:-
As I mentioned earlier, this was one of the most pleasant buying experiences I’ve had in getting a kite. Watching the kite’s build progress through a gallery is a very nice touch.
I like the way the dacron wear patches/reinforcements along the spine are used as graphical elements too. Details even on the back of the kite. Nose has a slightly notched look but snag-free thus far. SkyShark 7PT “Black Diamond” LSs mean v. stiff and no bridle wear. Wingtip is very tidy. Covered LEs, naturally. TAPAs for the US. The cord along the LLE adjusts the leech line. Standoffs held in with metal screw into metal countersink fitting. Solid and snag free.
There is one area of the construction that I have had a problem with – the yoyo stopper cutouts. These follow the R-Sky semi-covered style but something seemed amiss when the kite would judder when unrolling. Here’s why:-
After very few airmiles the leaders (built into the bridle) had cut into the LE dacron, leaving a small flap that sometimes fouled the lines. It seems to have got as bad as it is ever going to so I’ll tidy it up and probably think no more about it. Note the stoppers for the yoyo stoppers. 
Actually there is one more thing; there are no manufacturer labels on my kite although I see I can buy one as an optional extra now. Now I know what it is but the curious onlooker gets no clue. It seems like an oversight, especially when Sportdesign has a nice logo.
Not pictured 
is the supplied alternative tail weights. Lengths of brass rod with the same countersunk fittings as on the back of the sail. Just pop in whatever weight takes your fancy; very neat and well thought through. The weights not in use sit in a neat holder and then in a separate bag.
Perhaps the neatest weight kit going. Mine are 6.62g, 11.45g, 16.02g and 21.04g. Plus the zero gramme option Nice bespoke engineering look. They really are tuning options – there’s not a huge amount of difference in flight moving up or down one weight and nothing magically appears nor disappears because of the “wrong” weight being fitted.
The minor problem I had with the LE dacron damage solved with a little tape. Apparently although this hasn’t been reproduced by anyone else 
there are revisions to the later models to further protect against this.
I hope you can see the build quality on offer here – it’s first rate in all respects. It really is a lovely object in its own right.
How about a flight ?
With a 5mm US and 7PT LSs and tail weight this is a bottom heavy sort of kite. It does fall onto it’s back quite readily but apart from that it’s quite neutral with no overwhelmingly dominant flying traits. As with The Sin you could read this as either a good or a bad thing. It does the stuff that the flyer asks of it. Watch the video again if you like. Polyvalent is probably the word for it. I think I had some problems pulling it nose forward but I’ve got used to the Element now so I’ve been spoilt. That’s about the worst I can say about it. Otherwise it does what it’s told and just that. I’ve stuck to the installed weight (6g. ish) for now BTW.
As such it’s in a very crowded marketplace. There are plenty of alternatives to the Seven out there but in the air it’s as good a choice as any, offers an truly excellent build and buying experience and must be attractive simply by being different. A-bag material in all respects.
Flight-wise there’s much to admire. The framing makes this a Heavy-ish Standard and it’ll take some pretty harsh inputs without complaint. It’s never lost for momentum to make it through trick rotations either. It’ll wrap up and spin about pretty much however you like it too. Backspins look neat because they are a little flatter than some other kites (no flailing wingtips). Fades are nicely stable too with the kite just waiting until you decide to do something less sedate. Figures are a bit loose until the wind picks up and you can drop the bridle back a bit. It’s not my idea of a Precision Kite per se though. The balance of the kite is such that it naturally falls face forward a little in a stall which can lead to the occasional face plant if you mess up.
One quirk is the relative speed of pitch; popping the Seven from belly down, either off the ground or in the air, into a Fade from this position happens quickly. The Backflip is hardly slow but… the Frontflip (?) is something you need to be ready to deal with. Is does make for plenty of options doing, and Cosmic TC owners should look away now, Flic Flacs. From a vertical dive you can just slack the lines and pop it back or go all the way forward into a proper “Kill” before continuing.
Overall I’d say that it tricks fastish, but I’ve been flying the CTC XS and Element recently so I’m working on a theory that Einstein was wrong about the speed of light being the fastest possible.
So is this the Kite That Saved The World ? Is it an essential purchase ? Is there a Seven-shaped hole in your life that you never even knew existed ? Ummm… probably not. It’s a lovely piece of work, very capable in flight and entertaining but so are quite a few other kites. If you are looking for something polyvalent though then this one should at least be on your list as you are guaranteed a pleasant purchase that you won’t regret.
Mike.
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