Windstruck - 6-7-2015 at 06:44 PM
I got my B-K NS3's today and decided to do a side by side static flying session with my newly repaired PL Uniq 4.5M and the NS3 4.0M. I set them up
side by side on a soccer field and flew static. Winds were gusty as they always are around here, going between 4 and 12 knots, averaging around 6-8
knots. I flew the Uniq off of handles with a strop to power from my harness. I flew the NS3 off of the B-K bar, again strapping into the harness with
its chicken loop.
Impressions: 1) the Uniq 4.5M had a whole lot more pull through the heart of the wind window than the NS3 4.0M but that force dwindled fairly rapidly
as the kite neared the edges; 2) the NS3 had slightly less pull (though impressive for its size) but that pull seemed to last longer as I got to the
edges; 3) the NS3 turned easily twice (3x?) as fast as the Uniq - this isn't to say that the Uniq was a slug, but man, the NS3 was zippy; 4) the NS3
moved about twice as fast as the Uniq in similar winds; 4) the wind window was slightly wider with the NS3 but not too terribly much different at
higher winds; and 5) the Uniq was way easier for me to control during controlled landings on its trailing edge (heck, it's easy to land nose down).
This final landing comment may well be attributed to pilot issues (first time using the NS3 with what essentially is a trainer bar) versus flying the
Uniq on handles (I'm far more comfortable doing fine control with handles than a bar).
Another thing is that the Uniq looks MUCH bigger than the NS3 even though their stated sizes are only 0.5M different. I know they are different
shapes, but man, the Uniq just looks about twice the size in the air (50% anyway).
Bottom line, both are nice kites and will likely serve their own separate purposes in my quiver. My impression after this test is that the Uniq will
be a great kite to let other folks try as an introduction to traction kiting, while the NS3 with its wider and more consistently powered wind window
should make it a better buggy engine. This final point of course has already been reinforced by countless fellow PKF-ers before me.
I look forward to giving my NS3s a go in the bug! I'll try and repeat this test in the bug and post my impressions.
ssayre - 6-7-2015 at 06:53 PM
Great info Steve. I e been curious about the uniq. Keep in mind the ns3 is much more fun when in motion. I don't find them particularly exciting
flying static but I find them very exciting and easy to use in the bug. They are so fast to turn that you can position them where you most need it in
an instant
Windstruck - 6-7-2015 at 10:14 PM
Thanks for the feedback Sean! The speed of the NS3 really impressed me!! I can see what you mean by instant positioning. I'm excited to try it in
motion.
3shot - 7-7-2015 at 03:33 AM
Thanks for the comparison! I actually prefer to land stars over FBs now. Much less fuss sinking it at the edge of the window.
John Holgate - 7-7-2015 at 03:41 AM
Nice comparison! It took me quite a while to come to grips with landing the NS2/NS3. It wasn't until I saw Steffen's video on landing it at the side
of the window that it came together for me.
Randy - 7-7-2015 at 05:20 AM
Great info Steve. Would be interesting if you could estimate the size of the wind window in degrees for these kites. It can be done with a cell
phone compass or probably GPS, or just 'eyeball' it.
ssayre - 7-7-2015 at 05:34 AM
The uniq sounds like a fun kite but I'm a bit surprised that it's window is so small as mentioned by a couple people now. I was half expecting it to
perform more similar to a foil.
Windstruck - 7-7-2015 at 06:22 AM
John - funny you should mention watching Steffan's videos, because that is exactly what I did last night! Upon my original order six weeks ago he had
sent me a series of links. I'll copy and paste them here for folks reading this thread, but I suspect that others that ordered directly from
Born-Kites received a similar email.
Randy - good thinking using a compass app. I've got one of those and will try and do that. It may be a while due to work travel coming up (where are
my priorities, right?) but I'll get to it.
Sean - please don't interpret my review as being overly negative on the Uniq. It's stock actually went up in my book quite a bit yesterday. I had
originally been all excited about getting it (having pre-ordered from Big Mike) but then the blush seriously came off the rose when the main bridle
line snapped one minute in to its maiden voyage. With the new stronger bridle lines it performed like a champ and is a nicely behaving kite. It
gives one heck of a big pull through the center of the window! As I noted, its window got a lot bigger when the wind was blowing more strongly. For
me as of late a kite has its value in being a buggy engine as static flying has become sort of boring for me now that I've gone mobile. It may well
be a fine buggy engine due to this grunt, but it may not be as good an upwind tacking engine if the diminished pull I sensed at the edge of the wind
window when flying static translates into the same relative limitation once moving with apparent wind, etc. More as I know more. Winds have
generally been so light for me in the past 6 weeks or so that I don't think such a small kite will pull me around.
Here are some tips for the NASA STAR on long lines :
NASA STAR take off and land
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX2KtcO4a3U
Adjuster at NASA STAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG5XnQqcV8Y
Depower at NASA STAR, please note in the video from 2:45 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekn6tNhEq9w
Fly the NASA STAR on long lines with too little wind, then please note the following video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzFERH1lV-I
The reverse launch of the NASA STAR with too little wind is as follows, please note in the video
2:38 to 2:47 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVlCnN5Cg7Q&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRokLfpgZJw
Here are some clips of John:
( John is an Australian professional for buggy with NASA STAR )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w11uM4yxieo&feature=em-s...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MTHdLhkcrM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNMO0eCPNDo&feature=c4-ov...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfqLzxyUWCY&feature=c4-ov...
ssayre - 7-7-2015 at 06:37 AM
Don't worry, I'm fairly certain I would like a uniq. Upwind ability doesn't have any impact on me. Using a square field, all I need is some wind and
I can always make it back to where I started. The same is true in reverse. Too little wind and I won't make it back with the best upwind kite. I'm
mainly sold on single skin in general for my conditions. They just work.
Windstruck - 7-7-2015 at 06:53 AM
Cool beans Sean! I'm digging single skins a lot lately too. I absolutely love how they pack down so small.
Square fields must be sweet. The fields I have at my disposal are quite oddly shaped with definite longer and shorter traverse lines and the need to
avoid some things like large overhead lights, baseball diamond backstops, etc. When the wind blows in just the right direction everything is fine,
but often times I find myself wanting to go the long way on my fields only to have to eek out my return journey to set up a fast shot downstream
again. Definite 1st world problem!
ssayre - 7-7-2015 at 09:06 AM
It just struck me that you and I are the only ones I'm aware of that own a peak and nasa stars. Additionally you have a uniq so you are officially
the number one single skin addict.
I think they compliment each other nicely. Sharing advantages of single skin and and excelling in different ways unique to to each one. (peak and
nasa stars) Your the only one that will know if the uniq will have a permanent home amongst your single skin quiver.
Windstruck - 7-7-2015 at 09:43 AM
Wow Sean, that's a heavy load you just placed on me! I will try to use that power only for good.
http://youtu.be/-o308cW0hKI
soliver - 7-7-2015 at 11:20 AM
Thanks for that Steve... I'm spending too much time on XK and keep missing things here... this was a very beneficial read for me. THANKS!
I agree with Sean, the NS3's are super fun in the buggy, but kind of lacking in the static flying arena... I like to land mine by just nose-diving
them into the ground because thats how I find it easiest to fold and pack them.
Good work Steve!
BigMikesKites - 8-7-2015 at 07:31 AM
The uniq is a grow on you kite like the NS2/3. its different than what you are used to. Each time I fly it I find one or two things I like more
about it than the last time. My only real beef with it right now is because its a single skin, packing it up in wind is a real pain in the butt
without extra hands or a sandbag. Way more a pain than a foil in that same condition. note to self, take a sandbag.
Windstruck - 8-7-2015 at 09:58 AM
Mike - I know what you mean about the single skin kites being a mother to put away in brisk wind. I've wrestled with a few in these past couple of
weeks. I crafted some "sand bags" recently out of stout sail cloth material I bought at Walmart and filled them with some clean cut gravel I had
laying around. They turned out pretty nice if I may say so myself!
ssayre - 8-7-2015 at 12:05 PM
Very nice indeed. I had a strict routine with my foil kites but my single skin kites get used so much that I wad them up and place them in the back of
my in what I like to call the kitewad. It's very convenient. im sure you've seen the picture before. :D
Windstruck - 8-7-2015 at 12:39 PM
Sean - I know the kitewad all too well. :o I had my FS 12M P2 out one day and teased the envelope on an incoming rain storm. Between the first
drops falling and getting it on the ground it started to pour cats and dogs. I ended up performing an impromptu kitewad combined with a 100 yrd
sprint to the car with the sodden mess. Swore never to let that happen again... what a mess!
I have seen some YouTube action of a technique known I think as paratroop packing or something like that. It was more about stuffing lines I think.
1oldkid - 8-7-2015 at 12:47 PM
Glad you got your kites Steve!
Sounds like they are going to be fun and fit right with your style..
Now get some videos posted up and don't skimp on the bloopers! :evil:
BigMikesKites - 8-7-2015 at 12:56 PM
I tried parapacking my lines once. This is the reason I do not do it again. Went in great. out...not so much.
Windstruck - 8-7-2015 at 01:20 PM
I will certainly take your word on parapacking Mike! Looked like a "too good to be true" fantasy.
Spencer - bloopers are my specialty! :P