Power Kite Forum

New ProFoil 1.5mē

Pdxnebula - 18-9-2007 at 10:15 PM

Well here goes the next ProFoil 1.5mē review;

In 2 Words, Awesome Kite!!!

In slightly more detail, took it out this evening in steady 10-12kts winds at the beach on the Columbia River, next to the PDX Airport...

Nice clean winds off the river, set up the kite on the handles it came with, sturdy enough, (2" shorter than my other quad handles that came with my 72" RipTide Quad from Newtech), drilled a couple holes in the backside bottom's of the handles & added brake loops, & a set of 300/100lb 100' spectra lines)

Got the kite setup & hooked into the brake loops on my stake. & it just sat there, parked perfectly, cells full & ready to fly... Slipped the brake loops off the stake, & gave the kite a tug, right up the middle of the window, & it never stopped pulling for 2 hrs. it flew straight up to peak & waited for its next input, it turned on a dime & will oversteer if to much brake is applied but is very easy to pull out of & any turn that ends up to sharp, is easily corrected, by easing off the brakes...

In 10-12kts winds, it pulled like a small truck, did some 3-4' scuds on a grassy part of the beach in sandles, with nice tight figure 8's through the powerzone, (grinning from ear 2 ear) had to land it several times to give my hands & arms a break from the pulling it gave me... It flys in reverse & reverse launch's very well all the way to the ground, or will sit at its peak & just wait...

Compared to my RushII 250, I may be comparing (this type of apple vs that type) 2 line vs 4line, but (the Profoil being exactly 12" shorter at 7'2" & the RushII 250 at 8'2") is just as fast if not faster & pulls as much if not more, than the Rush... thats where the similarity stops... they both look great & fly great but the Profoil is most definately the better kite IMO...

I'd recommend a ProFoil to anyone, who wants a nice looking, sturdy, very well made kite that will not dissapoint or break the bank & is tons of fun in the air & has more than enough power & speed for its size... Can Hardly Wait for 20-25kts winds... & 2-3 sizes bigger!!!

:singing:

GulfSandEater - 19-9-2007 at 03:07 PM

It sounds like it was well worth the wait, Nebula. It is definitely a fun kite to fly in the 15-20+ knots windrange!

By the way, how did it do for you at the edge of the window? Any problems (e.g. tip folding , bow-ties) when turning away from the edge?

Pdxnebula - 19-9-2007 at 09:48 PM

It flew fine at the edge of the window, I didnt notice anything unexpected, (Bow ties Im not sure about), dont think I've had a kite look like a bowtie yet, so Im not sure what I would be looking for, any explination would be helpful...

Otherwise when flown to either the edge of the window, it would just sit there until I turned it around to take it back across the power zone & it lets you know about its power then....

But it handled great at the peak & edges, was even able to hold both handles in 1 hand for close to a minute at the peak, & still had control as long as the wind was steady & stable...

acampbell - 20-9-2007 at 06:00 AM

With the center two cells closed at the leading edge, the profoils hold their shape well in flaky winds and do well at the edge of the window. I have coaxed mine to bow-tie and end up with only half the kite inflated and it stayed in the air long enough to shake it out.

Pdxnebula - 23-9-2007 at 01:33 PM

Just tried out my 1st set of sewn loops last evening on my quad 300/100lb/100' lines... My little ProFoil 1.5mē scudded me (gusting 15kt winds) (5'10", 200lbs) all around on my new no/knot lines....

http://www.geocities.com/nebula_43/Kites/ProFoil_Scud.JPG

((Got a Used Sewing machine from the G/F) (she has a new one...))

:smilegrin:

Pdxnebula - 2-10-2007 at 04:31 PM

Just had the ProFoil out in 15kt-22kt winds (17.3mph - 25.3mph) talk about rocking... This little kite is FAST & has tons of pull in those winds, was scudding in the grass 8-10'+ at the local small park, (besides working around the gusts & wind shadow from the trees) It loves the higher winds, can hardly wait to give it a try at the beach on the coast with less gusts in the same speed winds... Even had a small audiance, when some local Soccer people showed up to practice, (but I was in their feild flying & being dragged around, besides having my bike locked to the goal post, so they had to wait to practice) Had a blast...!!!

tridude - 4-10-2007 at 08:03 PM

Alright Nebula your better be right as I just ordered a 3.5!:yes:

SecondWind - 4-10-2007 at 08:34 PM

Same here - I ordered a 1m for my longboard skateboard days :thumbup:

Pdxnebula - 4-10-2007 at 09:56 PM

If anyones dis-satisfied with their ProFoils, NP send em to me & I'll give em a good home...:singing:

GulfSandEater - 4-10-2007 at 10:47 PM

If that BRIGHT PINK 3.5m is anything like my 2.5m, Tridude, you will be pleased. Nice kites!

tridude - 5-10-2007 at 06:13 AM

Thanx Gulf! Im def excited about flying this one! Yeah that pink looks loud but cool! I had a pink triathlon jersey in my younger days so Im comfy with the color. The new graphics and colors on the proposed 'newer" profoils look nice as well. Between a 3.5, 4.5, and a FSer Pulse 7, I have my high wind days on the beach and in the water covered!:smilegrin:

acampbell - 5-10-2007 at 07:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tridude
Thanx Gulf! Im def excited about flying this one! Yeah that pink looks loud but cool! I had a pink triathlon jersey in my younger days so Im comfy with the color. The new graphics and colors on the proposed 'newer" profoils look nice as well. Between a 3.5, 4.5, and a FSer Pulse 7, I have my high wind days on the beach and in the water covered!:smilegrin:


The Pink 3.5 does in deed look better in the air than on the ground, but so does any kite for that matter! Do not underestimate it though, it's allways the "little ones" that spank you. I got snatched up and dropped on my head (with helmet) by my 3.5.

I just got my 5.5m ProFoil back on a trade in and am looking forward to flyng it before I find it a new home.

tridude - 6-10-2007 at 09:12 PM

Yep the smaller ones have attitudes, just like dogs! Angus send me a set of 25m PL 170/110 OR Flexi 220/110 kg lines; which ever one you have in stock! Let me know and Ill send you $$ via paypal!

tridude - 9-10-2007 at 08:50 PM

The 3.5 Profoil arrived! Nice, crispy pink/black ripstop sail ready to fly! Excellent build, nice bag and handles. Shipping was very, very fast! :smilegrin:

SecondWind - 19-10-2007 at 12:23 PM

I got a chance to fly the 1m today in 20 mph (gusting to 30) winds.

The little ProFoil flew very well :thumbup:

I plan on using it with a longboard skateboard when the winds are rippin'.

Pdxnebula - 21-10-2007 at 08:10 PM

DaVinch, Looks like your expecting some REALLY Ripping Winds with a 1.0mē, I thought I was the only 1 looking for REALLY Ripping winds with my 1.5mē, I've got to admit things got really interesting the other day during our wind storm, even With all the gusting & "Heres the wind, Opps its gone again" type of gusting & blowing the air was doing... It wasnt as steady as any of us would like to fly in... But tons of Fun & really kept me on my toes just trying to read what the kite & lines were going to do next...

OreBeamer - 20-11-2007 at 09:05 PM

Joined the Profoil club :)
1.5m & 2.5m



Can't wait to fly them.

BeamerBob - 21-11-2007 at 05:34 AM

I got mine yesterday! It is a cool looking kite with the purple color. It looks to be very well made and a nice size for those high wind days. When I would hold the power bridles in my hands and tug with the kite just hanging down, it really jumped up in the air. It looks to be very fast and eager in the sky. I hope I have some wind this weekend. Nothing promising in the forecast.

What's the deal with the instructions about the kite not being designed for use with kite killers? How would you have to design that into a 4 line kite?

acampbell - 21-11-2007 at 05:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob


What's the deal with the instructions about the kite not being designed for use with kite killers? How would you have to design that into a 4 line kite?


Ted tells me that this was put into the instructions after a customer complained about ripping out a brake bridle when deploying kite killers in very high winds. They really work fine with a Profoil.
The only time I have ripped a brake bridle on a Pro-foil is when a main line let go and the stress of the whole kite went to one wing tip. It was an easy fix.

BeamerBob - 21-11-2007 at 06:22 AM

I can see me being comfortable flying a 1.5 without them in sane winds but I would like Jared (8 years old) to wear KKs. He did a superman with my symphony, so I would like him to have an "out". I should get my lines today. Thanks for the help picking them out.