Hadge

50' lines are fine for the 4D - it doesn't seem to like lines any longer ( in fact with experience it works better on even shorter lines). For general trick flying 80'- 100' @ around 100lb - 150lb breaking strength. The Hypnotist comes with (I think) 150lb lines ready to fly.

If you have very low winds then the 4D will keep you flying virtually down to 0mph with a bit of leg work but by 6-7mph you will need to be putting another kite on your lines ( the 4D can be flown in more than this but it's way too fast and twitchy to be pleasent). It's well made and comes with a very nice case - a really nice overall package. It would probably be worth getting a centre tee ( though the new one is supposed to be stronger than the one that was fitted to the early kites) and maybe a couple of leading edge ferrules - it will only be a few $, I got a set of fittings sent to the UK and it was less than $20 with shipping. The spars are solid micro carbon so they're very tough, not easy to break. The Hypnotist would be a good first choice, it's well made, able to do a lot of tricks and it's pretty tough.It also comes with a good set of lines and ( I believe) the Prism training DVD.

Check your messages.

Yes I know what you mean - the SWMBO effect ( She Who Must Be Obeyed). The 4D is a good kite for no wind days but it can be a bit quick and twitchy. Wait until a few of the other guys come along and see what they say. By the way, if you get hooked, kite flying is extremely addictive! ( Tip - buy kites of the same colour and get them shipped to work or a friend and she may not notice your kite bag is getting bigger )

A decent 'standard' kite will fly from around 5mph - some a little lower. I would be careful of getting an Ultralight as your first good kite as they can be fragile especially in the hands of a beginner. If you really have to get an ultralight something like the Prism 4D will fly in almost no wind and has a frame that will take some abuse but it's not that tricky and not a kite I'd really recommend for a beginner. There may well be someone close to you who can give you a couple of lessons and let you try a few kites. Buy good lines you can still use them when you get a better kite.

Hi Dave, welcome to the forum. I'm not familiar with the Premier Vertigo but from your photos it looks like a basic entry level kite - fibreglass rods, dacron line. It will do circles, squares and basic flight but I wouldn't think you will get it to trick. That said it would be ideal to learn launches, landings and basic kite control and once you have that you can start looking for something a bit more capable. If you want to do tricks then you need to be looking at something 7'-8' across with a carbon fibre frame, you also need to look at Dyneema or similar lines which don't stretch like Dacron. I won't make any suggestions as you have a much better choice of kites over there than we have in the UK and I'm sure someone will soon come along who can advise better than me. You need to decide roughly how much you want to spend - a basic trick capable kite is probably going to start around $100 going up to silly money for something really exotic. Ask lots of questions here before you buy and I'm sure you'll get good advise.

......Tactics, all down to superior tactics........possibly what you might call the 'Ainslie' effect?..... :ani_whistling: ......exits stage right tongue firmly in cheek......................... Seriously well done to all!

I'll assume you meant "WRITE" OFF.............not "RIGHT" OFF Whoops!!......comes of having the wife hassling me to come for supper while composing a reply!!!

You mean that's not normal (?).............Heck, I call myself, a little bit above, the "zero experience" level, but I tell you, on Friday during one of those 25+ mph gust, I took a full speed, direct nose-dive into the ground, with the Delta Hawk. All I did was take my eyes off of it for one second, but it was the wrong second to look away. Before I even realized what had happened, the kite had bounced backwards, off of the ground. I was figuring that it was probably totaled, and still being a bit out-of-sorts, and out done by the crash (I'm not supposed to do that), before I could ever regain control, somehow, it had flipped over, and was on the way back skyward. I probably did one of those strange dual line tricks during the process, and I didn't even know it. I suppose my thought process was running just a second or two behind, the kite that day, but conditions were a bit harsh, to say the least.................Did I mention that the Delta Hawk is fast ? Whew! (Oh, and the only thing that was hurt, was my pride) The Delta Hawk is one tough kite!! I've crashed mine many times - as you say, it only takes a second of inattention - and every time it ( literally) bounces back into the air! The only time I've actually broken it was when it hit a set of goalposts at full speed, mid window in a 25mph wind and shattered a leading edge! any other kite would probably have been a right off.

As I understand it, th Smithi has some sort of one way valve system designed into the cells that allows it to perform the moves it does. I haven't flown one, but it's on my list of kites I'd like to get at some point and my local kiteshop stocks them!.

I don't know how easy it would be to get hold of in the States, but you want to look at the Spiderkites Smithi. It's a 4 line frameless foil kite but the way the cells are designed allows it to do far more than a 'normal' foil - up to point it can be flown sort of like a Rev* - it can stop inches from the ground, fly backwards, and lots more stuff a normal foil can't. *( I'm now putting on my tin helmet ready for incoming from the Rev fliers!! )

A lot of folks seem to struggle to get 'C' clips off in one piece - here is a quick 'How to' of an easy way to do it.

Andre, Would the small version of the Project 3.14 be a fairly easy first speed kite to build and fly? I'm thinking it might be a good winter project for the dark nights!

I told you you'd like it!! not technically a speedkite but a heck of a lot of fun! Nursing a sore shoulder today after a bit too long flying mine yesterday!

Can you put any links to some of the plans? - I had a quick search online but couldn't really find any in the usual places.

I know a lot of folks complained about the standoff fittings splitting - mine has been fitted with Jacos - otherwise apart from a nose repair before I got it ( it has had a hard life) it has stood up very well, original frame, original fitting (though they are a bit cut up now) original bridle ( apart from one leg that wore through). Sail still looks good.

Speedkites do seem to be a European thing - even here in the UK interest in Speedkites is tiny - you either fly trick/precision style deltas or powerkites (foils). This is a shame as when the wind is too strong for standard kites I would have thought a speedkite would be a fun alternative to 'vented' standards which I've found never really seem to work. I usually fly my Deltahawk ( which I know isn't a proper speedkite) and have a lot of fun with it. I think the problem in America is getting hold of them at a reasonable price - most are going to have to come from Europe which is going to be expensive. I know they can get the HQ Fazer range ( again not really a proper Speedkite) but otherwise I can't think of any they can get without privately importing. Maybe if there was an online plan for an easy build/ easy fly 'starter' Speedkite that a few could build it might get an interest started?

Oooooh.........I have to say I haven't flown the Genesis - but the video does look good. I do own a Soul and it's a really really nice kite. Build quality is excellent - better than the Silver Fox range - top quality all through - Icarex sail, APA fittings, full Dynamic frame - and stitching is very nice - I believe that the Soul is made in small batches by selected crew rather than on the FW factory line like the SF's. It's a big kite and quite slow flying, really smooth. Low end is a genuine 5mph - maybe a little less when you get use to it. Top end is high teens but it can pull quite hard by then.It can do any trick you care to throw at it - nice combo's, slow 540's, easy roll up's ( and multis) nice solid fade. Overall it's not a manic trick machine like some of the latest offerings but a good solid all rounder that does everything pretty well. I love mine, but it had a hard life before I got it so it only comes out to play from time to time ( Still looks pretty good though).

I'm not familiar with the Echo, but it there a reason it has to be elastic? if there is no good reason I would replace the elastic with a length of bridle line like this:- http://www.gwtwforum.com/index.php?topic=8003.0 If it does have to be elastic, get a longer piece measure where the knot is going to be and put some beeswax on that section of the elastic to stop it slipping, tie the knot good and tight then cut it off the elastic to length +1/4" and use a cigarette lighter to melt the 2 cut ends together.

Admittedly I was only ordering small parts - end nocks, centre T etc - so it may be stuff like spars are more expensive to ship - Our postal service here in the UK has recently doubled the cost of posting items over 24" which has made a big difference for sending kites or spars. If you are looking for frame spars, I would make my own - you can buy the 2.5mm (0.098") carbon fibre rods from a local RC model shop - they use it for planes and helicopters- and just cut to length. It was just the special fittings that I couldn't get in the UK.

I've just ordered some spare parts for my 4D from the Prism shop. When I got to the online checkout their system wanted over $30 to ship $12 worth of parts to me here in the UK! That seemed like a lot ( my wife regularly get craft stamps from the States and only pays $12-15 shipping at most for a much bigger package). I contacted Prism who explained that the online system quotes postage based on larger items and while small stuff costs less, the system can't adjust so Prism will amend the charges at shipping. I placed my order with the shop - final amount with the higher shipping was around $50. I have just had the payment taken from my bank today - a total of under $20 in total! so shipping charges were about $6 to the UK! I'm happy enough with that!

There use to be an online book on indoor flying you could download but I've just tried the link and it seems to be down. There is this which might help a little. http://www.gkites.com/howtofly/SKM9.pdf

The Kymera is a nice kite designed by John Barresi of this very site! http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/3969-kymera-by-barresi/ Most high end kites don't come with lines as most pilots prepared to pay high end prices have their own preferences in line make - Don't skimp on lines, get something like Spectra or Laser Pro Gold (LPG) or similar. Length of 80' to 100' is usual for trick flying.

The Qpro is a great kite, but it's very different to your Nexus - It was made as a competition kite and need the right sort of inputs to get the best from it - not a kite I'd go for as a first step up. If you want to go with Prism then the E3 or (if your winds are fairly light) the Zephyr would be a better kite to learn tricks on. If you want to go with something else then I see that Amazon also sell HQ kites - Good quality made in Germany. Look at the Maestro 2 - A great kite that will do all the tricks and really nice to fly - I use one all the time - also the Crackerjack is supposed to be very good but I haven't tried that one yet.

I use a Crane Sports fishing rod bag! Big zipped pockets for line sets and bits & pieces, internal dividers and a long pocket for spare spars. I've had it for a few years now and it's wearing well. Best part was it was from a discount store and only cost £12 ($18?).