Power Kite Forum
Not logged in [Login - Register]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Blade 3 10.5m
viperkid181
Member
***


Avatar


Posts: 102
Registered: 17-5-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 08:26 PM
Blade 3 10.5m


After almost 2 weeks of waiting my Blade, it finally arrived today.
Took it out in winds around 6-9 mph with some gusts around 10mph.

After fiddling with the lines for a bit I quickly realized that at winds less than 10mph this kite is going to take some serious effort to get into the air. 15 minutes into the flight I was already dripping sweat from my nose (it was close to 90 degrees today :)

My previous kite was a 5m Beamer and in comparison the blade takes like 10x the time to do a turn. Now this might just be due to the lack of wind however I'm sure all those people who said it turns like a tank played around with it in higher winds as well. Also the kite did fluff a lot around the edges however I think that will go away in good time and good wind.

A few times I did get a decent gust and turned the kite at the right angle and the kite did do some nice lifting. A couple of times I got lifted a few feet and stayed in the air for a few seconds and had smooth landings without any trouble. One thing that's nice about this kite is that you don't need any wind to get smooth lifts. Therefore in low winds I would safe it's safer for me to do any type of jumping than trying to take a smaller kite in higher winds since there is more room for injury.

All in all I'm very pleased with the first run with this kite. Turning could be a bit faster for my liking since it would help with the lofting on the edges but its not a huge drawback and the nice lifting makes up for it :D

Tune in tomorrow for some more feedback and maybe some videos. My camera man is on vacation for now.



ImageShack.us



View user's profile
arkay
Posting Freak
*****




Posts: 1793
Registered: 23-10-2008
Location: Oregon
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 09:01 PM


This kite should fly in well less than 10, but it pulls like a truck so you will sweat. If you are arm wrangling the kite then expect your shoulders and arms to be very sore too. It's a 10m kite, and they're all slow, so it's not going to turn fast, wind won't really help with that much. Your best bet is pulley handles or to just use more brake input.



US503 - Manzanita, Oregon

Fixed Bridal: Flexifoil Sting 1.2, 1.7; Rage Acid 2.5m, 3.5m, 4.7m, 6m | Peter Lynn Vapor 11.2m, 16.1m | NPW 7m
Depower : Peter Lynn Venom 2 13m, 16m, 19m | Peter Lynn Phantom 15m | Flysurfer 2.5 SA 19m
LEI : Flexifoil Atom 7m, 9m, 12m; Mutiny 8m
Land rides : Libre Hardcore; Libre v-max; Peter Lynn XR+W | Rollerblade Coyotes! | Ground Industries AK Pro
Water rides : Slingshot Misfit 134; Ocean Rodeo Mako 150; North WAM! 5\'10

4 Sale/Trade: HQ M1 5m, Flysurfer Pulse 10, PL Venom 2 16m, PL Venom 19m

View user's profile
furbowski
Posting Freak
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1470
Registered: 1-5-2008
Location: hong kong
Member Is Offline

Mood: stuck on a small island with big trees and tiny beaches...

[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 09:15 PM


Quote:
Therefore in low winds I would safe it's safer for me to do any type of jumping than trying to take a smaller kite in higher winds since there is more room for injury.


:thumbup:

very true, 6.5 to 8 is the sweet spot for me at 155 #. 5 is fast, below that I'm nervous and keep the jumps head-high max.

Try fine-tuning the brakes so that you have maximum amount of possible line you can take in but can still fly OK on powers with brakes off.

Glad you survived! Be careful with your choice of winds! Thanks for checking back....

Where's dat video, eh?



fixed bridles, flying static, been two years now... ??? folks must be wondering....

sting 1.7, dp power 2.5, crossfire 3.2, ace 5, blade iv 6.5, ace 8, ace 12...

also a couple of arcs, 12 syn and 12 phanny, but i\'m not yet up to speed on them.

(13.11.09)
View user's profile
viperkid181
Member
***


Avatar


Posts: 102
Registered: 17-5-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 09:25 PM


The video is coming soon I hope. A few things that I would like to know is can I make a knot between knots? And also whats a 10.5 in good condition worth without lines and handles. I'm already keeping my eyes peeled on a 6.6 and would like to know if I over paid under paid or if I paid the right price.



View user's profile
furbowski
Posting Freak
*****


Avatar


Posts: 1470
Registered: 1-5-2008
Location: hong kong
Member Is Offline

Mood: stuck on a small island with big trees and tiny beaches...

[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 09:44 PM


You can tie and untie knots all you want in the brake and power leader lines coming out from the handles. Never tie knots in your flying lines tho, that will kill strength by at least 30%, likely more. If you need more adjustment room, then add leaders to the kite and adjust up there.

6.6 will be good! A fun size!

$200-300 US is my ballpark figure. I've seen them sit on the for sale list here for months at $300 RTF, but for the right guy they are worth more.



fixed bridles, flying static, been two years now... ??? folks must be wondering....

sting 1.7, dp power 2.5, crossfire 3.2, ace 5, blade iv 6.5, ace 8, ace 12...

also a couple of arcs, 12 syn and 12 phanny, but i\'m not yet up to speed on them.

(13.11.09)
View user's profile
viperkid181
Member
***


Avatar


Posts: 102
Registered: 17-5-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 5-7-2011 at 10:00 PM


Awesome thanks furb for the quick answers.



View user's profile
Bladerunner
Posting Freak
*****


Avatar


Posts: 9679
Registered: 17-10-2006
Location: Vancouver
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-7-2011 at 05:39 AM


I paid $200 complete for my 9m Blade 3+ years ago.

What you say about a larger kite and lower wind being easier to jump with is true. You just seem to have taken that logic to the extreme.

I think I mentioned how a large kite mostly creates power in motion through apparent wind. As you see this kite will perk up at about 10 . Problem is it will be too much almost right away.



Kites: 2.5m Profoil , Quadrifoil XL kitesurfer, NPW 5 Danger.
Flexifoil: 1.7m Sting, 4.9m Blade 3, 9m Blade 2.
Flysurfer : 19m Speed 2 SA, 7m Pulse
Peter Lynn :18m Phantom, 15m Synergy, 10m Synergy, 1200 Farc, 460 Sarc, 130 Tarc, 5m Peel, 4.2m , 6.4, 8.5 C-Quads, 3.5 LS2 single skin.

Rides: Flexi / P.L. Frankin'Buggy , Shaped + straight skiis, sand skis, Coyote blades. Core 95 ATB. RKB R2 ATB .

Ken (K2)
View user's profile
B-Roc
Posting Freak
*****


Avatar


Posts: 3161
Registered: 9-3-2006
Location: Massachusetts
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-7-2011 at 05:56 AM


I sold my kite only 8.5 blade III in close to mint condition (some of the mesh of the outer cells was fouled but that's it) for $300 two years ago. I would expect a 10.5 B3 complete would be worth about that today. Because of the narrow range of the 8.5 and 10.5 I would expect the smaller, more versatile 6.6 to go for close to the same as the larger kites (if not more).



Depower Quiver: 14m Gin Eskimo, 10m Gin Eskimo III, 6m Gin Yeti, 4.5m Gin Yeti (custom bridle and mixer)
Fixed Bridle Quiver: MAC Bego 400, JOJO ET Instinct 2.5 & 5.5, Lil Devil 1.5, Sting 1.2
Rides: Ground Industries
View user's profile
tridude
Posting Freak
*****




Posts: 4097
Registered: 20-10-2006
Location: South Carolina
Member Is Offline

Mood: Semper in excretum sum sed alta variat................alwayz in the crap but the depth varys.........

[*] posted on 6-7-2011 at 06:09 PM


you should able to fly this kite in a gnats fart and power rings will help her turn quicker....................you def have the Super Tanker of the Blades..................



17m Ozone Zephyr (2012)
15m Flysurfer Silver Arrow 2
12m Ozone Catalyst (2013)
10m Ozone Catalyst (2012)
MTH Colonel Reb customs 160x45 carbon, 141x43 wood
Wainman Joke & Demitri Pro
11'6 Naish Nalu
6' Davo Fish
View user's profile
Drewculous
Posting Freak
*****


Avatar


Posts: 3248
Registered: 14-4-2009
Location: Scottsbluff, Ne
Member Is Offline

Mood: Official Tough Mudder :D

[*] posted on 6-7-2011 at 07:09 PM


sweet deal man! cant wait for the vids!



PL: Twister II 5.6m, Phantom 15m / 12m, 10m Synergy, JIBE Viper 5.3m, Charger 19m
HQ: Montana 4 12.5m, Apex 3 5m
Flexi: Blade ViP, Rage 1.8m \"lil Pepi!\"
FlexiFoot Bug / FlexDeck / MBS Core 95 / Custom Carbon Fiber MTH \"Monster Door\"
Corsair Crash Test Dummy (QC Suervisor :lol: )
My most perfect days have been on Jekyll
View user's profile

  Go To Top

Hosted by: Mad Moose Studio