition in motoneige.
Of personal manufacture increases the number of the alternatives, such as for example the tanks in 2 places.

The kite

The kite used can be controlled with two, or preferably four lines, in no case with only one. If the kite with two lines are simpler of training, it do not have brakes, which can make their use dangerous. Those with four lines are more complex and more expensive, but the difference in request between the two principal lines (high) and the two lines of brake (low) makes it possible to change the curve of the wing to decrease traction or to reverse the direction of displacement of the wing to pose it on the ground in a minimum of time, which is a pledge of safety.

In the case of kite with four lines, the use of handles 4 wire (in opposition to the bar used in Kitesurf) is highly recommended in buggy, because one can control with much more precision.

Its form can vary, of the delta (gaining power), with the more current flexible wings:

the deltas are less powerful and require a strong wind, but are very fast and reactive (they are created at the origin for the stunt-flying). These kite can be put in “the train”, i.e. the ones behind the others for only one pilot.
the wings are fairly with very powerful, relatively fast and go up better against the wind, and thus are advised for the practice of the buggy. They are most generally of the wings with boxes (then forming a profile of wing of plane), or wings mono-skin (of the C-Quad type or NASA-Wing). These wings have less vertical traction ( top spin ) that the wings " with boudins" or with closed boxes used for the kitesurf or the Mountainboard.

Surfaces used go, for an adult, from 1,5 to 20 m ², more large surfaces being reserved to the experts; the use of 3 veils of different sizes, to 2 to 12 m ², is enough already to roll almost under all the conditions of wind.

It is necessary to use solid lines, allowing tractions from 80 to 170 kg (see more, according to the wind and the type of line (principal or brakes)). Their length can be ranging between 10 and 50 meters, 25 being the generally selected compromise.

Safety regulations

The tank with kite can be a dangerous sport, of share speeds reached or the capacities of traction of the wings. Part of the prevention of the risks is made on the equipment, helmet being obligatory, the gloves and advised ankle boots.

It is good, when one begins, to start by learning how to control the wing, before going up in a buggy. Best help being to even meet practitioners on the spot.

The kite must always be able to be released. The end of harness cannot in no case to be captive in a pulley or other, it is necessary to use an undercharged dispatcher of wichard type or trellium. The use of the leach can be a good thing if there is world on the spot (or of the trees!).

Lastly, never to over-estimate themselves, be modest vis-a-vis the force of the wind, to leave a surface adapted at the speed of the wind (the beaches of wind of the veils are available on the sites of the manufacturers). The use of a anémomêtre is recommended. To avoid the irregular winds and the thundery weather. Prudence also applies in the respect of the other users of the spot, like the pedestrians or the riders whose horses can be frightened.

The safety regulations inherent in the use of the kite are of course also valid for the practice of the buggy.

Handling

The tank with kite being a derivative of the nautical practices, certain following terms are thus taken again world of the veil.

The difficulty of the handling of the tank lies mainly in the synchronization of the movements of the veil and its traction, according to the position and of the movement of the buggy. Indeed, the traction of the kite changes according to its position compared to the wind (see the article on the piloting of the kite), position which is dependant on its fastening to the buggy, which is him even moving. In a general way, plus the kite is with the horizontal one, and more it is with the perpendicular of the wind, plus traction is strong (since the surface of the fabric collecting the wind increases). Moreover, the relative wind due to the movement of the buggy is added with that with the real wind. For example, the buggy cannot go too quickly in the direction of the wind, because the final wind on the level of the veil would be that of the real wind, less that of the buggy, therefore could become null and make take down the sail.

If traction is sufficient, the tank can start to slip of through, or behind, and the pilot can be désarçonné. The direction and the final power of traction must thus be thought well to avoid the accidents.

Positions according to the wind

The diagram of the paces is given as an indication, the behavior of the kite in these phases depends on their particular characteristics, their adjustments, and control of the pilots.

dead angle : it is not possible to advance vis-a-vis the wind, except during a short moment in the course of turn.

with close : it is the increase with the wind. The kite must be with 90° direction of the buggy (maximum angle to advance), which makes displacement slow, but so difficult because of risk of déventement of the wing. The capacities of increase to the wind depend on the kite.

of through : it is the most comfortable case and fastest with the releases. The wind of is dimensioned, and the kite car slightly ahead.

releases : the wind is with 45° backwards, the kite draws ahead. The pace is fast, but there exists a risk of déventement of the veil if the speed of the buggy is higher than that of the wing.

wind postpones : back with the wind, the kite is as much as possible in front of the tank. As the buggy catches up with the kite then, this pace is very little used (except during course moments in turn), because déventement is very probable.

At the time of déventement (wind speed > real wind) the veil fall and, as there is no brake, the buggy rolls on the wire which tend to be rolled up around the axle of the nose gear wheel making the redémarage complicated.

Turns

The turns are done in two manners, face or back with the wind. The turns back with the wind are easiest, because the sail keeps its traction. It is necessary however to pay attention to abrupt accelerations, which are to be envisaged when the sail changes orientation compared to the flow of air. It is preferable to turn at the same time as the sail and to avoid to the maximum the moment or the sail passes in front of the pilot. One can thus, by handling the sail well to keep a constant traction. The turns vis-a-vis the wind are more complex and must be fast and short, to minimize the moment when the buggy is in the dead angle of traction. The kite passes then behind the pilot (in fact, with the top of him, the zenith).

Skirtings and crossings of others buggys

August 1st

Others

The departure of a buggy, especially for beginners, is advised in a positon of weak traction. If not, the risk is to be désarçonné, or to lose the control of the buggy under the blow of acceleration. The deceleration of a tank can be made various manners, according to the required effectiveness. The use of the brake of the kite, or its positioning in zone of weak wind, makes it possible to decrease traction, therefore speed. The buggy can be directed towards a pace “with close”, with less traction. To place the kite of the buggy behind is effective, but risky for the back. To pose the feet on the ground to slow down is instinctive, but to make only with good shoes and at low speed; if not, the wound is almost assured. To roll on a soft sand zone, if there are some and if the buggy is sensitive there, can also help to slow down.

Most effective to stop is to put itself transversely. In the worst case, there remains possible to release the kite for an urgency, in this case, it remains always a risk that another person is wounded by the released sail.

In turn, the buggy can slip of before or of the back. The position of the pilot on the buggy is dominating for its control: a base forwards decreases the adherence of the back, and conversely. It is thus possible, in turn, to control slips it by the displacement of the body ahead or behind.

Lastly, the traction of a kite increasing with its speed, it is possible to make it turn in loop or S, for a better traction.

Figures

the 360° is a turn on 360° in only once, therefore with a passage vis-a-vis the wind.
the two wheels can be practiced by increasing the traction of the kite, to raise the aft wheel of with dimensions wind. All the difficulty is of course not to be completely turned over.
the step back , as its name indicates it, is the displacement of the buggy in opposite direction.
the jumps can be made only by attaching the tank to the pilot. In this case, the sail can be enough powerful to raise them. It is then the occasion to make figures, like a landing in step back, a 360° in the air…
the rotations aériennes" are complex figures in which the pilot will have to carry out that one can call in gymnastics a salto, i.e. a turn on oneself. It is necessary to help of the poid of its legs for déclancher rotation.

Equipment

In addition to the buggy and kite, the practice of the tank requires other equipment:

the helmet is obligatory in the event of reversal of the buggy; the integral versions make it possible to protect the pilot from the water, sand blasts, vase…
a tight combination is practical in cold weather, because water and the wind cool very quickly.
It is also recommended to carry sunglasses because the kite inevitably will pass in front of the star. They also serve to protect from various projection as the nose gear wheel.
Of the solid shoes (walking shoe type) and of the gloves is also advised.
the harness to be attached to the veil, brings more comfort to the pilots, but he is not advised which has those which control their kite, to avoid the risks being carried. The harness must in any event be equipped to be able to be detached quickly from the wing in the event of problem, even during strong tractions.

Competitions

One can classify the competitions according to two types: " régates" and raids. Each year, the Transatlantic race of Sands sees in its rows of many pilots of buggy, amateurs or not, to cross 600 km of Moroccan desert. The raids can also take place on our premises, like the raid of Barneville-Granville for example.

The regattas are races of buggy, for which the goal is to traverse a circuit represented by beacons to circumvent, the whole as quickly as possible.

In France

Within the French federation of sand yacht, the tank with kite constitutes the Classe 8.

The APC8 is an association of pilots of tanks of class 8.

Marks

Here a nonexhaustive list of the most known marks:

Peter Lynn
Radsail
Free
Elliot
Parastorm
XXtreme
Ozone
PKD
HQ Kites
flysurfer.de
JoJo RM+
Advance (Swiss) for the veils

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