makatakam

Yup! Definitely experiment. That's how you learn, and that's also how to improve your skills.

Happy Birthday. Go fly a kite!

I have and fly both. They are two different critters. Your flying style and how you want the kite to respond will determine which is the one to use. Neither one is better than the other, just different. The price reflects the materials used and the wrap pattern, which also account for the differnces in performance. The one thing that is dramatically different is the response time, how quickly it returns from bent to straight. The Diamond frame is much quicker in response, and therefore more suitable for a yank-and-spank flying style than the P90. Both are lightweight, light wind tubes. In wind of 1/2 mph or less, the P90 will require less "pumping" because of the slower response, and will make the kite move more smoothly. The only way to appreciate the difference is to fly both in the same sail in the same conditions. If you are just starting out with quads you will probably not notice much, if any, difference. It doesn't become noticeable until you gain a bit of proficiency in flying very light wind. Once you cease to struggle in a 1/2-mph breeze, the difference will become readily apparent.

They both have the same effect, but accomplish it different ways. Tails and drogues keep it from overflying by adding drag to pull the sail downwind. Tail weights change the angle of attack to a more nose back attitude. Both will reduce or eliminate overflying by not allowing to fly as nearly overhead. Tails and drogues are much prettier, but in a crowded sky, think festival, the weight will keep you out of being part of the tangle.

Things occasionally walk away here in the US also. There's a-holes everywhere, but: My iPhone 6 cost me $300 used. My camera cost me $1500 used. I would rather lose the iPhone. I'm lying about the camera, It's only about $500, but you get the point. I would prefer to lose neither, but you have to take the shot with something. Best way to hang on to either would be to have a friend do the filming. I know some people who have set up the equipment inside a locked vehicle and flown their kite in front of the vehicle, shooting through a window.

The windy part of "Windy City" is actually a reference to its politics and politicians. The winds are typical Midwest garbage, much like what you get in TN most of the time, unless you fly a beach on Lake Michigan on an east wind. Most of the time, it's lumpy, bumpy and shifty, occasionally as much as 180 degrees. If you get up this way, (preferably during the warmer months), send me a PM before you head out and I will make a point of joining you for some flying.

Festivals are a great source of learning experience, and kite flyers are always eager to help (show off). You will learn 10 times as much in one weekend with others as you would learn on your own in 10 weeks. I know, because I "bin der, dun dat". Definitely worth the trip. Get to all you can reach. I used to hit everything I could that was within two to three hours' travel one way. Most videos will show you a lot of moves, which by the time you get to the field are mostly forgotten. I found it helpful to write down one or two of what I wanted to learn on a small piece of paper that I could stick in my shirt pocket as a reference. I could never remember most of what I saw in the video. Easier when you break it down into smaller pieces. Other option, is to put the video on your phone so you can refer to it while flying, though I found that only working on learning one or two new moves per session is the quickest way to learn. Most importantly -- and I realize that everyone wants to do the advanced "really cool stuff" as soon as possible -- if you don't have the underlying basics down pat, (you know, the simple stuff), you will never do more advanced moves well, if at all. Practice the basics every time you fly, at least a couple of reps, and you will learn the new stuff more easily. Flying a stunt kite, whether dual or quad, requires a large amount of muscle memory, which in turn requires a ton of repetition. Devote at least 10% of your time to it.

Another option would be adding weight to the bottom of the spine. A 3-meter delta should handle 1/2 to 3/4 of an ounce easily.

Using laundry will change nothing. That only changes the "stake" location, so to speak. It only shortens the effective length of the flying line. Additional drag will do the trick, as well as tipping the nose of the kite back by moving the bridle point lower. You can also change the attitude of the kite (angle of attack), by varying the tension of the trailing edge. Less tension will increase drag, just as using tails or drogues, but not as dramatically. However, decreasing the tension of the trailing edge will cause it to fray faster. As everything involving aerodynamics, any change you make will be compromise. Improving performance of one characteristic will change that of another, and so on . . . . . You make changes as necessary, and settle for a compromise of what works best.

You'll be able to fly your Jazz in lower wind speeds as your level of experience increases. Remember, if you walk backwards at 4mph in a 6mph wind, you now have a 10mph wind. Bingo! The distance you walk backwards can be recovered by gliding the kite away from you. Repeat. How long have you been flying? Any questions you have about kites can be answered here. The years of experienced advice in this forum are nearly limitless. If you are really into dual-line kites and tricking them, check out the GWTW (Gone With The Wind) forum for additional info, and there is a ton of quad-line info on the Revolution Kites forum also.

Hi, konsman. Welcome to the forum. There's a tab at the top of the page that says "Map". You can check for other flyers in your area, or just hang in there a while and someone will chime in. You can send a PM to those you find to see if they are still active. Good luck and keep on flying. P.S. -- If you will be in the Chicago area anytime, let us know. Looking forward to flying with you some day.

Dinner? I an a fisherman and have used fingerless gloves since the 60's. We used to just cut them and hem. Works well for all cold weather activities that require some manual dexterity. Definitely a plus for those who fly in winter. Today's smartphones have incredibly good cameras, and with an external battery, enough "juice" to record quite lengthy videos. There is not much need for additional expenditure if you already have a decent cell phone.

Is the design patented under either a design or utility patent, or copyrighted by anyone? If not, they can continue making the same panel layout, and even continue calling it the B-Series in recognition of who designed it. The signature, since it will no longer be endorsed, would have to go, but they could still acknowledge the designer(s) of the kite directly on the sail if all parties involved agree to allow production to continue. It would be a shame to force a great design into extinction and deprive those who buy and fly them of the pleasure. If the intent is to artificially inflate the value of existing models and put the purchase price beyond the reach of beginners, then they're on the right track because that is exactly what will happen. Most of those who first witness the precision of a quad-line kite already balk at the idea of spending more than $200, (What? You think I'm gonna spend $200? On a kite? Are you crazy?), and putting a quality design maybe not beyond some people's reach, but definitely beyond most people's consideration, will make introducing and "selling" our love of kiting to others more difficult than it is already. As I see it, making the B-Series not available as a new build can only serve to decrease sales and profits, and the pleasure and satisfaction of those who would buy them. I would like to be able to replace worn sails with new. I am hoping for an amiable solution.

I was curious, and found this on the GWTW forum, which was originally posted on the AKA forum. It may be helpful. If I can find a diagram I'll post it here also. Edit: Didn't come across any diagrams, but did notice that it uses two cross spreaders, one a bit longer than the other, so there should be four pockets for them, two on each leading edge. Once you assemble some of the ferrules that match size-wise, it should start becoming clear where they go just by total length. Other than the two leading edge rods, they will probably be of different lengths. Sort out your rods you will have 5 sets 1 Center keel 2 Leading edge sets 1 Long cross spread 1 Short cross spreader The cross spreader go into the rod and hose assembly on the leading edge parts.You can see the two spreader shadows is the purple section of my picture above. Set up the rods out of the kite and you can see how they are all connected. Set up Center Keel rods go in fist leading edge, i belive the center piece must be inserted in the gap 1/2 way in the wing. Repeat leading edge on the other side When installing the cross spreader Assemble all three rods. Install on end into the fitting at the leading edge You will have to bend the cross spreader rods a lot to fit into the other leading edge. Don't wory they will not break. Having another person helps Remember to label you rods when you take it apart.

I will fly my duals soon. I promise. Really.

The vital part of success is not knowing it can't be done.

Any chance of 50# and/or 90# Spectra bridles for the super light wind kites?

Congratulations, Elmo.

Congratulations, khsidekick! Drain his brain. Ask about whump, and watch it in action.

Even team flying.

Try some silk flower paint. Spray or brush style is available at lots of hobby stores, i.e., Michael's. It is more of a dye than a paint, and depending how heavy and how wet you lay it on will determine its longevity, but it holds up better than marker, overall. Multiple strokes with a thinned medium should give the best results. Thick applications tend to flake and peel. If you look at the right side of this kite, you can see what will happen if the application is too dry and/or too thick. This was sprayed straight from the can, undiluted, with red and blue, and feathered in between to accomplish the fade from blue to red. I did it outside, in a light wind, and the right side was a bit more exposed to the breeze, so it dried quickly. The left side had more time to soak into the material, and you can plainly see the difference it makes. The white lattice was done with 3M blue painters' tape, which was removed after it dried. This kite has about 3 years of fairly frequent use. It is my "go-to" kite for very light wind flying, weighing in at 143 grams / 4.3 ounces.

Hi, Smooth winds, and welcome to the forum. Anything you want to know about kites can be found here. Lots of kite flyers in your general vicinity. Get together with them and fly. I look forward to flying with you someday.

@Daougie What are you using to color the sails? Looks like markers. The color from markers fades very fast, requiring occasional touch-up. On 60 sails......do the math.

It will take a bit longer to reach the end of the lines and give the kite a different trajectory if you angle the throw slightly more upwards than you are now. Play with it. Eventually you will begin to notice a difference in the optimum angle and amount of force for the throw depending on length of lines and wind speed, and the "effect" you wish to achieve: flat and fast for a quick dramatic stop, or a long and graceful arc and a smooth slow stop. In some of my frames I have installed fishing sinkers, 3/16-ounce lead split-shot, one per bottom tip of each upright. This does two things. It gives the kite a longer and flatter glide away from you when recovering ground, and additional mass for throwing on longer lines (I prefer 40' or 50' for short lines). And actually -- this just came to mind -- there is a third thing it improves, and that is how flat and far around axels will move. You can pull doubles with a single hit, especially with UL kites in very low wind, on 50# lines. Keep playing with changing things up a bit once you develop some consistency and note the difference it makes. Each variation can be useful in different conditions....your mileage WILL vary.

Edmund -- easy there, you can't buy them all! How many do you have now? @Roxy You can fly Revs while sitting down. There's a few people who fly from wheelchairs and do very well. I can't move around a lot while flying and fly sitting down on the ground or a chair at least half the time I am flying. That's the beauty of a quad-line kite -- control.