If one were to pump up a 17m light wind kite with hydrogen or helium would it make a noticeable difference in light wind?
I think you mean Nitrogen not Hydrogen, since Hydrogen is extremely flammable.. I second the "No" even if it did make a difference it would very minimal.. Not to mention the fact that it would be an absolute pain in the ass to pump your kite with either of the two, as well as expensive..
supposedly earths helium resources are running low and not sustainable so don't use that... or in your party balloons.
It would be really funny if you pumped up your kite ,turned around to do your lines and your kite floated away .
could be funny tho deflating the kite with all yer mates mouths around the valve....
Chipmunk harmonies anyone!
isn't this on the list of banned recurring topics? (along with the eric video, kiting in the rain questions, bow kites are gaay, and boardies over wetsuit)
Seriously though, we used helium which is a little safer than Hydrogne back in 2001. It made very little difference in terms of weight or performance.
The bigger problem is that the helium/hydrogen molecules are much smaller than oxygen/nitrogen, and the Helium leached out rather rapidly through the porous (microscopically speaking) bladder material. The leading edge was OK, but the struts deflated fast enough to make them soft over a unreasonably short period, making it a bit pointless (and expensive).
Nice thinking though.
DM
Funny, I just posted this in gear reviews. Do light wind kites work
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Do-light-wind-kites-work/
I have been using 78% nitrogen to fill my kites for years, works so well I have not tried any other gasses.