Power Kite Forum

small buggy engine??

johnnylaing - 22-2-2009 at 09:49 PM

Today we had a really windy day...forcast was calling for gusts to 35, but I'd say it was 25-30...anyway, I had trouble with a 3.5 Rage...it was offshore and up and down...get dropped in a hole and then full power once the kite luffed into the power zone...fun. Despite trying to fly in the edge of the window, I don't think it was a good choice for me, given my experience and the conditions. I tried my Slingshot trainer, but it won't relaunch worth a damn. The power was ok, though. So....what do others like in the 1.8-2.5 range for nukin wind?? Any tips ? What should the gap be from the 3.5?? Thanks...

dylanj423 - 23-2-2009 at 01:17 AM

The rage comes in those sizes, if you like that kite... I got some pkd centuries that I like a lot. If i had to only pick one of the two sizes you mentioned... it would be the 2.5, but for 30 mph, I would fly the 1.8

Krohn1999 - 23-2-2009 at 04:12 AM

I use Brooza II for high winds. both the 2.0 and 3.0 are great high wind kites that have really no limit on how much they can take. You just have to adjust the AoA the stronger the wind gets. Depending on how much you weigh and how big of an area you have to ride in will decide wich one is better for you.

I also have small Reactors but to be honest I grab the Brooza II everytime. They have a much better "in control" feeling. The Reactors get pretty squrimy in gusty wind.

BeamerBob - 23-2-2009 at 04:28 AM

the new beamer IV's will be out in 6-8 weeks. It promises to be an improved buggy engine over the current model. They will be available in a 1.4 and a 2m. My 3m was good into the low to mid 20's and a 2m could take you well over 30.

indigo_wolf - 23-2-2009 at 07:02 AM

This quote on the Flexifoil site has always intrigued me:

"The Sting also has a place in the kit bag for advanced kite buggy pilots as an ultra stable, high-wind traction engine.

Kiting in conditions that would usually be classed as unsuitable is now possible due to the Sting's gust absorbing properties however we do recommend that you upgrade the flying lines if you are planning to use this kite for this purpose!" :wow: ;-)

ATB,
Sam

dylanj423 - 23-2-2009 at 07:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf
This quote on the Flexifoil site has always intrigued me:

"The Sting also has a place in the kit bag for advanced kite buggy pilots as an ultra stable, high-wind traction engine.

Kiting in conditions that would usually be classed as unsuitable is now possible due to the Sting's gust absorbing properties however we do recommend that you upgrade the flying lines if you are planning to use this kite for this purpose!" :wow: ;-)

ATB,
Sam


I have tried buggying in 30mph winds with my sting 1.7... Soft surface with lots of friction. Downwind runs but no upwind. I wonder how much wind it really needs???

I did board once with it on grass in stupid high winds.

indigo_wolf - 23-2-2009 at 08:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dylanj423
I have tried buggying in 30mph winds with my sting 1.7... Soft surface with lots of friction. Downwind runs but no upwind. I wonder how much wind it really needs???

I did board once with it on grass in stupid high winds.

Wondering what kind of luck you would have had with the 2.4 Sting.

Kind of surprised you didn't pop any lines on the 1.7... surprised you even thought to try it. :shocked2: :wink2:

ATB,
Sam

dylanj423 - 23-2-2009 at 08:43 AM

Quote:

Kind of surprised you didn't pop any lines on the 1.7... surprised you even thought to try it. :shocked2: :wink2:

ATB,
Sam


I showed up at the field and my smallest "real kite" was a 3.5, I think... Wind gusting to just over 30mph.

I was about to pack it up when I saw the bag, and thought to try it out. I changed the lines a long time ago 25m 330/220, and put it on HQ handles. I keep it for any newbie that wants to give it a go... and my Dad loves it.

I keep waiting for the day that I can actually use it... I have given up on the 1.2 as far as functionality

DAKITEZ - 23-2-2009 at 09:48 AM

5m de-power will cover you no problem. Also it will not be a little knat on crack like a 1.5 - 2m kite will be.

Bladerunner - 23-2-2009 at 09:56 AM

This is just my opinion !

I bought a 1.5m Profoil for high winds last year at NABX. We got the high winds and I got to try the 1.5. I found it was just too zippy. It only created power in spurts and was useless at the edge.

Sunset Jim gave me a shot at the same kite in the same wind but 2.5 m. It performed so much better. Just that bit slower and it had real power through to the edge of the window.

What I think I have found is that a kite can be too small ??

I bought a 2.5 as soon as I came home.

Dakize is right though. Big wind like that can be all over the map. a 4 - 6 m depower may be the ultimate answer !

B-Roc - 23-2-2009 at 10:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DAKITEZ
5m de-power will cover you no problem. Also it will not be a little knat on crack like a 1.5 - 2m kite will be.


I agree. Though I don't have any depowers myself, it seems when the winds are cranking like you descibe and mixing in a good amount of gusts, the only guys looking like they are having fun and not simply holding on and riding out the gusts are those with 4-5m depowerables.

dylanj423 - 23-2-2009 at 10:18 AM

Quote:
the only guys looking like they are having fun and not simply holding on and riding out the gusts


I thought that was the fun part:wee:

Its my favorite part anyways, as long as I'm still in the bug. One of my buggy companions uses a 4m Access for those kind of winds, I have had the pleasure of flying it once, and I agree, it is a great kite for that wind.

krumly - 23-2-2009 at 11:29 AM

If I were going to add another small fixed bridle for gusty conditions, I'd say PKD Brooza 2m as well. But I have to say I'm getting more in depower kites. What about a 6m PL Synergy?

krumly

geokite - 23-2-2009 at 04:42 PM

You said it. The smallest arcs are the BEST for high winds. I fly a 6m phantom and have yet to find the upper range on the kite. Amazing kite.

Wind that high is never going to be smooth, so the gust absorption of the twinskins rules. I have been buggying since 94, and have never felt so confident in high winds on the dry lake bed with a kite.

The one aspect of the arcs that make them "bad" low wind kites (not very efficient for their size) make them the BEST high wind kites, because you don't have a tiny, zippy kite.

I would really like to get a 6m synergy, as I think it would cover the same wind as a 9m and 6m phantom.

Steve Bateman

action jackson - 23-2-2009 at 05:49 PM

I have to agree with bateman......................aj

flexiblade - 23-2-2009 at 06:19 PM

Ditto as above - the 10m guerilla that I have has been tested in very gusty winds (14 to 32mph checked with a wind meter) - it performed beautifully - no overpowered lurches, no crazy kite speed - just a nice even pull with power to spare in the bar and plenty of control in the kite.

johnnylaing - 23-2-2009 at 09:45 PM

wow. Thanks guys...I have yet to try a de-power, or arc. My first experience ever (after flying the trainer quite a bit) was taking the slingshot and a borrowed buggy out on a day that was 25 or more...just like yesterday, west and gusty, and I did pop a line flying static. I just pulled it out again cause I couldn't hang on to the 3.5 rage. It is annoying now that I have some flight time. I'll have to hook up with Angus on a really windy day and try something...I really appreciate the help here!

john

awindofchange - 24-2-2009 at 02:35 PM

The 2.2 Yakuza is an awesome high wind engine. Most of us here all have an Ozone 1.5 LD Stunt for our high wind days - awesome kites.

Here's a trick that many of you may not know of.

When in high wind, put your kite on some super short lines, like 30 foot or so or even less. What this does is take a ton of the power and the "Bumblebee on Crack" type of feel out of the kite and makes the kite much more controllable. Your power window is mega small, making it much harder for the kite to spank you or yank your arms off. By the time the kite yanks it is already heading to (or at) the edge of the window. This also reduces the amount of rear line drag that ends up pulling your kite back into the window, reducing the amount of upwind you can get (most don't realize this is why it can be difficult to get good upwind with a small kite in blistering winds). If you are having a hard time getting your kite out to the edge of the window in strong winds, lengthen those brake lines a ton!!!

Short lines rule in higher winds. The kite can still be squirmy but because the kite is only about 20 feet in front of you it is much easier to straighten out and see what is happening....also, if you do end up pounding the kite into the ground you reduce the amount of damage you can do to it because it is usually only a couple feet from the ground, not 80-90 feet up with a major speed gain that will pound (and explode) your kite.

If you are interested in making a short line set, grab yourself some Q-power line, about 100 feet, and cut it in fours making a 25 foot set. From there you can hack off 5-10 feet and try it out to see how it works for you.

We can also custom make you a short quad line set in any length you would like, just give us a call or drop us an e-mail.

Hope this helps.

arkay - 24-2-2009 at 03:17 PM

I generally like to fly under powered, but my limit for my rage 2.5 is about 25mph. Above 25 I just pull out the beer. I saw a 1.7 bullet on ebay a while back that would have been nice to grab. I can't imagine flying my Montana 5m in 30mph in the buggy, it's way too lifty, would probably be more like a hovercraft :) I flew that kite in 25mph once and at zenith it was able to almost hold all of my weight (#220). But again, I generally like to be underpowered.

What's a good low-life de-power? (Is this a loaded question...)

flexiblade - 24-2-2009 at 08:54 PM

I take it you meant "low-lift" or else you want a kamakazi kite built for suicide missions, or a dirt ball "cheap" kite - for a good quality kite I would suggest, as was mentioned earlier by dylanj423, a 4m access - the 8m I have will get lifty but only after it has been seriously overpowered (24mph+ winds). For a cheaper version you could look for a 5m Pansh Blaze II - I wouldn't consider these to be a dirt ball kite, but they are much cheaper than an Access.

johnnylaing - 24-2-2009 at 09:20 PM

What are the Flexi Sting and PKD Century like?

I've been reading about the Ozone LD 2.1...that looks like good spacing from the 3.5 Rage

Anyone have anything they are willing to sell in this range?