Hi!

I am new to the forum so I will start by introducing myself, my names Dan and I'm totally new to power kiting so really need some advice and I'm pretty confident you can all guide me in the right direction

Me and my friend are looking to purchase our first power kites but the choice and amount of kites available is really overwhelming especially for a newbie.

We want the perfect beginner kite that will provide us with good power but not too much to scare us Haha, we would like to purchase a kite that will enable us to progress with a landboard at a later date without the purchase of a second kite, I understand in the future I will have many kites in my kit bag but for now we would like a kite that will be fun to learn with and also powerful enough for use if a landboard in the future.

We live in Essex (uk) so to start off with all our flying will be done inland, my mum owns over 20acres of field so we are lucky enough to be using that to get the hang of things. Once we progress we would then possibly progress to using the kites on the beaches.

I have been looking into the Peter Lynn hornet 3 in either a 3m or a 4m, would you guys say this could be a good choice? or any other recommendations are welcome i have a budget of around £200

Welcome, Dan!

First of all, take a few minute to peruse this thread about exactly what you're asking: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=28759#pid27...

Secondly, the short simple answer is: yes the PL Hornet is a great kite to start learning with. We most often recommend starting with a 3m. This is because it will help you learn how to control the kite, and learn the wind window. Later on when you have spent a good number of hours under this kite, you can start to look at getting other sizes and if you are interested in land boarding, you will likely want to get into Depowerable kites. At that point we usually say its a good idea to keep the 3m as you high wind kite, and the one you hand to your friends who are interested in giving it a try.

There are several other good starter kites that all have their strong points, and others may chime in and mention those, or you may find a list on the above mentioned thread. One I'm sure isn't mentioned as they are kind of different is the Nasa Star 3 kites by Born Kite in Germany. They are a newer derivative of the Nasa Power Wing that are very good, user friendly, easy to learn kites that can really deliver great power. It may not be what you're looking for, but I've just gotten into these and I think they are pretty awesome.

Thirdly, I would say that good kiting is about knowing control and because of this I would forego land boarding until you have spent some good quality time static flying and learning how to REALLY control the kite... like to the point where you don't necessarily have to look at the kite to know what its doing. If you want to buy one by all means go for it, but the locomotion aspect is something to add AFTER you know what you're doing with the kite, because it adds a new dimension to it that can and often does change how a kite performs.

Hi soliver,

Thanks for the link to that thread I didn't see that before posting.

Thank you for your advice I will take that all on board! I may opt for the hornet in a 3m, am I right in thinking this will also fly in low winds? Making it good for the summer months and also the later months when the wind starts to pick up?

Landboarding will definitely be in the future when I am confident with controlling the kite as you said, it's not something I'm going to rush as I really don't want broken bones lol.

3 meter will be good down to about 8 mph to fly static. Don't worry, you don't know it yet, but you'll probably have another kite a month after this one. (You will still use this one in higher wind)

Welcome!
You've come to the right place to get all the info you want.

Quote: Originally posted by Barnzy11

We live in Essex (uk)

Welcome to the forum Dan and friend.

Apart from the GREAT link provided by soliver, the Essex Kite Park may prove to be a useful location to meet up with people that are already kiting. Most of us are more than happy to share so that you can make a more informed decision.

I only fly one kite... at a time. Started with the 3m Hornet and wound up with the 2m and 4m too. As sayer suggests, you might as well accept the inevitable now; You can't drive a car with only one gear - likewise, as long as the wind keeps changing, one kite won't work all the time.

And be safe - kiting is no fun with an injury that could have been avoided with a little more practice.

As well as the Hornet, there's the Flexifoil Rage, Flexifoil Sting, Zebra Z1, PKD Buster, Ozone Flow/Octane (if you can still find one as they're no longer making them) and HQ Beamer - all excellent kites with similar characteristics. And for something a bit different, check out the Born Kite Nasa Star 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAGYNHCicVc

Wow cool film John....only flew a NASA once /handles...it went nothing like that and I couldn't understand you guys feeling so strongly about these kites let alone recommending them to a newb (sorry)..lot to be said about a kite that looks like that when it's in action

Some great advice from all of you thank you!

So looks like I'm properly going to go with the Peter Lynn hornet III in the 3m, I have been checking the winds in my area all week and they are always between 7-15mph so am I right in thinking this would perfect for that size kite? Giving me good power and pull?

Not much pull until over 10.

Barnzy I started off learning to landboard and buggy with a 3m Peter Lynn. It was a Twister not a Hornet, a bit more performant but in that size probably comparable amount of power. My mate had a 4m Hornet and it was quite a handful for him in 15mph particularly for static flying for a beginner. Unless you're a heavyweight the 3m hornet will be good for you.

20 acres of field eh? Whereabouts in Essex!?

Robinsonpr, how did you find it with regards to learning on the landboard? Yeah I'm only 11stone so not a heavyweight at all.

The 20acres my mum has is up in Norwich not actually Essex, Essex is just where I live, at least when i go up to Norwich I have a nice private open space to practice all my landboarding when the time comes without people laughing at me lol.

Welcome Barnzy11....i have no stones...but weigh in @ 170# and learned to landboard w/ 3m hornet, no complaints here, very glad i went that route

Abkayak - I'm around 160lb, it seems the 3m will be perfect for what I need at this moment in time

exactly do it....it's a shame, but be prepared....as soon as the kite arrives the wind will stop blowing

Barnzy, I'm 11.5 stone. I found the 3m Twister perfect for getting started. I had some nice runs and it was great for flying static too, just learning the wind window.

Landboarding is not as easy as it looks though, I am still shlte. I'm getting on a bit and have a dodgy knee...landboarding has got broken ankles and torn knee ligaments written all over it. It was pretty frustrating trying to learn to landboard with a fixed bridle kite (IN INLAND GUSTY WINDS) and I find it much easier with a depower kite. You might have cleaner winds if the area around you is nice and open.

But I find it even easier still now I am sitting down in a buggy instead

Robinsonpr, yeah I have read a few people have started with a twister I always assumed that was quite an aggressive kite to start with? I have contemplated going down the buggy route also see what I'm more comfortable with, sitting down being dragged along does seem more appealing Haha.

Quote: Originally posted by Barnzy11

sitting down being dragged along does seem more appealing Haha.

Only as long as there are wheels under ya!

Haha! Very true!

Maybe the bigger Twisters are a bit more lively as they are meant to be more lifty than the Hornet. But with a 3m as long as I don't fly it in really strong winds I find it quite placid.

In terms of learning curve and accessibility I've found buggying to be much more fun. With landboarding and particularly with a fixed bridle kite I found there is quite a fine line between having enough power to be able to lean back against the pull of the kite, and actually getting pulled off the board. With a buggy you can literally sit down and go once you've read up on the basics like turning and stopping safely.

My landboarding attempts were in crap winds though, it's no doubt a different story in clean wind. In a buggy I am quite happy to throw the kite around even if it's a bit gusty, but no way on a board.

I will come back to boarding once I get a decent leg brace sorted out to help protect my knee, but for now the buggy rules!

Quote: Originally posted by 1oldkid

Quote: Originally posted by Barnzy11   sitting down being dragged along does seem more appealing Haha. Only as long as there are wheels under ya!

Wheels?... who needs wheels to have fun:
EPIC BUTT SCUDS

Ha Ha Ha!!! That was funny!

I don't have enough meat on my butt bones to EVER be able to do that on purpose!

No longer a functional pair of pants...I dunno, some of what you see toady as "fashion", they could still work, (as long as the boxers were a bright obnoxious color)

However, that got me thinking..remember those old circular snow saucers??? hmmmm....

Quote: Originally posted by 1oldkid

Ha Ha Ha!!! That was funny! I don't have enough meat on my butt bones to EVER be able to do that on purpose! No longer a functional pair of pants...I dunno, some of what you see toady as "fashion", they could still work, (as long as the boxers were a bright obnoxious color) However, that got me thinking..remember those old circular snow saucers??? hmmmm....

Yes, they work on Grass.. They work even better on WET grass.. :D