Power Kite Forum

Tell me about the C-quad please

Bladerunner - 1-8-2008 at 08:26 AM

I don't actually NEED any kite right now. Love my quiver.
I'm looking at a C-quad and thinking it may be fun to give one a try.

Can someone who has flown them tell me if it's worth putting out about $150 to pick one up ? 4.5m kite only, I think.

What are their flying characteristics ? Pull , lift, upwind, gusts, etc. ?????

action jackson - 1-8-2008 at 08:54 AM

Like a NPW but on meth, a #@%$#! to put back in the bag.Fast kite but very old sckool..........aj

here are some in action in this classic vid.................aj

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXk7WqcpYjE

Bladerunner - 1-8-2008 at 10:17 AM

Old Sckool is COOL ! :cool: and I'm all about trying new angles on an old game :evil:

I'm all for that ! I'm just wondering if I'll get $150 worth of fun out of it ? Or will I find it frustrating ?

awindofchange - 1-8-2008 at 12:00 PM

Can you fly a Revolution? :)

I started on C-quads and absolutely loved them. They are probably the most powerful kites per size of any kite made (to my knowledge - with a very close second to the Rev Power Kites). The 4.2 C-Quad was my favorite one. The C-quads don't really have that much float/hang time on them but they do create a ton of power, instantly!

You do have to fly them on all four lines, meaning to turn the C-quad you have to work the brake lines with your turns. You can do the standard "Pull left, turn left" type of flying but by just pulling the C-Quad will make a huge looping turn and not have very much power...it will also feel very "mushy" during the turn. By using the brake lines to turn the kite will snap around very fast and have a lot more power. The C-Quad can actually rotate on its own axis, meaning that when you crank the turn around, it will spin in its own circle.

Because it is a single skinned kite, upwind performance is awesome. By fine control of the brake lines during flight you can get the C-quad to produce awesome power at the edge of the window. Depower is just as awesome because when you drop the brake lines out of the kite it "flaggs" out, dumping most of the power.

The downside? Well, as mentioned it is a pain to re-pack into the bag. In fact, nearly 80% of all damaged leading edges happen during the re-packing of the kite. Another downside is that it has a rigid frame in the kite. If you pound it into the ground you have a high probability that one of the spars or the clips are going to break. The other downside to the C-Quad is that when stored it still takes up a lot of space. The 4.2 will only fold down to a saucer shape of about 2.5 foot diameter. This takes a lot more room than a small stuff sack for a open cell foil.

The good? The C-Quad is fast and powerful. It has more power per size than other kites. Upwind is awesome, depower is a lot better than normal fixed bridle foils.

I had all sizes from the 1.4m to my largest which was a 10.5m.

Bladerunner - 1-8-2008 at 12:24 PM

Sounds like fun to me !:singing:

How difficult will it be to get spars after market ???

WELDNGOD - 1-8-2008 at 02:51 PM

kick azzz vid dude!:thumbup::thumbup:

silvereaglekiter - 1-8-2008 at 03:09 PM

Nice Vid:thumbup:

Officials would freeeeek if we tried that on Jockeys ridge :o lets do it:ninja:
I need some sand tires first :lol:

speleopower - 1-8-2008 at 04:38 PM

I have flown them since they were released back in 1999ish. Very cool and very power kite. I no longer have access to any but would like to fly one again.

Get one and fly the heck out of it. We kitesurfed with them in 1999/2000.

Scott
p.s. you can see the tops of a couple of yellow discs in the picture-those are C-Quads. Pic is from 1999.

My Surfboards.JPG - 27kB

ripsessionkites - 1-8-2008 at 07:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
Sounds like fun to me !:singing:

How difficult will it be to get spars after market ???


still available, contact me

PrairieWind - 1-8-2008 at 09:54 PM

bbrex on this forum still has a bunch of c-quads for sale...
www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=6587
I've bought from him and it was great.

Bladerunner - 2-8-2008 at 08:15 AM

Well with spars available ( cause you know I'm going to crash it ) I think this would be fun !
Rip, have you ever flown one ?
Thanks for the heads up P'W', sent a U2U to Bbrex !!!

P.S. I would gladly trade a near new 4.5 NPW-5 for a 4.2 C-quad !

speleopower - 2-8-2008 at 09:21 AM

The frames of the C-Quad is just carbon fiber rod. It might take some searching but you can get carbon rods in all different sizes.

Anyone have a 8 or 10 meter C-Quad????

I wish a Kiteski rig would come up for sale with a reel bar. :smilegrin: I wish I had never sold mine.

Later-Scott

krumly - 2-8-2008 at 11:11 PM

Replacement spars in glass or carbon can be bought from http://www.kitebuilder.com/kitestudio.html. Steve also stocks aluminum ferrules, and will machine ferrules bored for two different spar sizes for a very reasonable price.

krumly

B-Roc - 5-8-2008 at 05:03 PM

here's other c-quad vids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ9K8mBWprc&mode=related&...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQp-Q8skc4E

Bladerunner - 5-8-2008 at 06:32 PM

Ha,Ha,

Looks like I'm joining the knobs. C-quad incoming :singing:

awindofchange - 5-8-2008 at 11:29 PM

We have a couple of the C-Quad leading edge carbon rods in stock. The vertical spars are just fiberglass rod that can be found pretty easily.

ripsessionkites - 6-8-2008 at 01:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
Well with spars available ( cause you know I'm going to crash it ) I think this would be fun !
Rip, have you ever flown one ?
Thanks for the heads up P'W', sent a U2U to Bbrex !!!

P.S. I would gladly trade a near new 4.5 NPW-5 for a 4.2 C-quad !


yah, in ancient times I actually owned one for kitesurfing. they made these foam pieces to help it float. old times!

i have to say they were great for kitebuggying on short lines too. they performed well upwind with the single skin.

did i mention other acessories like a C-Quad Bar.