Taming the Blast

[JeremyParr]

I broke out my new Blast today, and in winds that I'd guess to be 5-10 steady gusting to 20, it was a handfull to say the least. The lines are connected to the factory positions (outers, I believe) and the vertical spectra connections on the bridle are in place. Unfortunately, I was chased off of the flying field before I had a chance to change any settings. (I'm staying with some family, and apparently the field is owned by a cranky farmer). Will moving the lines to the inner connection points, and removing the vertical spectra runs in the bridle make this kite and calmer?

The pull is great fun, but seems to be a bit much, especially when the kite seems to fall from the sky when the winds aren't gusting.

[Dorsal]

I can't help you. The characteristics you describe are the reason I tried a friend's Blast, but never bought one for myself.

[cbabbman]

"I broke out my new Blast today, and in winds that I'd guess to be 5-10 steady gusting to 20, it was a handfull to say the least. "

I pulled mine out for the 1st time yesterday too... man, was I in a foul mood after that experience...

BTW, I am no expert in Revs... this is just my experience....

I wish that Revolution had more information on the bridal settings other than what's in the video that came with it...

My experience was almost like yours... I took it out in 12-16mph winds... weren't very steady and were a little choppy.... Up and down and all around... completely uncontrollable. The people on the baseball field must have thought I was a complete and total dolt.

I was lucky though in that I had about 2 hrs to play around with the bridal settings. Unfortunately, I got no where and was completely and totally dissapointed in the Blast... Just too twitchy for me. In fact, I had to pull my SLE out at 7am this morning just to get some confidence in Revs back...

This afternoon, I was out flying with my wife. Winds were a little better, a fairly steady 12mph or so. I got yanked on my butt by my 3m Ozone in a gust and decided to put it away. Since I already had my Ozone 180# 25m lines laid out, I brought out the Blast again and tied in it. I left off the down bridal and connected to the outer lower bridal knot.

This time was a completely different story... still twitchy, but I had incredibly good luck and got it flying. I spent about 3 hours with it . It was REALLY powerful and once I got over my tendancy to over control it, it was pretty incredible. In fact, this quickly turned into my favorite kite for a number of reasons:

Power

Control

Float abilities

Sound (especially while floating it at the edge of the window)

Speed

Peoples reactions..

It is really powerful. Had me running a few times and I love to lean back while flying.

The control is pretty incredible. BUT, as it says in the video... with very small adjustments. The tendancy seems to be to totally over control, especially if you have been flying an SLE like I have. I think that was a lot of my problem yesterday.

Float... jezz, float it as shown in the video, it is mindblowing to see it just hang there with the lines completely slack. I was even able to float it completely across the window (wind disapeared) in reverse and turn it around and bring it across... like I said, It was pretty mindblowing. Slides were also pretty cool while it was floating...

It makes a great buzzing noise when completely powered up. You can also tell when it's about to float as the buzzing changes pitch...lol

It's VERY fast. This was part of the reason I had such trouble with it yesterday. Unfortunately, when you don't have a clue what you are doing, fast is generally fast in the down direction. Then again, maybe all the dirt and grass in the endcaps threw it off...lol

I was waiting for a car to crash into mine, parked on the road, as people were slowing down to see what the hell was zipping around in the air. No one flys kites here on the West side of town, that I know of... so something in the air catches attention. Especially something that looks like a Rev. At the same time, my wife was flying my LD Stunt and getting jerked around pretty good at times (she's lite) so maybe they were watching that...lol... I know at times, I had to land just to watch her... it was also her first experience with a Quad and a foil...lol... it was awesome to watch... (and good for me that she is getting into what has become a passion/obsession for me) She actually asked me to get a SLE for her....

All I can say is this. Watch the video a few times... Practice. Once you get the feel for it, it will blow you away. Just don't give up on it....

Now, I could also really use some good information on the other bridal setting and some additional information on flying it.... anyone?

[JeremyParr]

I'll try those settings, thanks. I don't know that the kite is too fast for me, I usually fly a Rev II, so twitchy and easy to overcontrol I am used to.

Thanks for the info!

[monkey]

I'll try those settings, thanks. I don't know that the kite is too fast for me, I usually fly a Rev II, so twitchy and easy to overcontrol I am used to.

Thanks for the info!

One thing to check that I have seen on Blasts a couple of times, the bridle attachs to BOTH of the vertical spars at the bottom.

[cbabbman]

One thing to check that I have seen on Blasts a couple of times, the bridle attachs to BOTH of the vertical spars at the bottom.

I noticed that the lower bridal can easily unattach itself when stored as it's just a slip knot over the bottom connectors. In fact, I think one of my initial problems was that the bridal had come off one spar and when I put it on, I did not have it coming off the proper side, putting it off balance just enough to make learning to fly it miserable....

[JeremyParr]

Ok, I'm happier now. Removing the downbridle decreased pull in gusts considerably, without comprimising low wind performance or speed (as far as I could tell). Hooked my lines up to the outer bridle points, and the kite was flying really well.

It definately does not fly like a Rev I or a Rev II, but is still lots of fun. The power and the speed (and the accompanying noise) is great. It's also a total workout to keep the kite moving, and not crashing. If you hold the kite still, or take it to the top, or sides of the window, it wil hang there, and not pull much at all. With almost no wind, I was able to float the kite back and forth across the window, and even do a few spins. The ability to jerk the lines when the kite falls flat on the ground is great as well. With a conventional Rev, you are stuck trying to carry the kite and lines back to your stake, or running to grab your stake and hoping the kite doesn't blow away.

All in all I like the Blast. It does not fly like a conventional Rev, but has its pluses. I think a 1.5 SLE is in my future. Will the 1.5 be ok with the Blast or the II handles? I already have three linesets. (150x85, 200x100, 80x75). Is the low wind performance of a 1.5 as good as the Blast? Can I put a regular leading edge in a 1.5 to keep the weight down in low wind?

[cbabbman]

Ok, I'm happier now. Removing the downbridle decreased pull in gusts considerably, without comprimising low wind performance or speed (as far as I could tell). Hooked my lines up to the outer bridle points, and the kite was flying really well.

my experience also..

It definately does not fly like a Rev I or a Rev II, but is still lots of fun.

That was yet another of my problems. I have a SLE and found that you can't really fly the Blast the same way...

I already have three linesets. (150x85, 200x100, 80x75). Is the low wind performance of a 1.5 as good as the Blast? Can I put a regular leading edge in a 1.5 to keep the weight down in low wind?

My SLE seems to want a little more wind that the Blast... I was pretty frustrated with my SLE at first because I was trying to learn in light winds.. (5-8mph)... just not enough for someone who doesn't have a clue...lol

As for the leading edge, I was told that you can put the SUL leading edge on the SLE in order to fly in lighter winds. The only warning I had was that the SUL LE is pretty fragile... But, for about $40, it's worth a shot..

I'd love it if someone could point me to a primer on line weights and lengths or just describe the differences in handling, wind speed, etc...

[sandman]

I got my Blast yesterday. It was a surprise Father's day gift and I received it at the field. I had planned to simply fly my Rev 1.5.

I took the kite out of the bag and flew it. I didn't read the directions or watch the video. Just tied it in and put it in the air.

I left the down bridals attached. I'm wondering if it makes any difference whether it makes a difference to attach them to the outer points, but that'll wait for another day.

I first put it up with the bottom lines on the inner bridal points. My gawd the pull caught me by surprise. It went straight up beyond vertical like a shot.

I wasn't really happy with the control. The wind wasn't really high, and it turned like a lumbering beast. I decided to switch to the outer points and it felt like I had better control. Still had a lot of pull, but I immediately noticed that if I pulled my thumbs far enough, the kite would really start to buffet and bleed off energy.

I flew it for a couple of hours. The thing just wore me out and my hands throbbed for most of the night. Today, I'm a little sore. Can't wait for the weekend.

[monkey]

I left the down bridals attached. I'm wondering if it makes any difference whether it makes a difference to attach them to the outer points, but that'll wait for another day.

Note : -both- bridle ties need to be fastened to the pair of vertical rods on each side, this may be your problem as I have run into 2 blasts so far where it was only attached on one vertical, each side. it'll make a huge difference to the control, promise.

[sandman]

Hmmm... now I'm sure I probably screwed up the terminology. According to the paperwork, the kite was set in "Ready-to-Fly sensitive mode".

I connected the flying lines to the inner/lower bridle points. The down bridle was also attached to this same point.

After a bit, I attached the flying lines to the outer bridle points and left the down bridle attached to the inner bridle point as it had been from the factory.

I'm going to have to take another look at it when I get home, but IIRC, the inner and outer bridle points are attached to one line (per side). This line ends at the bottom of each vertical spar.

[sandman]

I double checked and I was wrong. The down bridle is attached to the outer bridle point.

[cbabbman]

Ok, I'm happier now. Removing the downbridle decreased pull in gusts considerably, without comprimising low wind performance or speed (as far as I could tell). Hooked my lines up to the outer bridle points, and the kite was flying really well.

Sorry to regurgitate this one but I was flying my Blast today in 12-18mph winds and discovered some things...

Connecting to the outer lower bridal really allows this beast to power up and generate some serious pull... I decided to see if I could smooth out the performance a bit by connecting to the inner lower bridal point...

This pretty much changes the Blast completely... what I found I needed to do to get it to fly better for me was this:

I've added 1 additional knot to each leader on the handles, about 1" in from the original knot. I did this to both the top and bottom leaders.

I attached the brake line to the last knot and the power lines to the new knot I added... this made things much more manageable for me. Still lots of pull but an overall much smoother performance.

It was really interesting how much different things work when attaching to the inner bridal point... Kite was much more sensitive to everything, especially the brakes....

Has anyone dropped a lower bridal on this kite similar to the speed series with the connecting point in the center? I'd be interested in knowing what it would do....

[ant man]

I left the down bridals attached. I'm wondering if it makes any difference whether it makes a difference to attach them to the outer points, but that'll wait for another day.

Note : -both- bridle ties need to be fastened to the pair of vertical rods on each side, this may be your problem as I have run into 2 blasts so far where it was only attached on one vertical, each side. it'll make a huge difference to the control, promise.

ive had my blast and i flew it in high winds once and didnt like it. since then ive only flew it in a 3 to 6 mph range and the kite is a great flier in those speeds. i like using the outside settings on the bottom bridle and i use the down bridles for that better pitch. for heavier winds i use my shockwave or vented 1 5 i have home made handle leaders that help for smaller pull adjustments. but that wont do much in heavier winds

[cbabbman]

ive had my blast and i flew it in high winds once and didnt like it. since then ive only flew it in a 3 to 6 mph range

Give it a chance in the higher winds if you like power. I fly my blast most of the time these days and have really come to love it. My favorite wind speeds are 8-12mph... the pull this kite generates is pretty awesome.

One thing I've noticed is that the Blast is very similar to the Power Blast 2-4 when it comes to locking in the power. It's a very small range in how you hold the handles. When flying without the power locked in, I get a good amount of flapping noise and while there is control, it's a lot of work to fly the kite.

Typically, I watch the leading edge and when I finally do dial in the power, I get a healthy bow on the LE, a change in sound and incredible pull and speed... at that point, I'm getting pulled down the length of the field laughing my butt off...

For some reason, it took me quite a while before realizing the potential and characterists of the Blast and I have to say that it is really one of my favorites... Don't give up on it and give the higher winds another shot with it.

[ant man]

I left the down bridals attached. I'm wondering if it makes any difference whether it makes a difference to attach them to the outer points, but that'll wait for another day.

Note : -both- bridle ties need to be fastened to the pair of vertical rods on each side, this may be your problem as I have run into 2 blasts so far where it was only attached on one vertical, each side. it'll make a huge difference to the control, promise.

ive had my blast for 6 months and i flew it in a 14 mph wind once and never did it again i found it to be a great kite for the lighter winds almost an oversized ultralight i only pull it out when the winds are 2 to 5 mph i made adjustable leaders for it and they do control pull a little bit