The World's first Vented Revolution
While at the FANO Kite Flier's Meeting in June of 1993, I was flying my
standard Revolution REV I and II. The winds were very strong most of the
time. This was the year that I decide to change from dual to quad line
competitions. I wanted to practice my ballets but it was almost impossible
with these winds.
I noticed that the first vents started to appear in dual line kites.
I thought about this a lot and came up with the 6 panels effect. All
of these panels have their own spinnaker covers which are attached using
velcro tape. This allows me to fly in various wind strengths.
I built my first vented in early August, 1993. It first appeared public
at a small kite festival in southern Germany at Schwabisch-Gmund followed
by the German Nationals and then the Europa Cup. Since this time a few
copies have appeared, which I fully welcomed. I will not produce this for
anyone else however you are all, as far as I am concerned fully welcome
to use my idea.
While at the FANO Kite Flier's Meeting in June of 1994, the 'Ventolution'
really took a beating. Quite a few people flew it in wind strengths up to 7Bf.
Despite the spars were heavily sanded at a few points, they withstood all
beating we gave it. The Spars are original Revolution 4 wrap spars.
The bungees started to rip the sail a little at both lower tips and ripped
the dacron severely at the upper end of the vertical spars. Both places must
be reinforced with several layers of dacron or something tougher. The leading
edge screen was also ripped at one point for about 10cm.
My screening is rubber coated fiberglass.
Since this time I have built two more vented REV I's. One of these can be
seen here also under STORM Revolution REV I. The other uses a totally
different venting concept.
In 1995 Revolution started producing vented REV's for all three models.
The vented I and II use the standard rainbow sail. The middle stripe
color is replaced with venting.
The vented 1.5 has 40% of the upper part of the lower color replaced with
venting.
I have the first vented REV 1.5 in Europe. It is really fantastic.