SSSL Curved Leading Edge Pilot (CLE Pilot)

History to 2021:

SSSL 101 pink ¾ Serpent head made in February 2019 showed characteristics that made it a promising start point for a SSSL pilot kite that would fly reliably in strong wind and not be subject to the Diving Over problem that plagued 1Skins in strong and gusty winds.

101 has 56 bridles and complex cording `which makes it somewhat impractical in small sizes, so the direction of development has been towards simplification while retaining strong wind reliability.

Initially the direction was towards curved leading edge keelless heads with ribbon tails, similar to 101 but narrower and with less body bridles.  These did not fly at high angles and were not particularly good light wind fliers but tended to WI in strong winds which is a promising characteristic.  WI at the strong wind end is advantageous in the sense that it's easier to control (just add tails) than the 3 nasties and because any SSSL that will loop in strong winds is likely not experiencing terminal LE or any other sort of buckling (which is the bete noire of SSSLs).

One branch of this development than moved to bridle supported LE sled kites (no central body bridles), which are dealt with separately.

Keelless curved LE forms with various configurations of centre body bridles continued development, through SSSL 102, orange, Feb 2019 which in 2020 acquired a central keel and SSP 13, orange Dec 2021.

SSP 3 (parallel sides) flies as well in strong winds as SSP 2 (choked in early version, later cut shorter)

Increasing the spanwise camber (letting out centre bridles) did seem to improve strong wind stability for SSPs 3, 4 and 5 - opposite effect from SSP's 11, 12 and 14

SSP 4 with outer TU scoops, did not require rear outer bridles- but more subject to diving over? 

SSP 8, curved LE keelless became WU in strong wind when a very long tail was attached- this may have been because the extra tail drag de-creased the kite making (progressive buckling on the faster flying side can contribute to stability- Serpent and Octopus blink stability is a form of this).  

Looped tails showed some high wind benefits for earlier SSPs, not for later (deep keel) types. 

101 ¾ Serpent head pink 

102 Orange - central keel added, Dec 2021.

SSP 13 Orange 23 Dec 2021:

Try diamond pattern pocketing on this kite

Is very similar in aspect ratio, LE and number of centre bridles to 101 but doesn't fly at all similarly.

Test: 0n 26 Jan, strong end mid-range, one 300mm wide x 14 m heavy fabric tail with single point attachment,

is higher aspect ratio than other CLE pilots except 101 but dives over terminally in almost every wind, rarely recovers. 

Is this a rear lateral area problem that can be cured by letting out the rear outer bridles?

Also, 13 doesn't yet have the leading-edge shoulders pulled in like Serpent and Octopus kites (and 101)..