Power Kite Forum

Born Kite Longstar 2 review

John Holgate - 24-1-2017 at 06:42 PM

Finally got the Longstar 2 review up. Sorry for posting it as a link but I don't have a site for hosting photos at the moment and I've put a lot of photos in the review. Should be able to add some video over the next day.

Longstar 2 Review

Windstruck - 24-1-2017 at 07:54 PM

Superb review John! I left longer comments on XK. Great stuff. Happy to hear that Steffen has seriously upped his game with the 2nd-gen LS.

Randy - 25-1-2017 at 05:45 AM

Excellent review!

John Holgate - 25-1-2017 at 08:30 PM

Cheers guys. And some vid of the kite too.....

Windstruck - 26-1-2017 at 12:11 PM

Loved the video Mr. Holgate. Seeing the side by side shots of the LS2 and P2 was particularly illuminating. The LS2 looked more refined in the air, certainly less "flappy". Some early reviews we've seen on the P3 has me thinking this next-gen Peak may flap less than the P2s. Time will tell.

Maybe a future LS2 versus P3 shootout?

Continued thanks for all you're doing to elevate our sport.

pstkk - 26-1-2017 at 11:45 PM

Great video. Thank you for making it.

I have been wanting to get a 4m Peak for when my 6m gets overpowered. However, I would only be able to use such a small kite less than once per month, making it hard to justify the cost. A 3.5m Longstar looks like a perfect alternative. It sure is a lot cheaper. I guess the bridles could have been shorter and fewer, but that is OK considering the price.

Bladerunner - 28-1-2017 at 04:11 PM

Will kites with this " ghost quality " for launching and landing not also sit stable at zenith or off to one side?

If not, why not? Bouncing on the ground resets it?

John Holgate - 29-1-2017 at 07:07 PM


Quote:

Will kites with this " ghost quality " for launching and landing not also sit stable at zenith or off to one side?


I don't think either the LS2 or the Peak 2 will sit at zenith or the side 'hands off' like they will on the ground at the edge.....do LEI's do this too??

But I have no idea on the mechanics of the 'ghost landing' or the Arc's auto zenith....would be an enlightening discussion.

soliver - 21-3-2017 at 08:51 PM

^^^ I'm getting a funny troll-ish, spam-like smell... am I the only one?

Blitzhound - 21-3-2017 at 10:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by John Holgate  

Quote:

Will kites with this " ghost quality " for launching and landing not also sit stable at zenith or off to one side?


I don't think either the LS2 or the Peak 2 will sit at zenith or the side 'hands off' like they will on the ground at the edge.....do LEI's do this too??

But I have no idea on the mechanics of the 'ghost landing' or the Arc's auto zenith....would be an enlightening discussion.


I can say that the LEI's will sit at the edge of the window. This is my main method for landing my LEI's when I'm out alone. It works amazingly well. I have a lanyard tied to the hitch of my truck. I simply transfer the chicken loop to the lanyard walk out to the kite and lay it down. I've never tried to solo launch like this. I typically launch them much like an arc. With sand on the down wind tip. I have also done this with the ARC's leaving them in the air at zenith attached to the truck. To take a break. Get some food and or drink. Then back in the buggy.

John Holgate - 27-3-2017 at 01:25 PM


Quote:

^^^ I'm getting a funny troll-ish, spam-like smell... am I the only one?


Look, he didn't cost me much so I suppose you get what you pay for....:D

Windstruck - 27-3-2017 at 08:26 PM

I spent much of the day on Ivanpah today with the 3.5m NS3 in the air. LOVE THAT KITE. Gobbles up gusts, launches and lands easily, great amount of DP, and rock streaky in the air. Very little bar pressure. Steffen has the LS2 dialed in!

Randy - 27-3-2017 at 08:35 PM

Did you mean LS2?


Could be you are experiencing Kiter Euforia which affects typing skills.

John Holgate - 28-3-2017 at 12:12 AM

Assuming you mean the LS2, did you notice much flapping when depowered?

Windstruck - 28-3-2017 at 04:26 AM

Yes, 3.5 LS2. Combination of kite euphoria, lack of sleep, and prior thirst quenching activity. :D

The kite is incredibly stable in the air. Rock solid with the bar in, and only the tiniest amount of flap on the lower outer corners when depowered. I don't own the 4.0 P3 but the 4.0 P2 shook like a captured angry bird in exactly the same conditions on Ivanpah last year (extreme flapping when depowered in high winds when moving fast).

Kite has much smoother power build and power dump than 4.0 P2. Little Burger (4m P2) dumps power like it's been thrown over the cliff while the the 3.5 LS2 builds and dumps gradually and feels more tuned in that way.

I flew it yesterday from the narrowest (45cm) holes on the bar. I'm going to move out one hole to 50cm today. Wanted a little more response in turning, but was glad it was set that way for the first day.

HUGE FAN after day one. :thumbup:

Bladerunner - 28-3-2017 at 07:42 AM

Yes. That 3.5 was looking pretty refined.

I think I may hit you up for a demo run on it? At the rate you change out quivers I want to be 1st in line when you sell it. :cool:

Feyd - 29-3-2017 at 05:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John Holgate  

Quote:

Will kites with this " ghost quality " for launching and landing not also sit stable at zenith or off to one side?


I don't think either the LS2 or the Peak 2 will sit at zenith or the side 'hands off' like they will on the ground at the edge.....do LEI's do this too??

But I have no idea on the mechanics of the 'ghost landing' or the Arc's auto zenith....would be an enlightening discussion.


Kites are getting closer to being able to autozenith like an arc but I have yet to see one that actually does.

Ghost landing 9m Peak 1...

https://youtu.be/ziI6hs1co48?t=2m39s

It would sit more solidly on edge if our winds were steady. But it generates so little power the surges aren't an issue. More of a novelty than a needed method to land the Peaks IMO.

I would NOT do this with any other bridled foils. Some people get away with it in uber steady winds but it's not worth the risk IMO to anchor the powered lines.

Ghost launch of probably the hardest arc to launch (AR7.0) without full internal pressure. F-Arc 1600.

https://youtu.be/5YlKbe21xdI?t=20s

Similar to LEIs in this characteristic.

We rarely use ghost launch here and auto zenith doesn't work here. Our winds don't allow it. :-(

Great review on the Longstar. Very intriguing....:-)

Windstruck - 29-3-2017 at 05:42 AM

I would say that in super smooth winds like on Ivanpah that the 3.8m LS2 more or less auto zeniths. Very easy to hot launch and it just shoots up and sits like a panting puppy waiting impatiently to play. Just as soon as I can walk out to my buggy, fiddle with the AQR, get my feet on the pegs and then I (finally) let her run! :D

Side note: 6m P3 also more or less auto zeniths in this same situation. It did tend to drift a bit more....