Steve Jenkins

Gee I sure hope so. It seems like every time it's windy (and warm) enough to take a kite in the yard and fly a while, all I do is get frustrated. I went out the day after Christmas (64 degree high in central Ohio!) for about two hours and brother, was it gusty! Made it very difficult to perform smooth, controlled movements. At times low wind and then whoosh, just pulling me forward a step. Nothing at all like the consistent coastal breeze I experienced at Atlantic Beach where I first learned to fly a Rev in September. The last time out I was TRYING to do horizontal slides across the window, but if anyone would have been watching me it certainly wouldn't have been apparent what the heck I was trying to do. Don't get me wrong, I was still having fun, and I do have more "overall control" as I gain more experience, but I sure see a lot of video where I'm left thinking, "I sure wish I could do that". I have been following the discussion with one of the other newbies about leaders, knots, adjustments, various frames and whatnot, but so far I don't even mess with all that stuff. Not because I don't think it won't change anything, but rather I don't think I have the experience to detect the difference! When it's not very breezy I fly my SLE with the lighter frame, and when the wind is stronger I flt my vented B series. I figure until I get more experience there probably is more to be gained by just flying, than to spend all my time messing with frames and knots. BTW, if all this sounds incorrect, please set me straight..... after all..... I am new to this.

Wow, it sure is! Really nice looking, too. What's the leading edge length on that one, I'm guessing maybe 125".

It doesn't seem fair to hang a title of "Newbie" on someone who can fly like that!!!

Way to go! Progress for sure! I also went out late Friday for about 90 minutes, but unlike you, I didn't learn a thing! And believe me, I still have a lot to learn! It was a fantastic day, windy and a high of 73 degrees. I figured it would probably be the last really nice day until spring. I did get a chance to fly a new kite however (briefly). I picked up my grandson right after school and helped him with the kite I gave him for his birthday, a Prism Quantum. I really liked it.... I may have to put that on my Christmas list. I really should have spent the whole day trying to improve my kite flying skills but spent most of the day in my workshop working on another project (building a new welding table). I love flying kites but i'm not a hard core flier like many on this forum, I just have too darned many interests! The week before I built a small LP gas fired forge because i'd like to try my hand at blacksmithing / knife-making. Some days there just aren't enough hours in the day.

I broke an outer rod while in Atlantic Beach on my SLE just after changing to the lighter frame. I didn't realize that the sections weren't fully engaged and it put too much stress on the end section and it cracked, only about 3/8 of an inch however. John said just flip it around and put the cracked end on the outboard side. I did and it worked. He also suggested repairing it with a wooden dowel rod when I returned home. I have since repaired it and it's holding up fine. I cut off the damaged end and sanded it flat. Then I turned down an appropriately sized dowel rod to fit the inside diameter of the carbon rod, trimmed it in length, then epoxied it in place. Worked great! Just don't try to put the repaired end in the middle .

Very, very impressive. I've watched it at least a half a dozen times and I still keep wondering, "how on earth does he do that"? How long of lines are you using? I'm guessing only 15 or 20 feet.

AMEN, April. That was exactly my sentiment on Atlantic beach last month when two people set up camp directly under where I was flying. I was quite a distance from the rest of the group for a good reason, brand new to the Rev! I'm going out to fly in a bit, we have 15-17 mph winds today in central OH. I gave it a shot yesterday with the kite I bought my grandson for his birthday (Prism Quantum), but it was too light to really have fun. This afternoon will be a big improvement.

AMEN, April. That was exactly my sentiment on Atlantic beach last month when two people set up camp directly under where I was flying. I was quite a distance from the rest of the group for a good reason, brand new to the Rev! I'm going out to fly in a bit, we have 15-17 mph winds today in central OH. I gave it a shot yesterday with the kite I bought my grandson for his birthday (Prism Quantum), but it was too light to really have fun. This afternoon will be a big improvement.

Makatakam, sounds like excellent advice! I'm still very much a beginner with only about 15 hours total on a Rev, INCLUDING the weekend I was at the NC kite clinic in Sept. It was an incredibly enlightening, enjoyable experience. I have been dying to get out and practice some more, it's been 3 weeks since I even touched a kite (just returned from vacation last night). I'm hoping it will be like riding a bike in that once you have learned you never forget. JB's a great instructor.... he never laughed at me, not even once

I got the Ice (blue) color. Normally I consider red my favorite color but I also am attracted to blue, purple, black combinations as well. All of the available colors were attractive however.

Upon the recommendation of several of you, I ended up ordering the Prism Quantum. I'm on vacation this week so we haven't had a chance to fly it yet but I'll keep you posted when we do. Thanks to everyone who replied.

Very nice indeed. I think I would enjoy making a kite. I know my way around a sewing machine alright. I think I'll start as soon as I complete the slanted baffle down sleeping bag kit that I started in 1973, 43 years and counting!

Of course they have. It's due to all the good free publicity you have given them

Amazing!!! Just when I feel like I'm making a little progress, I see something like this! It's taken me all week to recover from watching JB fly on the NC beach last weekend. You veteran flyers make it look so easy. Well, to put things in prospective, a month ago I couldn't even spell Revolution and now I own three of them.

Obviously the LE reinforcement tabs is a very good idea. Of course, this got me thinking...... seeing how we have probably 6 sewing machines in the house (my wife quilts, need I say more). About two weeks ago I was with my wife in the local Jo-Ann Fabric store and I started looking for something suitable to use for reinforcement tabs. The only thing I could find that looked about right was some black 1" wide nylon strapping, like you might use for straps on a bag. OK, now the big question. Is this the type of material used when you do the LE mods, or are you using some super fantastic, limited production substance that's only available to individuals with at least a dozen World Championships to their credit?

Right you are! But yes, I was aware of the Detroit clinic, and it would have been my first choice. However we are going to be on vacation in Yellowstone that week. Maybe next time I can make it.

OK, thanks for the comment. I'll take a look at that the next time it comes out of the bag. They didn't seem terribly loose, but I believe a bit tighter wouldn't hurt.

Thanks for the offer. I drink just about anything other than beer. Can't stand the stuff. I wish I did like it....it seems like most any event I go to has plenty. I can handle diet, caffeine free or good old sugar. I'm not wild about Dr. Pepper though, it reminds me too much of the cherry flavored cough syrup mom gave me as a little kid.

I have a Prism Micron with a broken leading edge connector. I ordered replacements and they arrived today. I didn't think it would be very difficult to replace it. However, I'm not sure how to remove the leading edge (.098 carbon rod). On first inspection it appeared that I could just bend it a bit and pop it out of the "pocket" at the back of the wing. I can't seem to get it free though. Am I thinking about this all wrong? Will I just have to use a seam ripper to remove the the stitches at the back of the sail to free it, then sew it back up when completed? You would think if I can repair a half a million dollar high speed copier that I could handle this. I just thought there might be a correct and incorrect way.

You made me laugh! I'm thinking it's a good thing I bought the 1.5 SLE with that jumbo size leading edge!

Ok, Thanks. That's what I suspected. But a 10 hour drive after wrapping up at 7 would have me driving ALL night! It's just most of the night this way.

On the description page for the NC Clinic it lists the time as 10:00 to 4:00, but on the KiteLife calendar it shows it as 1:00 to 7:00. I'm guessing that 10-4 is correct?

i have been thinking about going to that clinic, but I have no experience. I just bought my first Rev 1.5 SLE and it arrived Monday. I have been watching the weather there very closely, trying to decide. It's probably a 10 hour drive for me so I'm considering it, but cautiously. Thanks for the up close and personal update..

I see you have a Micron. I have one that I bought probably 20 years ago on vacation in Wisconsin at a kite shop in Fish Creek. Fast little sucker! I tried flying it about 10 days ago and discovered that one of the upper leading edge connectors broke, I'm guessing from old age. I ordered replacements and they just came in the mail today. I's laying on the floor beside me waiting to be repaired, but I can't type worth a crap (SLOW) so I still have not repaired it.

I am aware of that, I watched your video a couple of hours ago. Very nice, you can do things I am not capable of....or my kite isn't. I like to think it's the kite (but I know better). It's quite old and I know that most of today's kites are capable of much more....but that doesn't mean that I am. Until two weeks ago, I hadn't flown a kite in years, many years. So I'm just getting back into it. I just bought a Rev 1.5 SLE that was delivered Monday, but it's been calm all week. Today was the first day that I was able to take it out and humiliate myself. I have never attempted to fly a quad before today. You don't see ME posting any video do you!!! I spent about as much time on the ground as I did in the air! I popped the end tension caps out of the leading edge probably 25 times. I was actually beginning to get the hang of it by later in the afternoon. Not good, but a start.