2021 BANDIT DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
After 14 years of development of the Bandit we always get the same question:
How did you improve it again?
Our passion is to improve things and for us even when we go into the validation process, it’s just a step in the evolution process. Every season we choose to work on a specific point that should be improved. Let’s take the automotive R&D example to illustrate: one season they work on the engine and gain power, the following year, they need to improve the body to allow it to fit the new engine power, then they have an issue with the shock absorbers and so on…
the process never ends!
It has been the same process for us and for the 2021 development, we have done an intensive work on the profile sleekness and the canopy tension. This development forced us to test different designs as well as different materials.
Design
New vertical panel layout
Around the trailing edge area you will notice the new vertical panel layout with its warp line orientation that allow us to use the cloth in a better thread direction.
Lighter 135g Dacron
On the very back of it, we have used our new exclusive 135gr Dacron with a new thin curved shape.
Horizontal reinforcements
To gain an even better control of the fluttering we have placed horizontal reinforcements.
Profile’s improvements
If we compare the improvements on the new 2021 profile and the previous ones we can observe the differences:
BEFORE: The deformation of the cloth on the back of the profile was creating a curve. We also used to have some sort of spoiler on the trailing edge. The result was that the more wind you had, the deeper was the profile on the back. This was giving more unwanted power, creating more drag and as a result, more lateral traction and instability!
NEW: The new design and material are improving the profile on the trailing edge… It is now clean and straight in order to have limited drag and a way better efficiency.Improving the back of the profile and the trailing edge gave us better performances but generated a bit too much speed that we didn’t need. We have then chosen to use a deeper profile to give us a bit more raw power for the low end and boost for the jumps. The result is an easy power in the low end an impressive high end, depower, stability and control.A better profile improves all aspects of flying phases: The stability in flight or when static of the BANDIT is now way better giving you more comfort and confidence with no movements parasites. Going upwind is unbelievably easy with a kite pulling you more forward without lateral pull. Sending the kite up to 12 is easy and the pull is more vertical for a higher jump. Going through the kite loops the kite has less drag and achieves the loop faster with a clean and fast “back to 12” to support you even if you have to send it low.
It’s because we have worked on the BANDIT for 14 years that we know how to improve it so well. This resulted in an impressive control and new performances with an ease of use never reached before. It will take you to new levels that you could not dream of.
Watch BANDIT 2021 Product Video
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