| Topic for open discussion: North
Kiteboarding (company)
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| July 30, 2020, post by Dave Santos Pat Goodman of North Technology Group responded: what next? Good
News for AWE R&D, lead kite designer, Pat Goodman, of North
KiteBoarding replied to preliminary contact and wants to follow up.
PatG represents an ideal contact into North Technology Group's
sprawling global network of top sail and kite wind-tech talent
(including North NZ, supplier to SkySails of Hamburg). NTG may well
come to sponsor early multi-r R&D.
The
wonderful prospect is soon developing a multi-r prototype pipeline with
NKB's top Siri Lanka and Taiwan production pipelines. As
you may already know, professional kite R&D is done by digital
transmission of CAD plans to the best kite-makers, who air-express back
prototypes for follow-on testing. Its fast and economical, with
~two-week cycles typical.
Of
course, we should still be doing many quick crude hands-on experiments,
like student work. Professional prototypes are best reserved for
refinement of designs already partly validated by initial local
proof-of-concept. kPower has put out a call for a part-time stitcher in
Austin, to make small sails for its starting 6r mesh. Top recommended
TUK small kite fab partner-: http://www.born-kite.de/
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| July 19, 2020, post by Dave Santos North's Master of Kite Design- Pat Goodman The emerging power kite itself is teaching the leaders in kite design the same deep lessons, even when they do not know each other (yet). Here Pat shares identical conclusions to kPower about simplifying and purifying design, details like eliminating pulleys*, reducing complexities, skillfully tuning, not depending on computers overmuch, and so on... ------- * kPower, independently of North, has eliminated pulleys in key AWES power kite rigs, especially to reduce cost for frugal end-users. We have always chopped away lines and gimmicks in our stock kites, and "like(d) the end result better". Q: "Any more pulleys?" North: "No more pulleys at all. Its a lot more work from a design point of view but...the end result is more dynamic, lower drag, less "reelly-feeling", a direct and sporty feeling. We actually like the end result better." Too much great state-of-the-art to repeat here- Trade Secrets - North designer Pat Goodman =================================== North Technology Group: AWE's Hidden Leader The dominant sailmaker, with a worldwide network of affiliated sail-lofts, continues to advance into kites, under reorganized leadership of its North Technology Group (NTG). Its no coincidence that North NZ makes SkySails' ship kites and incubated KiteShip in its old Alameda Island loft, as the sail loft expanded to a new facility. It is only natural under NTG that North Kiteboarding is expanding strongly in kitesurfing under top talent like Pat Goodman. That's a subtle triple-play of SS, parafoil, and LEI kites. What has not yet happened is a strategic NTG focus on AWE, but when it does, North will dominate on merits. NTG represents the soul of the performance sailor following the dream wherever it leads. Its become a magnet for the best and brightest in soft wings North Kiteboarding will continue as a brand JULY 20, 2018 | KITEBOARDING ======= Based on brilliant online interviews, Pat Goodman of North Technology Group (NTG) has been identified by Kpower as a rare top kite aerodynamics and design expert, and directly invited to collaborate in multi-r iso-kite AWES R&D. There is a generational transition in kite engineering science as older masters like Culp, Lynn, and Roeseler age-out. Goodman will be a fine new mind in AWE. Note NTG's already deep strategic role in AWE R&D, with several DE branches, and the wing designer/supplier (North Sails NZ) for SkySails of Hamburg: http://www.energykitesystems.net/AirborneWindEnergy/NorthKb.html Another great interview link to add to archive: North Kiteboarding Reborn - The Pat Goodman Interview - Kitesurfing Magazine |