What if you pump a kite with helium?

[mattthieu]

once again, i'm wondering ?

how mutch volume is there in a kite ?

let's say, hmm, a big kite, 60 strokes of pump, let's say, hmm, 4 liters per stroke, ok ?

so your kite is ( not counting on the compression factor that would lover the actual volume of the kite ! )

60x4 240 liters for a big kite, now, what air weight is that ?

it's 1.2 kg per cubic meter so, less then 300 g pull.

not considering that you wold have a weight for He conterbalancing it !

what the f*** would 300g change ?

NOTHING even if you double or triple the numbers, still BS

but here is a funny idea : get a flysurfer 21m, close the intakes and everything you can close ( find a way to get it fully gasstight ) and then, fill it with He gas ! THAT would be fun !!

[Peter_Frank]

Ha haa - mattthieu, we all (those replying to the OP) know that it doesnt change a thing with helium, because of the not noticeable effect when you calculate

But it was really funny that a whole PAGE could go on with awesome creative answers, and everybody was "In sync" on this

First time I've seen a thread like that go on for a full page without anybody being "real", as it is often not possible on a worldwide web across the borders, to distinguish between sarcasm and irony and joking - but succeded very well here

Great Stuff

Peter

[eree]

well may be really nobody tried it before with consequent report for the public.

look at IKA gears list, how tight competition on weight of the kite! they use thinner bridles, less paint on kites, thin struts, no scuff guards, damn, even no bar floaters!
all for weight save.
and the couple of bar floaters are much less than 300gr!

of course for the every day use it is no profit. kiters acquire wake style bindings, stupid boardshorts and rasta hair extensions weighing more than two kg just for satisfy their vanity. so, yeah, don't bother...

[Starsky]

bindings have nothing to do with vanity. Even someone who has never so much as wanted to try them knows just by looking at them they provide a quantum increase in hold. Its a monumental improvement for many.

[laurahaley]

I took the trouble to do the actual calculations in detail, regarding the helium question. While it's intuitive that it doesn't make a difference, I think it's interesting to see the numeric explanation: http://theideafactoryonline.org/helium-filled-kites/

[BWD]

rasta hair extensions weighing more than two kg just for satisfy their vanity.

ha ha ha good one!

[eree]

bindings have nothing to do with vanity. Even someone who has never so much as wanted to try them knows just by looking at them they provide a quantum increase in hold. Its a monumental improvement for many.

sorry for so much late response, but in winds when somebody would desperately need the helium for pumping up his kite high rockered board with bindings is clearly a sign of vanity.
sector may be much better choice

[plummet]

60x4 240 liters for a big kite, now, what air weight is that ?

it's 1.2 kg per cubic meter so, less then 300 g pull.

not considering that you wold have a weight for He conterbalancing it !

what the f*** would 300g change ?

!!

Ok lets mathmatize a bit more.

Using the example above how much weight would you save?
Helium Density @ 293 K: 0.1785 g/cm 3

Helium weight 44 grams.

Savings 244 grams.

Will this increase the kites performance? yes slightly. Would the average kiter notice? I doubt it.

Now the bigger question. How long would your helium pumped kite stay pumped up enough given that the small molecule gas will be constantly permiating through the bladder wall?

[Starsky]

bindings have nothing to do with vanity. Even someone who has never so much as wanted to try them knows just by looking at them they provide a quantum increase in hold. Its a monumental improvement for many.

sorry for so much late response, but in winds when somebody would desperately need the helium for pumping up his kite high rockered board with bindings is clearly a sign of vanity.
sector may be much better choice

If Helium is not the answer your certainly full of hot air, you might wanna try blowing up your kite by mouth and get back to us.

[chemosavi]

.
Better than helium is to jam a tube up a cow's ass and connect the other end to your kite.

Wait an hour or so and strike a match to the kite.

Chances are, momentarily at least, it will be lighter than air.