makatakam

Which state do you live in? There are many kite-making workshops across the country, and they're usually held between February and May. Google should be helpful in finding the one nearest to you.

It would move faster backwards if it had LE venting and would have less tendency to bowtie in reverse. I'm not saying that that it can't do it, just that it takes more finesse and control on the part of the pilot. So once you have really good control of reverse flight with this kite, flying one that has the venting is sooooo much easier. No matter what you do, though, it will be slower without it. That's just pure aerodynamics. An airfoil that has more drag will be slower.

Best advice I've ever gotten -- Just do it! It helped me a lot, so I thought I'd pass it on to you.

Is that a 4-piece leading edge tube? The middle of the kite is probably the highest stress point on the entire kite, so if there's a joint there you will need to reinforce it a lot. The ferrule needs to be both longer to distribute the load over a larger area and stronger to handle any sudden increases in the load. A 9" solid fiberglass internal would probably do the trick. I would also wrap the tubes for about 2" out from the joint to minimize movement and the possibility of splitting. Other option is to relocate all the ferrules to places of less stress.

Pick up an old EXP or SLE on eBay. Sometimes you can find beaters for under $100. Check if anyone has a beater they can part with at festivals. Many have one or two that they would happily get rid of just so they don't have to carry around the dead weight anymore.

Biggest dragonfly wings I've ever seen. Cool!!!!!

Yes -- have built and flown without LE venting. More difficult to control in reverse as the air has a lesser ability to exit the sail. It actually creates an air dam that traps more air at the LE. Becomes dramatically more difficult as the wind speed increases. Holes or a belt-loop style LE are viable options that will keep total weight at a minimum. The reason that doesn't happen on a Supersonic is that the LE is curved towards the back and the air can slide right off. That's why it flies faster in reverse -- minimum drag. Don't get me wrong, the kite will fly without the mesh or other means of dumping air. It just makes it more difficult and less enjoyable as you spend more time fighting the kites tendency to bowtie, especially in stronger wind. If you really want to keep the weight down you can use a belt-loop style LE pocket that is the same material as the sail. However, this leaves a large percentage of the surface of the LE tube exposed, so you have to be careful with how often you allow it to contact the ground and how severely. The photo shows how the LE pocket is just the sail itself folded over and the holes hot cut from the area that is doubled over. The ABS in reverse flight channels air out toward the tips and dumps it there because of the way it is curved.

I usually wear a small or a medium so I'll pass on this one. Oh, wait! I could get me AND a close friend into one. I'll take them.

Now, that's funny!

Lookin' good. Lookin' very good!

Many people expect more from a kite than it can deliver. Remember, every kite is a compromise of characteristics, with the intent of achieving a specific type or style of performance. There is no such thing as one kite that does everything (with the exception of the ones I build, of course). Oops, sorry -- fell asleep and started dreaming there for just a moment. The Jet Stream is a bullet on steroids as far as kites are concerned. Not for everyone.

Yup, same difference, minus the sticks.

Wow! I think that's a first. Such a great prize should have drawn more participants. Congratulations @Ca Ike on the win. Most of the time people pray for this kind of odds.

Congratulations, Nekoshi. I see that you are in Illinois. What area are you in? Should you need a hand, PM me and/or get on the IKE forum. This is a truly great kite. Enjoy it. However, it does not come with lines or handles, so if you need assistance with that let us know.

There is the possibility that you may be much happier on the dark side. It may be worth your while to try it. Soooo much easier to control than a dual-line once you get the hang of it.

I'm just a little behind. 6 waist, 4 inseam.

Must be mine then. I call this one "coal".

Zippered or buttons? (The devil made me do it).

I believe that the "Vicky" has never been produced commercially as it is a specialty kite for extremely high wind and would have very limited demand in the market, even among experienced flyers. Most people head inside when the wind blows at 25mph or higher, although an experienced flyer can probably fly one in wind less than 20mph. Additionally, the kite is difficult to keep aloft in wind less than 25mph because of the response and the feel it has on the lines. The kite is nothing more than a frame wearing a thong and has very little pull even in 30mph wind. I'm not saying don't get one, just understand that you will not use it very often and you may want to get something that you will fly more often. It's no doubt a specialty item that only the diehards who fly very frequently in severe weather will ever have even a slight chance of wearing out in a lifetime. It would probably take JB 20 years to turn one into rags.

Remember the ones you made using tails? You can sew long strips together into a sheet, alternating colors, and cut them into strips across the colors creating 10 to 20 strips that you then sew together to make the sail.

Cool! Is that the first ever quad foil routine ever done? I've never seen one before.

Truth.

I vote progressive. Imagine this -- smaller panels on the smaller kite, larger on the larger. Things look smaller further away, right? That should be an interesting visual effect -- like reverse perspective.

If you build it, he will come. At least, that's what I've heard. Flying shoeless in the sand.

Play with the adjustments. It will definitely have one "sweet spot" that will allow minimum effort. From that point you can tip the nose back a touch to make it trick more easily once you get the hang of tricking indoors. And yes, a dedicated indoor kite is sooooooo much easier.