WTB Ozone Access 4m with reride

Quote: Originally posted by Wind_dog

Brown out. Been there, seen that. On the playa I would want to be in a landsailer but on a steady wind on the beach, I need something smaller than my 6m in my quiver. As Eric puts it, I recently slashed my inventory . . . . Alternatively, the Peak4 even comes as small as 3m with a 5th line schruncher. Anybody ever try one?

Wow! I did not know until your post that the P4 now comes in a convenient gale-force 3m size. Just read their marketing copy on their website and was interested to see how much, err, crossover the P4 has with your beloved Shaman's with their passive wingtip Inflated baffling. I assume that takes the dreaded "Peak Flap" out of play. The 5th line option is sweet too, following the re-ride tradition. All my RaceStars have a similar (optional) system installed. And I like it as a way for landing the kite.

I loved how they noted that due to it being SS it was virtually indestructible. I think both of us have experience knowing that's not always true. They clearly have never touched a wing tip down on the playa going over 40 mph. That's like touching your kite down on a belt sander and watching a pretty puff of dust poof up behind your kite sort of the same color as your kite.

A 3m SS with a 4:1 AR; that's a nice combo. My 3m RS+ has a 6:1 AR. You need to get a 3m P4 and the two of us should be so fortunate as to go head to head on the beach or playa. "Two men enter; one man leaves!"

Quote: Originally posted by jeffnyc

From what I understand, the 3m P4 was born from requests from foilers that wanted a high wind kite. Lots of requests for an even smaller one, but probably won't happen. I think the tolerances are so tight on smaller kites that it isn't worth it to them to make a 2m.

On of the things I've noticed with small DP SS kites (4m P2, 3.5m LS2, and 3m RS+) is that you need to be careful not to take the kite through too much range of motion with the bar. A full throw of the bar really changes the AOA a lot and they can be difficult to control as a result.

What I've found to work well with these three kites is to launch the kite and before moving find the right length for the clam cleat line so that you almost (but not quite) stall the kite when you pull the bar all the way in, and then you slide the stopper balls down the sheet line until you find how much bar throw you can give without completely collapsing the kite. This will not be the full throw, but rather about 3/4 of it. That then is the range I'll fly the kite in. If I need to really depower the kite completely I just push the bar out hard against the stopper balls and force them to slide up the sheet line.

I don't like to roll fast with the stopper balls all the way up the sheet line in high winds with these tiny DPs. I've had them collapse in the air that way and then punch out again. This can be pretty nerve racking when you're going 40+ mph. Been there and it wasn't fun for me.

Quote: Originally posted by Wind_dog

Windstruck - good description of flying the small DP SS kites. Without cells, I feel they deflate/inflate quicker than something like an Access. The hybrid designs like Shaman and Peak4 are more forgiving, but a 4m Access seems favored for forgiveness. I've also heard that a small LEI works well for strong gusty winds, but I'm not ready to go there. NKA - No thanks, I'm specifically looking for 4m or less.

I have found that the RS+ compared to the RS tends to be better behaved in the deflate/inflate department. The Primary (only?) difference between these kite lines is that the RS+ has semi flexible vertical spars spaced all along the lower 2/5 or so of the kite going down nearly to the trailing edge. Born also makes a 3.0m RS+ but the smallest RS is a 5.0m. You can get a 3.5m LS3 in roughly the same AR as the P4 (about 4:1). I've not flown the 3rd gen LongStars.

When I owned and flew the 6.0m Access I was always amazed by just how darn stable it was in the sky. All hell could be breaking loose wind wise and that inflatable queen sized camper mattress would just sit there in the sky and tug on the power lines. I remain a BIG fan of small Access kites!

pure?

pure

wrong pure