Originally posted by beachrights
Strange how we are both flying the Pansh aaaaalmost if not more then our Flexis! Pansh is the cult classic of kites!
Funny how we compare out kites, and one kite falls out of favor for another.
The past three weekends I've gotten a chance to fly a pair of 8m kites. A home made 8 fixed bridle kite (a Gual www.wingine.nl) and an Ozone Access2 depowerable.
In light winds (under 10 mph) the fixed bridled kite when flown on a cross over bar provides enough power and speed on the buggy to be fun! When
flown on handles, it just seems sluggish in these winds. The Access2 is best left in the bag until the wind hits 10mph or above.
Now in the 10 to 15 mph range of wind, the Gual really powers up, and I start to feel a bit overpowered on the buggy, yet right at home on the
mountainboard. Now is when the Access2 is smooth and easily controlled and starting to wake up and show it's potential for the buggy, but still just
not quite enough for me on the board.
These were in smooth coastal winds where the gusts are only a couple mph above the wind speed.
Maybe for my next round of store bought vs home made comparisons... I have a 4.5 race kite I made, a 4.7 Flexi Rage, and a 4.9 Ballistic. Then
compare speeds with a gps, along with how they handle and respond.
Sounds like a great excuse to go to the beach to me :singing:Bladerunner - 7-8-2007 at 08:46 AM
It would be great to hear how that works out !!!Taper123 - 1-10-2007 at 10:03 AM
Time for another comparison from the weekend
A Flexifoil Rage 4.7 and a 4.5 home made "Tribal" race kite.
Winds were pretty close to onshore at about 15 - 17 mph with higher gusts. Using a flexifoil buggy with a standard axle and wide tires.
The Flexifoil Rage 4.7, in the PunS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-d color option, flew just like any other flexifoil product. In other words, as predicted and a
pleasure to fly. It's not super lifty, but caution should be used if launching dead down wind. The kite turns quick and is responsive, and
generates a steady pull through the wind window. Was able to get some really good speed out of the kite, but was starting to feel overpowered in the
higher gusts. All and all, it is a great kite and I enjoyed flying it. Flexifoil quality build from the bag on up to the details on the kite. Not
super lifty, but perfect for what it's made for... Never flew one of it's predecessors (the Bullet) but I like this kite (even if it is the wifes
and I borrowed it to try it out).
The Tribal 4.5 is a high aspect race foil I downloaded the plans for off of the internet. Took me a couple times in the air to get the bridle
adjustments to the point I was somewhat happy with. When flying static it wanted to curl the wing tips and do other strange things... but once I got
in the buggy... I can see why "Race" kites have that name to them. Very fast through the wind window. Kite liked a little bit of brake input, and
the faster it's apparent wind, the happier it was.
So if your in the market for something in the mid 4 size range without a lot of lift, but with smooth power and a steady response at the controls, the
Rage would fill that need. Kite really flies nice, and had a nice feel to it in the buggy.
Or crank up the sewing machine or go out and buy a Race kite in this size... guaranteed to fulfill the need, the need for speed. All I know is it
got me going so fast that I had to send it to the top of the window for a bit... was not sliding sideways or getting overpowered, just going too
freakin fast!
