At the very beginning of the rise of modern stunt kites (the very late 80s and very early 90s) one of the main hubs for many things that occurred was The Kite Store in Covent Garden (sadly no longer with us). Their first step into stunt kite manufacture, the LiteFlite, introduced many people back then to carbon fibre frames and truly light wind performance. From there was spawned the LiteFlite S, the LiteFlite Heavy, arguably the MicroFlite and then, in 1992, came the LiteFlite Radial.

http://www.elisanet.fi/mike.emery/kites/LFRadial.jpgIn their own catalogue they introduced it as “probably the best freestyle/precision stunt kite ever“. Now that’s truly Prism-level ad. BS ! Let’s look at what the kite actually was:-

If you have/had a copy of Mark Cottrell’s truly ground-breaking book “Swept Wing Stunt Kites” of 1990 then you would have seen one of the early versions of this kite, called Mabel. One of the main design features of this kite and the Radial was that it had a sail batten on each side running from the nose to the trailing edge where the single-per-side standoff is attached. These battens are also then acted upon by standoffs coming from the upper spreader, which is tied to the spine with a connector. This means that the sail profile is “rigid” and doesn’t collapse when the kite is stalled. This was supposed to mean that the kite would always be easier to take off from odd positions. “Groundwork” was a major field of endeavour in those days.

In addition the Radial had a “Limited Slip Bridle” wherein the upper outhauls of a three point static bridle are connected with a continuous line and can slip back and forth (not all kites had this though). You could adjust how much slip was available and the more you allowed, the weirder the kite’s behaviour. If you ever saw the designer flying the kite then you would believe some of the hype that “with large amounts of slip, flight is more like that of a 4 line kite”. The trouble is…. if you saw anyone else, then you wouldn’t believe the hype.

Other than these aspects the kite was quite conventional and even a little out-of-date by the time it was released. It had a simple sail with straight lines everywhere whilst contemporaries were beginning to use curved panels and seams in their construction. As it was a result it was pretty noisy. It used Carrington K42 nylon hung from a Beman Strong 15 frame (that’s 5.9mm and quite heavy).

So how did best freestyle/precision stunt kite of 1992 (allegedly) actually perform ?

The sad reality for me was that it was a huge disappointment, an enormous frustration and something of a personal insult. I liked the original, S and Heavy LiteFlites and was truly looking forward to the Radial. I found the kite difficult to make do even the basics (and these are 1992 basics we’re talking about here) and the ad. blurb that claimed that “this kite is not for beginners – you won’t break it, just get frustrated with the way it flies” (well I was frustrated so…. I was a beginner, right ?). The main issue was that turns were… leisurely… but it was possible to pull the nose of the kite so far into the wind that the kite stopped turning and started to glide into the wind – in a not particularly consistent nor recoverable manner. Overall it just didn’t seem to work for me or many other people the way it did work for Mark.

BTW the kite was flown in team competition by the Blast, formed from the remnants of seminal UK team, the Blitz.

The Challenge comes in a heavyweight kite bag with a pocket for lines. The kite is held wrapped up with a velcro strap. Generic instructions (in German but heavily illustrated) are included with a stapled insert giving spar specifications and a pictorial on ASP (Anti Speed Profile) adjustment. There are no specific instructions on the bridle although the quick adjustment feature common to most Level One kites is covered.

 
A moderate aspect (neither overly high nor low) ratio wing of around 2.2m span with four stand offs, spaced quite evenly along the lower spreaders. The stand offs are not adjustable for position. The spine is slightly cut short, giving a two point stance. The leading edges are very nearly straight with little sweepback. The wingtips and spine attached to the sail with traditional Level One looped and tied back cord. There is a static bridle with a redundant line running from the upper spreader/leading edge connector to the inhaul which stops the bridle from snagging around the base of the spine. There is a two position quick adjustment for the bridle at the upper spreader/leading edge connector and the bridle can be tuned at the tow point also. A leech line is fitted to the trailing edge and can be tightened for silent flight or loosened to enhance the ASP. The symmetrical sail panel layout combines a number of overlaid panels in areas of stress, notably at the nose and around the standoffs. The panelling at the nose is reinforced with several stitch lines.

ASP is a design feature that illustrates the intelligence that has gone into this design. The trailing edge between the outer standoff and wingtip does not follow a smooth curve but has a short straightline section. When the leech line is tight the kite is fast, tricky and silent but when the leech line is loosened this section of the trailing edge is allowed to interfere with the airstream and causes extra drag at the wingtips. This makes the kite slower, tighter turning and (much) noisier. Adjust to suit your flying preferences.

The sail is ripstop polyester with full length leading edge reinforcement in dacron. As mentioned there are many places where the sail panels are overlaid to double thickness for reinforcement. The frame is a mix of 6mm leading edges (one piece each of 152cm) and upper spreader, an 8mm spine and Sky Shark P200 lower spreaders. Leading edge connectors are APA for the lower spreaders and FSD for the upper, with glued stoppers above and below on all four. The centre T-fitting has both internal and external ferrules for durability and again has stoppers above and below. The end caps on the leading edges and spine are the enclosed FSD type. All three have a broad vinyl ring to tidy up the tensioning and leech lines, giving few opportunities for snags. The standoffs, which are 3mm translucent fiberglass, attach to the sail with hard fittings secured on the backside of the sail with an O-ring and with a soft rubber fitting on the lower spreader.

The Challenge gives the impression of having a lot of thought going into the choice of materials and construction options. All of the materials are top quality and the detailing shows the competition pedigree of this kite. It is competition ready out of the bag. As with all Level One kites there is a lot of work in the sail and it is all neatly executed with plenty of reinforcements that promise a durable kite.

Level One rate the wind range of this kite as 7 to 45 km/h (4 to 28 mph). The kite is no lightweight and although it will take to the air at lower wind speeds, particularly if the bridle is adjusted, the Challenge is underperforming and can be pulled from the air very easily. I’d personally not rate the kite as truly usable quite as low as that. Whilst it will be in the air, you won’t get a true reflection of the kite’s considerable abilities and probably won’t be able to set the kite on the second bridle setting at all. If the wind is solidily at at least 10 km/h (6 mph) then it is truly worth getting the kite out of the bag. The upper wind speed limit seems reasonable. The wingtips start to vibrate when you get near to the safe limits.

ASP sometimes makes the Challenge feel like two subtly different kites. With the trailing edge tight there can be a little hesitancy in making really tight spins and undercut turns at the edge can slur into under-steer. Precision is definitely enhanced when the kite is noisier although that is not to say that it is poor beforehand. Tricks are not really affected to the same degree. It is exceptional in either state. In conventional precision flight the Challenge is exacting, responsive and sensitive. Firm and precise hand movements are needed to make the kite perform. If you are used to more relaxed kites that flatter the flyer then this sensitivity may be difficult to get used to. It is very easy indeed to overdo push-pull turns and set the kite onto its back but it is always controllable and consistent, just sensitive. Not a kite for the either the beginner or the timid. Speed control is good, being easily accelerated or slowed just from the arms, although with the trailing edge tight it is quite quick in a straight line. Pull is not excessive (150lb line is enough).

Axels and Half-Axels can be a little scary at first as the kite kicks around a long way, showing the back of the sail to the flyer in a way that normally spell “tip wrap” but this is rarely the case. Any simple tip wraps that are encountered can frequently be removed by getting the kite flat on the ground and snapping the offending line, spinning the kite around and slipping the line off. More complicated snarl ups do need a contemplative walk. Backspins and Lazy Susans present no problem* and a Fade can be held steady, although the “spinny” nature of the kite makes it easy to unbalance the kite if coming into the Fade from an Axel.

One aspect is particularly notable: pitch manoeuvres (Pancakes, Fades, Flic-Flacs, Yo-Yos, etc.) are not only easily achievable but extremely controllable both in speed and amount. I have only ever tried some very high aspect ratio kites that can match this and even they were not as controllable and repeatable in this respect. Snap stalls can be held nicely upright, forced into a Backflip (Turtle) or even really hammered into a backwards Yo-yo.

Stefan has used this kite to win all manner of competitions across Europe. In his hands it has won precision, ballet and freestyle events. Whilst a huge part of this is down to his skills as a flyer he clearly needs a kite worthy of his own abilities.
This is my third Level One kite and the consistency of construction across their range is noteworthy. It also means that the same small problems are seen. One or two of the stoppers (and they are in five positions) have come unglued and needed replacement. There are a few places where the dacron has frayed slightly due to not having been hot cut quite well enough. The dacron at the nose isn’t cut away quite cleanly, giving an unfortunate catch point when in a Fade. None of these are in any way major errors and can be resolved easily but removing them at the manufacturers would elevate Level One to the
very highest quality. As such they are minor irritations. The quick adjustment of the bridle is quite coarse, giving quite a
large change in flying characteristics. Perhaps an intermediate position would be possible.

This kite in many ways represents the state-of-the-art for a European dual-line individual competition kite. It has no significant weaknesses in its flight and, in the hands of a true expert, can show exactly what can be done with this sort of kite. It is solidly made, keenly priced and rewarding (if demanding) to fly.

*I’ll expand on and clarify this, if I may.
Both are do-able but the nature of the kite is to be VERY sensitive and responsive. It does what you said, not what you MEANT to say. You will need to be very deliberate about your motions to get these (and any other) moves. In no way shape or form is this kite fool proof. Have an off day and you probably won’t enjoy it. It flatters good flying and punishes poor flying. My success ratio with Backpsins is low. It gets better if I concentrate but how much fun is that ?

I guess that the static bridle is in no small way responsible for this. With a movable tow point (dynamic or active) you get a “zone” to hit a pop for a trick. With static bridles this is more like a “point”. Not user friendly but rewarding when you nail it.

The Challenge does not come with training wheels.

Originally posted on rec.kites (in 2002).

The Stiletto is the latest design from Peter Betancourt, a 2m kite coming in at a lower price point than most of the rest of his range. As a custom kite maker Peter is able to offer personalised kites in the form of frame options and, most obviously, his famous appliqued sail designs. This review is based on a kite with a normal wind range frame and the “Tribal” motif.

The kite comes in a full length nylon bag, colour coded to the sail. A small pack including spare standoffs, end caps, sail patching material and a business card was included. No instructions were present.
The Stiletto is quite dissimilar to the other kites in Peter’s range. It features a medium aspect ratio and a noticeably flatter sail than is today’s norm held by a single standoff per side. The leading edges are pulled into only a moderate amount of curvature when the kite is fully assembled. The bridle is a cross-dynamic with the crossovers from the lower spreaders tied together where they touch. A simple trick line runs from wingtip to wingtip passing through the channel of a cut down 90deg leading edge connector at the base of the spine. A very neat and snag free implementation. The sail is a single panel (presumably one of the areas where a cost saving has been made) with the applique applied to the rear of the sail and the front cut cleanly away.

The sail and applique is in Chikara, a nylon fabric. The framing is mainly in SkyShark P300, which is a straight gauge wrapped spar, but with P200 in the upper leading edges and a 4mm upper spreader. Standoffs are 2mm. The leading edge is made from the same material as the main sail (Chikara) with localised patches of Dacron around the spar cutouts. There is a kevlar reinforced Velcro tail fastening, a Dacron patch where the upper spreader crosses the spine and a kevlar reinforced nose which features the “Ram Air” stiffening as seen on other kites in this range.

The leading edge connectors are from APA (different sizes for upper and lower spreaders) and the wingtip nocks are of the FSD enclosed type for a smooth wingtip. The leading edges and trailing edge leech line are tensioned by long hanging lines that must be wound onto the nocks.

It is not uncommon for Peter Betancourt’s kites to win prizes at kitemaking competitions. That is to say, his _customers’_ kites. Whilst the very top manufacturers turn out some very well made kites they really do not match up to the craftsmanship that this kite displays. You will search in vain for errors, flaws and disappointments but just looking is worthwhile to reveal the intelligent and elegant solutions to kitemaking apparent in this kite. Having a hand signed dedication to yourself on the kite plus the whole air of quality, attention to detail and beauty adds a sense of occasion to every flight. A kite made for YOU, rather than #2143.

The wind range for this kite is roughly from 3 to 20mph. At the bottom end the kite is easily overcontrolled and at the top end very fast indeed (plus you worry for the consequences for that applique if things do go wrong). A usable range is more likely 5 to 15mph. In general 80# line will suffice but moving up to 200# for the top end may give benefits in making the experience a little less manic. The initial qualities that I noticed where the kite’s snappy acceleration and oversteer. It should be noted that “oversteer” is a characteristic and NOT necessarily a fault. In this kite’s case it is part of its personality. It is quite predictable, controllable and allows plenty of groundwork, which the frame is well capable of withstanding. The very rigid frame makes for a responsive kite which can cut reasonable figures but it demands constant attention to avoid wandering lines and overcooked turns.
The flat sail (by current design trends) accelerates and decelerates quickly, making for sharp stall entry and exits. It also allows slack line manouvres (Axels, etc.) to be executed with great speed. Fades can slip away quite quickly but are easy to enter from a Split Axel. Like many flatter kites it seems to have a natural recovery position onto its back when/if things go a little wrong so easy Turtle recoveries and Lazy Susans are a welcome addition to this kite’s abilities.

Although it is possible to form the nose of the kite with the “Ram Air” fixture it is difficult to notice any substantial in-flight difference in handling and it always seems to be in the same position at the end of a flying session anyway. I would class this kite as a recreational, entertaining kite for an experienced hand. Both as a competition kite and for beginners I would be put off by the speed and sensitivity to small control inputs.

I am concerned that when/if the leading edge and leech line tensioners wear out this will be a difficult replacement job. The lack of reinforcement along the whole of the leading edge seems like an unusual choice in a kite that otherwise seems so well suited to groundwork. Getting the kite down flat (Pancaked) takes a lot of practice and movement, even in lower winds. This makes some tricks difficult to accomplish the “book” way but encourages experimentation into getting there via a different approach. The lack of instructions is a disappointment. Some words on the bridle would certainly be appreciated.

A beautifully made, hand crafted recreational kite that offers some challenge to master and lots of entertainment. It would make a fine choice for anyone who appreciates quality and artistry and simply wishes to enjoy their flying on many levels.

Originally posted to rec.kites (in 2000).

The kite comes in a full length mesh bag with a small but informative leaflet. A velcro strap to keep the kite rolled up when stored is included.

The Outsider is similar to the preceding T2 in that it has a square nose angle and reasonably straight leading edges but differs in that it has a significantly shortened spine and has two set of inboard standoffs in addition to wingtip stretchers coming off the leading edge. The bridle is dynamic but can be switched to static if required (this conversion and bridle tuning is covered well in the instructions). The sail has six panels, symmetrical and aligned to the leading edge. The applique pattern is overlayed but the sail material behind the applique is not removed to eliminate the possibilty of uneven sail stretch.
(The “standard” kite is a twelve panel design with an extra line of three smaller panels running along the leading edge.)

The sail is in Icarex with the applique in Carrington K42. The framing is mainly in ProSpar 6mm apart from the lower
spreaders which are Avia G-Force SUL. Dacron reinforcements are used for the standoff connection to the trailing edge, the sail stretcher pockets, on the spine where the upper spreader crosses and from the base of the spine to the lower spreader T-piece. The nose is reinforced with dacron and webbing. The base of the spine is tensioned with a velcro loop. The leading edge connectors and the standoff fittings are from APA, the highest quality availible. Only the T-piece looks a little unusual, being a carbon rod held in place with looped O-rings. The rubber band retainer for the sail stretchers is a thoughtful touch.
The leading edges are attached to wingtip nocks with elastic bands through hot cut holes in the leading edge tunnels. The nocks are drilled to take the Active Trick Line (with a bungee centre section) which is also supported with lines from the outer standoffs. There is no leech line in the trailing edge (it is quite tight enough not to need one).

Airdynamics make hand-crafted kites and whilst the overall quality is very high, such as in the seams, there are a few small details that show this “hand made” aspect. There is, however, nothing that could be viewed as severe as a fault.

The rated wind range for this kite is 3 to 20mph. This seems realistic, although the kite is under achieving at its low end. It certainly requires 5mph plus in order to begin to appreciate its true qualities. Towards the top end it may be necessary to fit one set of the optional brakes. With mesh brakes fitted between the outer standoffs and the spine the Outsider was comfortable at 20mph and flew exactly as it had been at 10mph without the brakes.
I would class this kite as an advanced all-rounder, perhaps even a “Freestyler”. Certainly if it were flown just as a tricks kite or just as a figures kite it would be wasting a considerable amount of this kite’s abilities in either direction. I have yet to discover a notable weakness in the kite’s flight.
As befits a kite designed for Masters’ Class competition the Outsider has some outstanding flight characteristics. It is extremely stable in a Side Slide, for instance, with the kite remaining upright and moving at speed sideways (not always an easy to find combination). It offers remarkable stability in a Fade also and can be put into and held in this position with ease. It does not really seem to be an out-and-out Precision kite but is accurate in turns and tracks well. Backspins are present and correct for those who wish to.
Fortunately it is highly tunable, via both bridle and standoff position, so if the factory setting is not quite to your liking it can be “tweaked” accordingly. Again, the extensive details in the instructions are of great benefit in this respect.

The leading edge tensioners are very tight and troublesome to fit and remove. The rubber bands could easily be lost or damaged and the difficulty in using them makes breaking the kite down tiresome. The velcro around the base of the spine is quite narrow and can be pulled off the spine after a crash.

A hand crafted, high performance, all round stunt kite. It would make a fine choice for the individual competitor (add the brakes for full wind range in one kite). An excellent choice for those who enjoy experimenting with their kites in view of the adjustability.

Originally posted to rec.kites (in 1999).

The Catalyst comes in a heavyweight, strapped kite bag but has not a single word of instruction included. Whilst this kite is aimed at those who should be able to set up the kite themselves without error it seems to be foolhardy not to put in at least a few words on the kite and, perhaps, some on safety as well. Preferably a list of spar types, lengths and bridle dimensions would also be included.
A fairly high aspect ratio wing with four stand offs, all set quite inboard (these are sail stand offs, not just wingtip stretchers). The stand offs are not adjustable for position. The spine is not cut short but reaches down to nearly the level of the wingtips, giving the kite a near three point stance. The leading edge is curved along its entire length and the lower
spreaders are heavily distorted also which leads to the wingtips curving back considerably. When the kite lies flat down along its spine the wingtips stand well clear of the ground. In traditional InVento style the upper spreader is “soft tied” to the spine with a rubber O-ring. The bridle is of a dynamic design, with independent adjustability along the outhauls and inhauls via excellent locking Prusik knots. The bridle line has pen marks at the factory settings. The sail pattern is symmetrical about the spine and has a wingtip panel, a central trailing edge panel, a near spine trailing edge panel and a large main body panel. In all, a nine panel sail.
The sail is Ventex, a ripstop polyester, with full length leading edge reinforcement in dacron. Unusually the centre panel along the length of the spine is also dacron. The entire length of the trailing edge has an overlay of mylar on the back of the sail. The nose is reinforced in webbing and the base of the spine has a velcro loop. As may be appreciated from the above the each half of the sail is reinforced and stiffened around its complete circumference but with the lightweight material forming the majority of the sail itself. The stiffening of the trailing edge allows it to be used as a structural member (in tension) to maintain the sail form. The frame is Avia 0.23″ (5.8mm) pultrude except for the lower spreaders which are Avia G-Force SUL taper wound. The SULs lie between the standard and UL in weight/stiffness.
Leading edge connectors are APA, which are about the best things going at the moment. The lower spreader-to-spine connection is handled with a solid carbon rod glued to one spreader passing through a small moulded fitting on the spine. The stand offs attach to the sail with a clip that goes around the trailing edge of the sail and to the spreader by locating into soft rubber cups. Leading edge and spine connectors have split ring stoppers glued to restrict movement. There is no leech line in the trailing edge (no need due to the stiffening mylar) and no anti-fouling line between the wingtips, although the possibility to fit one is there if needed. The leading edges attach to the sail with stiff dacron line loops, rather than elastic bungee, to distort the leading edges.
The impression given by this kite is of excellent and appropriate materials put together capably. There were no flaws on my kite but this is clearly a production line kite rather than on that was individually crafted. The distinction that I would make is “product” rather than “craft”. The use of reinforcements all around the sail gives it a substantial look and feel.

Buena Vista rate the wind range of this kite as 4 to 20 mph. It is no lightweight but the low end can be extended a little by “pumping” the lines although the kite has very little feel and has a very narrow wind window. 360′s on short lines are no problem. At the top end the speed and pull are considerable. Taking traditional “tight line” flying first, there is some oversteer apparent in the kite, noticeable mainly on tight and fast turns. The Catalyst needs steering out of turns as much as it needs steering into them to maintain crisp control. Snappy angles are really not this kite’s forte at all. They are do-able but do not come easily or smoothly. Large, carved turns are nice and controlled. The pre-stressed frame makes the kite very responsive with a feel of very little wasted effort or slurring of the control inputs. This kite is not inherently precise but it can be flown with precision due to its crisp response.
As with many higher aspect ratio kites it is disturbed by gusty or changeable winds, accelerating and slowing appreciably with considerable pull when travelling fast. This feature of its flight, however, becomes a plus in steady winds where it shows excellent speed control and can be slowed to a crawl or accelerated to high speed remarkably quickly. As for basic tricks (Axel, Flat Spin) this kite has absolutely no problems and although the lack of a trick line may be a concern initially wraps occur infrequently once acclimatized to the kite. The kite is nicely balanced and can be set into spiraling dives
by moving under the kite when at the top of the wind window and starting an exaggerated down turn.
The frame is tough enough for aggressive groundwork and not so pre-stressed that it cannot accept some deformation on impact. The most notable feature of this kite’s flight is its readiness to pitch back and forwards for moves such as Turtles, Flic-Flacs and for getting into Fades. These moves can be thrown in very quickly and the stiff structure of the kite allows accurate control within the move, allowing extended tricks (Flat Spin to 540 to 900 to …) and making combinations easy to knit together.
Given that no two people can usually agree on what constitutes “freestyle” flying, this kite could well be described as a freestyle kite. It has excellent abilities in both tight and slack line flying. It can happily be flown on line lengths from 10m to 30m and offers a lot of performance in a wide variety of flying styles.
The lack of any information is a serious omission, even if this kite is aimed at competent fliers. The stand off fittings on the sail are straight edged and protrude some way back from the sail. They make a tempting hook-up point for lines when the kite is flipped all over the place. The bridle inhaul can catch on the velcro tail and is difficult to release from this position.
There is, however, one major problem with this kite. The look. If you were thinking of terms to describe it you might come up with “functional”, “austere” or perhaps “Bauhausian” but the word that springs most readily to my mind is “plain”. It woefully undersells the kite. No-one will give it a second glance amongst some of its more eye catching rivals, which is a great pity.
The Buena Vista Catalyst is nicely made, very high performance kite. It combines several novel construction solutions and has a feeling of solidity and durability. Its highly responsive nature means that you get out all that you put in. To even get close to this kite’s limits requires a skilled flier. But….as it stands it is like a beige Ferrari. The performance is there but something is horribly wrong with the look of the thing. Many people will mistake this kite for its sister kite, the Feather but
whilst minimalist sail patterns might be acceptable in an indoor kite for weight reasons they it looks like a sales liability for this kite. For now the Catalyst is an excellent all rounder kite for the advanced flier but a bit of a left field choice given the current opposition.

Originally posted on rec.kites (in 1998).

The sail is made from eight panels of fabric laid out in a symmetrical and functional rather than decorative pattern. The trailing edge is held by substantial main standoffs and small outboard battens that ensure tension and near silent flight (at least in a straight line)without the need for a leech line within the seam. Although it features quite a “square” nose angle the deep trailing edge cut aways means that the Dharma has very finely tapered and thin wingtips with a trick-line fitted between the them and the base of the spine. The lower spreaders are placed quite high along the spine. The bridle is a conventional 3-leg design with the fixed line running to the lower leading edge, simple to adjust (although this is not really necessary) and made from dacron-sleeved dyneema. It is possible to change this quickly to a dynamic bridle should this be better suited to your flying style. Spars are application specific with Epsilon for the upper leading edges, upper spreader and spine and incredibly resilient kevlar reinforced spars for the lower leading edges and lower spreaders. Thus the frame is light where it can be and robust where it needs to be. Quality of manufacture throughout is quite simply superb with not even a suggestion of flaws in the seamwork and top quality materials used all-round.

The first aspect of the Dharma SP’s flight behaviour that is noteworthy is the low minimum windspeed needed for comfortable flight. I would rate this kite as flyable in 4 mph, which is quite an achievement for a kite without any pretenses to being an ultra light or lacking in reinforcement. The upper limit is of the order of 20 mph but once the kite begins to travel too quickly it would be wise to install the (optional) air brakes. These add drag directly to the kite, have little effect on the handling and remove the need for bridle adjustments. With these in places you can fly in the same style, doing the same moves at 20 mph as you were at 6 mph with the same kite. The leaflet included by Airdynamics recommends 50lb line for light winds, 80lb for most of the wind range and 150lb for the upper end but I have found that 80lb line is fine right across the wind range. Pull is only moderate which allows fast hand speed for snappy moves and tricks but still provides enough feedback on the lines to keep the flyer informed as to what’s going on. The precision elements of good tracking and turnrate consistency are present and correct with this kite. It is does not pretend to be a challenger for the title “World’s Most Precise Kite” but it is more than acceptable. Stalls are very clean and involve very little rotation of the kite back on the lines. This allows the kite to be stopped quickly at any point in the wind window with just a fast push forward but Turtles, Pancakes, etc. need much more work. The stalls are extremely easy to maintain and the Dharma exits cleanly from them
as well. Tricks such as Axel and Flat Spin variations are easily achieved and controlled. However the Dharma is extremely stable and is not really suited to FlicFlac style moves. A Fade ? Yes. A Yo-yo ? Probably not.

The use of kevlar reinforced spars for the bottom half of the kite means that groundwork is markedly less traumatic than with some other kites. The leading edge can accept considerable deformation and this feature can be used in developing new moves. A heavy handed Spike or Stab will flex the leading edge and the subsequent release of this flex will throw the kite back up into the air by several feet. This kind of Wingtip Spring is easily controlled and varied. Takeoffs both from the leading edge and from a belly down position are straightforward. The really impressive aspect of the Dharma’s performance is the way that Precision and Tricks flying can be integrated smoothly together. Mid figure you can just pop a trick and continue on without clumsy setup moves or untidy exits.
The Dharma is another entry into the “does anything well” category of kites and as such is facing a lot of competition for recognition in a crowded section of the marketplace. It gains attention initially by being quite exceptionally well made and with an unusual “long legged” appearance. Its flight characteristics lend itself easily to a “Freestyle” or improvisational flying style, mixing figures with tricks. Intended for those flyers who have progressed beyond the basics of flying it still represents at fine choice for very advanced and demanding flyers.

Originally posted to rec.kites (in 1997).

Introduced in early 1999 the Area 51 has a well deserved reputation as a Backspin monster. Quite simply it excels at them and all manner of alternates and variations. Dream up a slant on the Backspin and the Area 51 will do it. Rising, falling, sideways on – yup. It’ll happily offer up two rotations per “pop” as well so it’s perfect for the lazier flyer.

But it’s not just a one trick pony by any means. It drops neatly onto it’s back for Susans, flips neatly to string Ladders together and Axels with little effort. All in all it hands out tricks very nicely. And usually with no little speed. You can slow it down with small, considered inputs but where’s the fun in that ?

However…. at only 6′ and with a were- you- drinking- when- you- dreamt- this- up-? bridle it can be rather touchy. Coming to this kite after a full-sized Fury is a major mind freak. You fly it from the elbows, not the shoulders. It’s very easy to over power it too; sometimes revealing an interesting move, sometimes yanking the poor beast clean from the sky. Without the build to handle Yoyo’ed flight (LE covers, stoppers/roll bars) and with plenty of snaggy points to catch lines if you do manage to pull off some Yoyo moves without problems you shouldn’t bother buying a lottery ticket ‘cos you’ve used up all your luck for one day.

It took me a while to hit and hold a stable Fade. Whilst it’s very easy to flip and spin this kite, it does mean that it’s sometimes a touchy beast to stop doing these things for a while.

Curiously the Area 51 seems to be easier to pull into a downwards Yoyo (ie; as a Crazy Copter setup) than over rotating a Backflip. Given that a messed up trick often results in a face plant too I suspect this is a “feature”.

Nicely if unspectularly put together with an Icarex sail hanging off a 5.5mm Exel Pultrude frame the kite has two major design features: one is the Active bridle, complete with Flux Capacitor (a tristar linkage) and a line joining the outer leg to the base of the spine, the second is a flat carbon piece that gives the effect of a double standoff sail profile with only a single standoff per side. It’s a shame that the reinforcement in this region isn’t more neatly done as it’s a line trap.

Overall it’s a clever kite.

Even given what a hugely fun kite this is (and it really is) I’m already thinking about modifying it (shameful, isn’t it ?). With some tidying up of the snags points and something to let the yoyos settle in place…… maybe a tweaked frame too…..

Some people are never satisfied.

There really should be a lot more of these on the second hand market as they sold quite well (I thought). Well worth picking one up when/if they become available by anyone looking for a capable and overall entertaining little kite, maybe as a counterpoint to the more serious and technical modern kites.

Originally posted on Fractured Axel.

This one is framed throughout in SkyShark 3PT with a fabric LE. It uses Peter’s usual Hi-Pro X-Turbo Bridle, which means a dynamic bridle that attaches to the opposite lower spreader and where the bridle legs crossover they are knotted together.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – no-one sews a better kite than Betancourt. No-one matches him for traditional kite making skills. Anyone with an appreciation for stitchwork will appreciate this man’s products. Some of his colour and patterning have drawn a mixed response but this one is in a highly unusual mix of green shades and it really works very well, especially when backlit.

Of course….. kite design is another matter. With a high aspect ratio, a wide outboard single standoff per side, a trick line that runs from wingtip to wingtip via the tail and a flat sail this kite shows it’s age and then some. It’s very reminiscent of a Stranger…. from 1994.

Detailing is neat in a retro sort of way. No fancy covered LE cutouts just a small dacron reinforcement. Adequate beefing up everywhere it is needed. Nice fittings. But you do have to deal with the wingtip tensioning setup – a loooooong drop line sewn into the sail that you have to pull like a bugger to tension the sail correctly then wind onto the nock. It’s a pain.

In the air it’s continues with the I Love The Nineties theme. It’s long been a feature of Betancourt kites that they feature Old School FLAT axels and 540s. It’ll hold a steady Fade and Flic-Flics acceptably. You really can slip into a very mellow groove with this kite.

But….

Backspins really aren’t on the cards. The trickline makes Lazy Susans very hit and miss. Yoyos and every trick that springs from it are probably off limits unless you have Herculean determination.

I can see why this was a favoured Ballet kite in the USA comp. scene back when it was new-ish. It’s predictable, reasonably precise and does what it does with a nice feel. In today’s market though it is well off the pace. I’ll be flying this one for the way it does things, not the range of things it does.

All in all it’s a beautiful relic, a nostalgic throwback.

Originally posted on Fractured Axel.

This was one of those now deceased beasties – a Team kite. If you’re really feeling at a loose end it’s possible to remove details from the design and get right back to the Grand-daddy of Team kites, the Hawaiian Team but it packs in a whole lot of stuff into one kite.

Framed up in Revolution’s own Advantage rods it weighs a surprising 345g despite being truly FULL sized and in addition to that extra kitelet at the base of the spine also has nearly full length battens in the wings. It also features a reverse turbo bridle… of sorts. Adjustment takes place at the pickup point so setting it light means it’s a three point, heavier makes it more reverse-turbo-y.

As befits a kite for competition it is wholly without nasty surprises in flight. It’s slow, turns consistently and always does the same thing, time after time. It does have a few nice surprises though – it can be tricked. Axels are how they used to be (flat and full) despite predating the move, Fades look like you’re being attacked by a slightly festive stealth bomber and it will Backspin up the wind window. But it does repeatedly catch lines in all that trailing edge dental work… or on the standoff rudders…. or around the vinyl fittings. Frequently several at the same time come to think of it. Tricking this kite is the sort of thing you do, find out what it’ll do then never do again.

Oh yes…. it can also defy gravity. No, really. Like I said it is slow but it is always slow. It travels at the same speed in a dive as in a climb. It only stops flying right at the edge and then it just plain stops.

Which at least means the noise stops It sounds like it’s on fire most of the time.

Is it better than today’s kites ? No. But it is fun, makes a nice change of pace and allows me to polish up some shrivelled skills that used to be important.

And to finish off; it sold from $325 in the USA, �300 in the UK, I’ve only ever seen them in this colour scheme and the plan was published in Skywork Experience 3 (which I have and can lend if asked).

Originally posted on Fractured Axel.