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NEIL PRYDE FLIGHT FR 2022 TEST REVIEW

11/07/2022
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NEIL PRYDE FLIGHT FR 2022 TEST REVIEW

THEY SAY

“The Flight FR is the latest evolution of our accessible high-performance freeride foil range for real world sailors. It is less intimidating than full carbon foils and still delivers exceptional speed in a wide wind range.”

WE SAY

The Flight FR takes over from Neil Pryde’s original and popular price-pointed foil option – the Flight AL. Classed as their freeride windfoil option, there is a more freerace-oriented version on the horizon (resourcefully called Flight FR Carbon), with the same wings and fuselage configuration, but with a 95 cm carbon mast. This 85 cm aluminium masted FR comes as standard with two front wing size options, the 90 tested here (depicting the front wing span length in centimetres, with an area of 1000 cm2) or a smaller 80, with a quoted front wing area of 815 cm2. And to ensure maximum compatibility, the FR incorporates the brand’s unique ‘Base System’. Supplied without a base (foil to board) connection at all, you can then decide the most appropriate one for yourself, be it Deep Tuttle, Power Box or plate (incurring an additional expense of £149.00 to £189.00, depending on which you opt for). The mast and fuselage are connected using titanium plated stainless steel M8 TX40 screws, whilst the front wing boasts an integrated connection to the fuse, similar to that seen on the brand’s racing foils. It means the fuse length is actually only 83 cm long, yet the projected length is the full, quoted 90 cm. There are screws and bolts of varying lengths in the pack supplied, so refer to the visual guide to ensure the foil is assembled correctly.

Tried on a number of windfoiling specific boards, we opted for a Deep Tuttle base fixture, the two male ‘CNC reinforced’ prongs of the head slotting neatly into the mast and fixed into place with two M8 bolts. It’s a solid fixture, eliminating any discernible movement between the two. On the water, the Flight FR is certainly a step forward from its predecessor. It doesn’t have the low-speed torque or punch of some low aspect foils in the group, yet it responds nicely to pumping, with fluid acceleration and progressive lift. Partnered with several boards it’s undoubtedly designed to be used with (the JP Hydrofoil 135 for example), it does ride nose down, which can easily be countered by adjusting the angle of the tail wing. A washer or two between the stabiliser’s front screw-hole and the fuselage helps to lower the stab’s leading edge and level the board. It’s a somewhat crude method (and inefficient as the stabiliser’s spine no longer sits flush in the cradle of the fuse) but works to correct the board’s pitch. Once balanced, the FR feels lively and responsive underfoot and as it gathers pace it exhibits a response identical to that of its predecessors – noise! The FR hums and the faster you go (the FR capable of a very respectable speed on all points of sail), the louder it gets. We asked the brand’s UK agents about this and the consensus is that the audible feedback can be reduced by wet-n-dry sanding the trailing edges, although the theory is unproven as it’s not our place to do this on the demo kit. Neil Pryde say, “Regarding the whistling, we changed the angle how the trailing edge is finished now. All newly produced foils, come with the changed angle. This is the case for all Glide Surf, Glide Wind and Flight FR foils.” On the plus side, it’s another Neil Pryde foil extending the legacy of informing other water users of your location and approach!

Early warning system aside, the most rewarding quality of the FR is its gybing ability. Pryde literature makes reference to the FR’s wings and the fact that they have an inner foam core, providing a “natural tendency to roll into turns”. Whether it’s the make-up the wings or other attributes, it’s certainly fun and playful to drive the FR into a carve, much like a little sports car. Push harder and the foil continues to bite, the radius of the turn tightening whilst ride height is easily maintained. Release the rail pressure and the foil straightens its path smoothly, ready for a quick foot change. It’s one of the classiest and most addictive foils to gybe we’ve ever used, an attribute that had us riding in a more upright stance over the board, ready to drop it into the next corner.

NEIL PRYDE FLIGHT FR 2022 TEST REVIEW

WEBSITE www.neilpryde.com

 

VITAL STATS

PRICE: £1149.00 (plus £149.00 to £189.00 depending on base fitting)

FOIL

Head: Deep Tuttle

Mast Length: 85 cm

Mast Material: Aluminium

Fuselage Length: 90 cm

Fuselage Material: Aluminium

Front Wing Span: 90 cm

Front Wing Chord: 14 cm

Front Wing Area (Quoted): 1000 cm2

Tail Wing Span: 40 cm

Tail Wing Area: 225 cm2

Wing Material: Carbon

Weight: 4.98 kg


OTHER FOILS IN THIS TEST

AFS WINDFOIL RANGE 

GA SAILS WINDSURF HYBRID ALU FOIL SET 90 + HP1150 

STARBOARD SUPER FLYER 


BACK TO FOIL TEST OVERVIEW

 

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