Power Kite Forum

Where to buy NPW?

SSI_Stefan - 14-11-2016 at 10:18 AM

Hello I am looking to expand my quiver and read about the NPW and that they are relatively inexpensive, however I have been unable to find any places to purchase them except for ebay. I was just wondering where to buy them or if any of the PKF users have any for sale.

Thanks, Stefan

Randy - 14-11-2016 at 12:03 PM

You might check with Susan (kitemaker4) to have her build one for you. She does a great job and is very reasonable in terms of cost.

Bladerunner - 14-11-2016 at 04:57 PM

Check out Born Kites http://www.born-kite.de/

I understand they are a reasonable price even sent over from Germany. The only ones I know of being manufactured.

Susan does top quality builds. I think She does NPW 5 or 9's in the size of your choice.

skimtwashington - 14-11-2016 at 06:10 PM

Susan has the top quality, indeed(I've examined one)... in bridal material and stitch work. You likely can pick color scheme too.

Any specific planned use for the NPW's?

SSI_Stefan - 14-11-2016 at 06:40 PM

Just to fly really mostly static maybe on an ATB.

Randy - 14-11-2016 at 06:43 PM

What size were you thinking of?

SSI_Stefan - 14-11-2016 at 06:46 PM

Probably a 2m and then a 7m. Just to expand my flying range and I want a small kit to show my friends the basics while still being able to use it.

And thanks for all the help already really appreciate it.

Windstruck - 14-11-2016 at 06:57 PM

If you are indeed thinking static flying and you do end up going with Born-Kite NASA Star-3s you may wish to consider getting them "kite-only" plus Born-Kite z-bridles. Then use them with four lines flown off of handles. That's how I fly my NS3s now. If you are looking at NPWs for use as buggy engines and you end up going with NS3s then I'd suggest buying them kite-only with a single three line set and bar. It is super fast and easy to swap out NS3s so having dedicated linesets is sort of overkill. Save some $$ that way.

Probably just my own bias, but I find static flying NS3s off of a bar is pretty boring after a while as you are essentially flying them as two line kites with a third safety line. Flown with four lines and z-bridles gives you sort of the best of both worlds, again IMHO.

Born-Kites are also great quality. I've seen the kite-goddess kites and they are wonderful too.

ssayre - 14-11-2016 at 07:42 PM

NASA stars are fantastic.

All nasas stink for static flying no matter 2 or 4 line. 4 line fixed bridle foil is always the most fun static. IMO

NASAs are extremely versatile and can be used in almost any wind conditions and for any land based locomotion at an affordable price.

Susan's nasas are also fantastic and I would not hesitate to commission Randy to build me one if he could be hired.

Also, being fixed bridle, I would recommend 2.5m, 4m, 7m quiver at a minimum To utilize most wind conditions.

SSI_Stefan - 14-11-2016 at 07:42 PM

Okay thanks a lot! Really appreciate all the feed back I will continue to look into it. If anyone else has anything else that you would like to contribute feel free.

JimSSI - 15-11-2016 at 03:08 AM

Damn, Stefan.

The way you were throwing that buggy around on Sunday, I figured you'd be shopping for Vapors.

I don't know which was more impressive, the way you moved on your first buggy ride or the fact you survived my instruction without an OBE.

Boys, looks like there might be a new sheriff in town come JIBE 2017.

SSI_Stefan - 15-11-2016 at 04:42 AM

Maybe if I could afford Vapors. But this broke high school kid is trying to stay within reason and not sell my car to buy kites. But thanks a lot for letting me try out the buggy it was a blast! And JIBE 2017 here I come!

abkayak - 15-11-2016 at 06:46 AM

1st i have limited NASA experience....
but arent they the last kite youd want to hand a newb because of the brake balance necessary (handles)
and so for that matter that much more your doing on a board or bug??
yea great for crashing and gusts i think...someone straighten me out here

ssayre - 15-11-2016 at 06:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
1st i have limited NASA experience....
but arent they the last kite youd want to hand a newb because of the brake balance necessary (handles)
and so for that matter that much more your doing on a board or bug??
yea great for crashing and gusts i think...someone straighten me out here


Depends if you have a z bridle installed OR if your flying as a 2 line on a bar. Either will eliminate the need for balancing the brakes. However, that won't do anything for the boredom that occurs while flying these static. :lol:

Only kidding, they are still fun to fly but I like them better as an engine.

bigkid - 15-11-2016 at 07:29 AM

@jimssi, is that the wheel that blew up? If so contact hq and let them know. I've seen quite a few of the new wheels blow apart the same way. Too bad the pressure relief valve doesn't work.

skimtwashington - 15-11-2016 at 07:44 AM

For learning...if you have some kite (foil) experience it would be okay..... but yes- different in handling with the needed brake input (especially to keep 'nose' open). Yes Z bridal installation/add on will help eliminate balance between brake and top lines.

If you never or hardly ever had a kite in your hand and you are going to fly foils, starting w/ a NPW may set you up with some initial mishandling when you do get a foil in your hands.

But you seem to have foil experience so this would be learning a different technique for a different type of kite.

Pros:NPW's excel for short-line limited space flying, backpacking 'em into remote play areas ( they pack light and take little space... call it KITEPACKING!) ..even flying in rain or wet weather... and,oh...you can crash 'em. They can handle gusts better than some foils, too.

Cons:They do not go upwind well at all and are not high performance vs. foils

But they are versatile and do well in situations or use listed above.

SSI_Stefan - 15-11-2016 at 08:35 AM

I have a pretty decent handling and use of a foil kite probably at least 30 hours in various wind conditions. I will probably end up using them or trying to use them for an ATB engine.

Windstruck - 15-11-2016 at 08:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
1st i have limited NASA experience....
but arent they the last kite youd want to hand a newb because of the brake balance necessary (handles)
and so for that matter that much more your doing on a board or bug??
yea great for crashing and gusts i think...someone straighten me out here


Depends if you have a z bridle installed OR if your flying as a 2 line on a bar. Either will eliminate the need for balancing the brakes. However, that won't do anything for the boredom that occurs while flying these static. :lol:

Only kidding, they are still fun to fly but I like them better as an engine.


I'm with Sean on this one. Two line flyers (three, but 3rd is a safety line) for FB propulsion, z-bridles with four lines and handles for static enjoyment. If you are into Park 'n Ride with huge long straight shots (beach with straight onshores, Ivanpah, etc.) it is hard to beat a properly sized NASA Star flown from a bar and harness in a buggy. You can literally fly it handsfree with periodic fingertip touches to the bar every few seconds to keep it flying straight a few meters off the ground. Almost uncanny how rock steady they are as engines used in these settings. This same simplicity is what makes them boring after a while flying static.

With a priori apologies for the momentary thread vere, this is exactly what I love about Peak-2s in this setting. Rock solid Park n Ride can be achieved by sliding the little ball down the trim line and locking the bar thus transforming the DP to a super stable low AR temporary FB. Periodic fingertip adjustment as described above. When you need to take off the gas you just slide the ball out and let the bar out. Instant DP! Best of both worlds IMHO. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program. :saint:

Randy - 15-11-2016 at 11:21 AM

Stefan,

If you want to really go down to the dark side :D and have a Mom, sister, or GF who can sew you might try to get them to sew an NPW for you. For people who can sew, it is not very challenging - making a blouse, or a dress is probably a lot harder. The bridles are complicated, but can be done - you would probably have to do those yourself. Who knows, maybe you could even get extra credit in Science class or Home EC for that matter. Better yet, take Home EC. (if they still have that in school) and get the teacher to help you.....:D

SSI_Stefan - 15-11-2016 at 11:49 AM

That had crossed my mind, I may take that road because it would probably be much cheaper.

Randy - 15-11-2016 at 02:02 PM

Here is the place to start. I would go with one of the Tom White plans, either the NPW-5 or 9. The 5 is a simpler one to build.

http://www.kiteplans.org/cat_3/sub_34/

If you have any question you can PM me if you like.

soliver - 16-11-2016 at 12:46 PM

I'm a big fan of the. NASA Stars myself.