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Wayne Dowler

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Posts posted by Wayne Dowler

  2. SUL vs Indoor

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    Got any pix?

    I fly just a regular indoor Rev. I really don't enjoy taking it outdoors. It flies very different from any of my outdoor kites.But it does what I need it to do indoors.

    Kites do seem to influence how a person's style develops tho.

  3. Prism Framed Kite

    in General Sport Kite

    Posted

    In the Prism line it is an Ozone (out of production) or the Zephyr. The Zephyr seems to be a well liked, light wind choice here!

    Are you only considering Prism? There are many other manufacturers out there to choose from. But Prism is a known, tried and true brand.  The Kite Shoppe is a good online source, so too are ITW, Kite Connection, A Wind of Change, and Flying Smiles Kites Also offer several in other wind ranges too. Right now on ITW, there are sales on 2 kites - The Hydra and The Kymera. Both are good capable kites in the mid wind range. Nice thing both on sale for just over $100!

     But it all depends on what wind range you want to fly in!

    • Like 1
    • Like 1

  4. Kite buying tips

    in Beginners

    Posted

    The Quantum is a good choice. Strong and robust, able to handle abuse reasonably well. No framed kite is indestructible, so be aware. That said the Quantum is pretty strong.

    Tip:

    If there is no hope of saving the kite in a crash situation - STEP FORWARD, DO NOT PULL! All you do by pulling is drive the kite even harder into the ground! Learn to - Give to the Kite!!! Take all the power out of it. Better to go straighten up your kite after a crash, instead of finding a broken mess of rods and/or torn sail.

    • Like 1

  7. Prism Framed Kite

    in General Sport Kite

    Posted

    I guess my question is - is there a "hole" in your quiver of kites that you want to fill? Low end? Middle? Personally not really into high winds here. Rather go quad if the winds are up.

    A low wind Prism would be the Ozone. Flies when most stuff is grounded. Not a "trick monster" and takes a light hand, but flew in winds my friend's Qpro sul didn't handle. But again, not a trick monster.

    The only other Prism I have really flown was the Alien. Odd little kite with a bent LE. I tend to fly it in slightly higher winds as the design seems to pull less. But again if the winds are up - I grab a vented quad.

    Both are no longer in production and there seems to be a cult of Prism owners that buy almost anything Prism. So keeping your eye on forums like GWTW is key - and having cash at the ready! I've seen kites posted for sale that go in minutes!!!

    • Like 4

  8. New Project - New Mix

    in Kite Making

    Posted

    I guess my worry was over the possible wear caused by the bridle rubbing on the TE. In the pix, it looks like the bridle ends up behind the sail, with the cap in that position, and has to rub the TE. Maybe not in real life? Just an optical thing?

  11. Wind Range??

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    Personally - I didn't get to fly the Djinn in really high wind, so no opinions there. I did fly a Full Vent in way less wind than I normally would, and it performed great. I was in a line leading with the F/V, with a STD and MID behind me! Any minute I expected either to run me over - never happened! I was duly impressed by its performance! No idea on any frame changes, I flew what was in them at the time. Pretty sure it was whatever comes stock. 

    If it gives any frame of reference - I was flying a Phoenix STD or Ashes I believe, when I tried the Djinn.

    • Like 3

  12. Wind Range??

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    "since the wind range overlap is so broad"

    Indeed!! 

    Here is my experience with it .....

    Up at WSIKF one day, John had all 3 versions of the Djinn out for people to try. The std version was always in someone's hands,  so John suggested I try the midvent. I put it up, made a minor adjustment to the top lines and flew a bit. Felt good, but in those light winds, nothing stood out to me as spectacular. After a bit I put it down, told him very nice, and was waiting for the std to come open. Then he says - "Try the full vent." Now I'm skeptical, these winds wouldn't be enough to fly what I use regularly, so I look at him and he says - "Just try it." So I launch it, and am amazed that it can even fly in these winds! Then a strange thing happens - pretty soon I'm leading a line of fliers. Now this may not seem out of the ordinary, as I do this fairly regularly, BUT I"M DOING IT WITH THE FULL VENT!! Any moment, I'm expecting the mid and/or std to run me over!! NOT! Led for quite a bit, put it down, and just shook my head!! Did I just see what I thought I saw??

    OVERLAP?  -  INDEED!!

    • Like 4

  13. Wind Range??

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    Breezin - changing quad frames is extremely simple. Nothing to untie. Just slide out the 3 pieces that make up the LE, put in the new ones, put the caps back on. Changing the verticals is a snap. Some go so far as to completely remove the frame on breakdown. Then they can put in whatever frame they want, given conditions.  It's just that for me (with several kites built for specific wind conditions), it is easier to have favorite sail/frame combos. Then switch sails as conditions change.

    • Like 4

  15. Wind

    in Beginners

    Posted

    Welcome to inland winds! It is hardly ever what the forecast says. That said - if you can fly in those conditions - you can pretty much fly anywhere! Low wind flying is an art, a skill, only learned by doing. Can it get frustrating? You bet. No fun going out , setting up, and not enough wind  to fly. 

    Good equipment helps, or rather the correct equipment. Yes, a light wind kite would work better in the conditions you describe. So will light and/or short lines. But the biggest tool is you! Knowing your gear is part of the battle, but knowing the techniques for low winds is all up to you. And it is only learned by putting your time into it.

    • Like 3

  16. Sail tension on a new Hydra (also new Kymera)

    in General Sport Kite

    Posted

    Weakling!!    LOL!! 

    Unless you got a really tight sail! I had no trouble following the directions for tightening the sail. My only issue was that one side of the bridle was tied wrong and needed redoing. Not really difficult, once I figured out why the sides didn't match. OK now. I also made all my bridle connections come off in the same direction. (Just the quad flier in me). All in all, very happy with it.

    Now to go fly it!!

    • Like 2

  25. Sail tension on a new Hydra (also new Kymera)

    in General Sport Kite

    Posted

    Keeping an eye on this and any updates: just picked up a Hydra yesterday from ITW. Waiting on the mail now! First dual line I have bought in 15 years! Recent festival using my Prism Ozone, got my itch up - needed scratching!!! 

    Did chat with Paul de Bakker about his thoughts on the kite - he felt they have done a good job making this as he designed it.

    So now I wait .........!

    • Like 4
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