Some people consider that a kite which is at the edge of the wind window and which falls out of the sky when you slacken the bar is a 100% depowerable kite. THAT’S WRONG !

A 100% depowerable kite is a kite that stops itself in the middle of the wind window when you suddenly slacken the bar (or activate a QR) while the kite is flying across the wind window. That means a kite whose AoA rotates about 90°, like a 5th line kite on its 5th line.

Actually none of the bow kites is a 100% depowerable kite but several of them get their AoA rotating enough to avoid to be dragged by the kite when it passes in the middle of the wind window in strong winds. They will not stay in the middle of the wind window but will travel with low power towards the edge of the window.

The fact that they are not 100% depowerable kites can be considered as an advantage because the kite will not immediately fall out of the sky when the bar is loosened, but take care, longer the kite stays flying with the bar loosened, less depower it has. More comfort but less safety.

MYTH 1 : PEOPLE WILL GET LOFTED EVEN WITH BOW KITES.
I don’t think so, at least with “real” bow kites, and will try to explain why:
- the “power” that a bow kite transmits to your harness through the lines is partly lift, partly drag, It is never 100% lift nor 100% drag
- by the contrary, a c-shape kite on its 5th line produces 100% drag. Consequently a 5-line 12.0 in 50kts wind can pull you but only horizontally (except in a tornado or huge rotor) so you’ll get dragged but not lofted
- a depowered 4-line c-shape kite delivers maybe 70% lift and 30% drag so you can get lofted
- a depowered bow kite delivers maybe 30% lift and 70% drag, it’s why it is almost impossible to get lofted.

MYTH 2 : A 100% DEPOWERABLE KITE IS 100% SAFE
No because:
- the drag of the flagging kite can be strong enough to pull you towards obstacles, especially on snow and ice
- your kite can start looping for any reason : a bridle can break or get tangled, a pulley can break…
Once again, flying a large bow kite, which is not even a 100% depowerable kite, in strong winds is potentially dangerous. You probably won’t get lofted but you can get dragged full speed.

I should add for the beginners who read this post that a kite that is 100% depowerable through a QR is far from being safe because in most cases of lofting, you won’t be able to open the QR on time (too long, too complicated,, too much stress). Slackening the bar is the easiest/fastest action you can do to release the kite power, but even this a beginner won’t do it, it has to be learnt.

Bruno Legaignoux