Power Kite Forum

Small kites

rtz - 7-3-2016 at 08:46 PM

Trying to research old small kites smaller than 2m.

A 0.9m PKD of some sort?

It appears they made a 1.4 and a 1.8 Beamer?

A 1.2m Sting?

Did they make a small Hornet?

Anyone ever buggy with any of those small kites in high wind?

John Holgate - 7-3-2016 at 08:54 PM

I've got a 1.5m Ozone Imp quattro that I've put up on occasion when fear has stopped me using anything bigger. Sharpens up the reflexes nicely! and performs ok in 30 knots.

IFlyKites - 7-3-2016 at 08:59 PM

Here is someone flying a 1.2 sting in 35 mph winds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fIKjdX8pWI
Pretty darn insane :o

rtz - 7-3-2016 at 09:15 PM

I wish I would have bought a 1.2m Sting back then and also a mid size Imp like the 1.5. But at the time; my 1.7 Sting was doing all I needed.

We were buggying in some fierce wind the other day:




I started off with my 1.8 Rage. Odd kite. Wind seems to blow around it and past it for the most part. Then it had a lot of pull in the handles once the wind really picked up. I never got going fast with it.

Got out the 1.5m PKD. I couldn't break 20mph with it. Granted I didn't have more than a 1/4 mile run in either direction with it. Tons of pull in the handles too. Got out the old stand by 1.7m Sting and did 24 mph right from the start. The wind was so much is was basically just riding to survive. Go one way; go the other. The 1.7 sting was the most pleasant to fly given the conditions so I stayed with that. I pull out the 1.5 and 1.8 kites when the 1.7 is not quite enough.

The day had me thinking about other kites.

Small kites are similar to light wind kites. Large kites have very small wind ranges. The small kites also seem to have very small wind ranges where the kite is really useable and in it's element.

The person I was riding with was using my 1m Imp. I tried it and couldn't get more than 10mph out of it sineing the heck out of it.

But we only get 1 or two days a year like this. Years past it was either dark or raining when it was this windy.

bigkid - 7-3-2016 at 10:23 PM

Flew a 1m PKD Nippon in 37 to 50 mph winds at the beach on 25m lines. Couldn't keep up with the kite, always seamed to be about 8 minutes behind. Flew it on 48m lines which slowed down the kite with line drag enough to have a great run down the beach until the wind picked up and couldn't keep the buggy from dragging sideways. Would guess my side speed was about 35 or so.
Use my 1.5m Buster Soulfly the most for lakebeds. Longer lines(over 50m)make the kite easier to keep up with due to line drag without increasing power too much.
Biggest problem with small kites in high wind is the smallest hand movement makes the biggest kite moves. Wedge your elbow between the side rails and your hip and hold the other arm close to your side and only steer the kite with one hand instead of two makes the kite easier to manage.

bigkid - 7-3-2016 at 10:36 PM

The biggest problem with high winds isn't the high MPH of the wind, it's the gusts that will cause it to fluctuate 10 to 40mph depending on the area and the direction let alone the max speed of the storm itself.
Besides the gusts, the rain isn't any fun unless your kite is waterproof. The 1.5m Buster Soulfly is waterproof.
I very seldom see high winds that are clean. Most wind above 20/25mph come with gusts that are hard to overcome with any kite.

indigo_wolf - 8-3-2016 at 03:45 AM

The PKD Nippair came in 1M and 1.5M. Originally released in a camo color.



http://www.pkdkites.co.uk/kites/nippair.htm

Believe it also shipped with control handles that could be converted to a bar.

ATB,
Sam

indigo_wolf - 8-3-2016 at 04:34 AM

Can also add Flexifoil Bullet 1.5M and Rage 1.8M to the list.

Kite Innovations ProFoils were available in 1.0M & 1.5M sizes.

ATB,
Sam

Bladerunner - 8-3-2016 at 05:07 AM

I had a Profoil 1.5 . I think winds were in the low 30's and I hated it's snappy little bits of power + total lack of it at the edge.
Sunset Jim loaned me his 2.5. I bought a 2.5 and gave the 1.5 away to a kid.
If you are looking for a tiny engine give the Profoil 1.5 a pass!

Windstruck - 8-3-2016 at 05:45 AM

Last November I had three afternoons at Lake Ivanpah that I was only able to buggy on the first and third, the middle day being just too darn windy for the two smallest kites I had at the time (2.5m NS3 and 4m Peak2). Bummed me out to sit out that day.

I had Steffen Born make me up a custom 1.5m NS3. I've pulled it out of its little sack to inspect it (yup, beautiful as a Spring morning) but I haven't actually flown it yet. I could carry it around in my back pocket if I have to.

I suspect it will fly like the proverbial wasp-on-a-string; Lord help me if I confront a day when this kite is the right choice! :cool:

bigkid - 8-3-2016 at 07:46 AM

Yep, as always Sam you are right. The camo was its biggest selling feature. The handles/bar setup was definitely a unique set up, just snap the handles together at the bottom of each handle to create the bar. That is one of the most zippiest kites I have flown.
I flew it at Ivanpah one year in 15 mph winds in an Ivanpah II buggy, had to work it but was able to reach 10mph in the buggy. Out across the lakebed and back to get a bigger kite, still got the kite.:thumbup:

ssayre - 8-3-2016 at 08:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck  
Last November I had three afternoons at Lake Ivanpah that I was only able to buggy on the first and third, the middle day being just too darn windy for the two smallest kites I had at the time (2.5m NS3 and 4m Peak2). Bummed me out to sit out that day.

I had Steffen Born make me up a custom 1.5m NS3. I've pulled it out of its little sack to inspect it (yup, beautiful as a Spring morning) but I haven't actually flown it yet. I could carry it around in my back pocket if I have to.

I suspect it will fly like the proverbial wasp-on-a-string; Lord help me if I confront a day when this kite is the right choice! :cool:


I look forward to you trying out the 1.5. Hopefully it will surprise you in a good way. It seems like the smaller the size nasa, the better the gust handling in my experience.

Randy - 8-3-2016 at 09:49 AM

Sean and I used 1.0 M Single Keel NPWs with longboards last year. (Of course, towing a buggy with a small kite is a much taller order.)


soliver - 8-3-2016 at 09:52 AM

JIBE 2015 had a day of Sandmageddon... blowing up to 30mph and I could barely hold onto my 2.7m PL Viper S... it handled great though when I could handle it. I think Frankiter had up a small Sting or Imp and was doing quite well as was 3shot with his 2m Flow ...while the rest of us struggled with our stuff that was too big.

ssayre - 8-3-2016 at 10:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Randy  
Sean and I used 1.0 M Single Keel NPWs with longboards last year. (Of course, towing a buggy with a small kite is a much taller order.)




That was a great time Randy. My next big wind I will make a longboard video with the 1.5 meter you made me. I have to finish a new set of handles as I sold my last set with a kite. We had gusts in the hi 30's that day.

frankiter - 8-3-2016 at 11:11 AM

Spencer, that was my 2.4m Sting. That thing handled 30mph like a champ, even had good upwind performance.
Coincidentally, JIBE 2014 is when I upgraded the lines to make it my high wind kite. Maybe I knew what was coming a year later?

riffclown - 8-3-2016 at 01:43 PM

My first Buggy ride was with my converted Symphony.. Sport size 2.2 actual size about 1.5..

rtz - 8-3-2016 at 02:41 PM

I see Cross Kites makes a 1.5. Would be interesting to know how good of a high wind kite it would make. Also the HQ Alpha 1.5. So many kites and so few of those 30 mph range days gusting to 40+.

Windstruck - 8-3-2016 at 05:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Randy  
Sean and I used 1.0 M Single Keel NPWs with longboards last year. (Of course, towing a buggy with a small kite is a much taller order.)




Great video of what looked like a fun session. The way that little NPW was darting around is sort of how I expect the 1.5m NS3 to fly in cranked up winds. Whupp!:duh:

Cheeks - 8-3-2016 at 05:17 PM

Last year at JIBE before we had that wind direction change, I was happy with my 3.2 Zebra on 25m lines at 14-17mph. But things got gusty quick and I was in a turn when a 30mph+ gust hit and all of a sudden I was way over powered, and lofted.

So I got a 1.8 beamer and 25m lines for my high wind kite. Small kite, long lines, a heavy man and a heavy buggy just might work in high wind for me. Haven't had a dry windy day to try it yet.

What do you all think about this combination?

doneski - 9-3-2016 at 11:43 AM

I love my 1.8 beemer. Safe and fun even in crazy winds.

bobalooie57 - 9-3-2016 at 04:45 PM

https://youtu.be/5es8RI8xRv8.
This was way back, 2nd time at Southwick Beach. 1.4M Beamer lll.

Not sure why that doesn't work, trying to do this from my phone

Windstruck - 9-3-2016 at 05:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bobalooie57  
https://youtu.be/5es8RI8xRv8.
This was way back, 2nd time at Southwick Beach. 1.4M Beamer lll.

Not sure why that doesn't work, trying to do this from my phone



I think you messed up your link. Here it is:

3shot - 9-3-2016 at 05:33 PM

Mmmmmm.... 2m Ozone Flow in 30mph winds.... :evil::evil::evil: