Oh my and I havent even flown it yet. Laid her out and amazed by the quality and attention to detail. Sail material, bridles, down to the handles are superb. My 6.5 Blade laid flat has a span of 18' 8 in. The NE II is 20' 3" from tip to tip and is quite noticeable due to its high aspect ratio.

Not sure of the sail material but it is very light and superior quality. Obviously a low wind engine. The bridles are sleek yet robust and no doubt create minimal drag. Handles are again robust but very comfortable and Im sure functional.

So theres an intial quick down and dirty on what appears to be quite a handful. Thanx goes out to Ripsessionkites for allowing me to demo the kite!

it looks like a pretty good kite top quality is what ive heard, hope you have fun with it.
-fly safe-

i figure sooner or later I was going to have to provide a review/details about U-Turn. my review means nothing since we also distribute U-Turn for Canada/USA. cant really say neg about the products.

so always try for yourself if you can. we will be at NABX 2008 if you want to try NOT to buy. :cool2:

to answer Tridude's question:

Construction:
Sail Material: Skytec-material from Porcher (water resist)
Bridle Material: Firewire a new type of coloured Dyneema which has sewn loops. The new bridle is shorter, thinner and lighter than before, cutting drag and boosting performance.
On the Butan they went with white Dyneema also with sewn loops.
On all models there is a Mylar Reinforcement on the LE. All models also have a V-Tapes/Ribs that run through the kite to reduce the number of bridles, but to also help stiffen the kite. Also a good feature is the dirt-outs, which are sealed with velcro and in high winds you can open the dirt-outs to provide more stability bit also increase the upper end of the suggested windrange.
Lastly, they have added AFS (Automatic Flight Stabilization)
AFS works like the electronic safety programs used in the automotive industry, like traction control and anti-lock brakes, you could call it "ESP for the air"
Working in the background to improve passive stability, AFS isn't a gadget that you can see, it's built into the cut and construction of the sail at the factory.

:cool2:

Thanx for the intel Rip. I thought I read a review that its was Porcher and firewire but didnt want to go on record saying so without the facts. I scanned the website but didnt see anything on materials in regards to the Nitro Evo 2. I will certainly give it a full review and pics once Ive flown her or she flies me, whichever the case.

The 1st day I met Rip' it was almost windless. I was shut out only having a 7m Bullet. Richard was 2 wheeling and generally putting the rest of us to shame on this kite He offered a go but the kite looked far too valuable for me to break.

U-turn are a sort of the opposite of Pansh on the " you get what you pay for " scale. A bit more money for a LOT more quality.

Seeing this kite helps me understand how a 6m Mac Bego can be a low wind kite.

The Butanes are a nice stable and predictable kite.

Have any pics of the kite Tridude?

Quote:

Originally posted by snowbird The 1st day I met Rip' it was almost windless. I was shut out only having a 7m Bullet. Richard was 2 wheeling and generally putting the rest of us to shame on this kite He offered a go but the kite looked far too valuable for me to break.

thx for the pimp ... but i have to say one thing. I'm a 115lbs Asian Person. I require little wind to board jump or kitebuggy. One thing though, I'll fly the same size as everyone else does. Size doesnt matter :singing:, have fun in the wind does.
Snowbird, you have no excuse not to use my buggy and kites at NABX 2008. DS and I will tie you to the buggy if we have to.

Picture can be viewed from this posting: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=4910

Not a lot of information on the website, other than the Wind Range, and Technical Data (size, ar, etc). Keeping the rest a secret.

I'm a bit more confident with my own flying now. Enough so that I don't get all stressed about using someone elses new kite. Particularily if it's not something I have had my hands on. Now I look forward to it.

Actually folks, that's Rip' in the picture !

Aw, C'mon Ricardo -

The AFS isn't that much of a secret, especially when U-turn has a whole page and some video explaining it on their website:

http://www.u-turn.de/2006/rahmen.php?sprache=en&kat=gs&a...

I first came across it in a thread on Pargaliding Forum and started looking from there. An interesting concept, and one which requires high tolerances to make work. Sounds like U-turn's QC is top-notch.

krumly

Quote:

Originally posted by krumly The AFS isn't that much of a secret, especially when U-turn has a whole page and some video explaining it on their website:

you guys sure do your research. its not really a secret ... its a development from paragliders, and also used in kites as well.

Quote:

Originally posted by Snowbird Actually folks, that's Rip' in the picture !

ROFL :tumble: i wish that was still me. 1 and half and sleeping 12hrs with no worries. Ricardo Jr. has the life. Expect when dad is bored at home due to weather and slapping stickers on his forehead for a unique pic. when is nabx 2008 already? 7 weeks and counting.

I took her out yesterday in winds from 8 to about 11 mph (thank goodness). This is my first time flying a racekite and the low end power is awesome! Static flew her for about 30 minutes and basically I was getting my a** kicked when the kite was low in the powerzone. Very stable and turns well on the breaks (even in low winds).

Jumped on the board, took her to the left edge, down looped and sent her back to the right and I was off. Now its time to pop the breaks and checkout the so called acceleration. Small sines up and down, popping the brakes and a def boost and speed increase. Keep in mind the wind was just around 10 mph. I dont have GPS but I was cuising at a decent speed, estimate 10 to 12 mph. The effect of apparent wind and working the brakes is no gemic, the Nitro Evo delivers. More days to come but very impressed on the initial flight. You buggy, snow and ice maniacs should def consider this kite, its that good!

Tridude -

I'd be interested in your tests in gusty stuff to see if this AFS thing really delivers extra stability without a performance decrease. From the Paragliding Forum I see there are users and designers who think it's great, and some who think it's a bit of hype, and that a a reflexed airfoil delivers the same thing in a simpler, less "canopy tolerance critical" manner.

Give us the straight up on that.

And Ricardo - you scored having a 1-1/2 year old who sleeps 12 hours straight. Means you need to use the alarm clock, 'cuz jr. won't do the job.

Thanks,

krumly

Will do Krumly--We've got some west and northwest winds due in early next week which are a true test of any kites stability. At this point in lighter winds, she is extermely stable. Pics from 2nd flight today via my youngest son Matthew who'd rather go to the dentist than fly kites! enjoy!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/2266604905_f8434d6c9e_b....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2267391352_96983ded29_b....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2360/2267396586_6ce92494f7_b....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/2267401606_240cb45ac7_b....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2149/2266614749_270db94081_b....

Interesting shape to the trailing edge in flight. Looks like the brakes are set up more to activate the outboard portions of the wing (like an aileron). Seesm like that would make steering more responsive, but a little harder to symmetrically brake or back the kite down if you can't flap the entire trailing edge.

Ricardo, care to comment?

BTW, I'm playing around with a rear pulley line mixer on my kites now that gives independent braking outboard, but brings in the center when you brake both sides together. Got the initial idea from http://www.powerkite.me.uk/ in a mod article for Viokites.

krumly

Quote:

Originally posted by krumly Interesting shape to the trailing edge in flight. Looks like the brakes are set up more to activate the outboard portions of the wing (like an aileron). Seesm like that would make steering more responsive, but a little harder to symmetrically brake or back the kite down if you can't flap the entire trailing edge. Ricardo, care to comment? krumly

Good obsveration. In flight you'll notice that their is still some degree of brake crease on the outer part of the trailing edge when the brake lines are at netural position. They did this to add stability. However when you apply a little brake tension the whole wing trailing edge develops a crease. When you apply full brake, it backs down from the wind window, no problem.
As for turning, you'll have to apply brake pressure to one side and release a little with the other hand.

I'm no aerospace engineer or rocket scientist but whatever Ernst Stobl designed it to do it does.

pictures below:

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o7/ripsessionkites/U-Turn...
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o7/ripsessionkites/U-Turn...
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o7/ripsessionkites/U-Turn...

I had 7 flights total on the Nitro Evo 2 and in no way does this make me an expert or this an expert review but I discovered a few things in my brief time with this kite.

Ill skip the bag, lines and handles and get right to the nitty gritty. The construction/quality of the sail material, firewire bridles, internal v rib stiffners along A bridles, cross porting/venting in the cell walls, internal stiffners along b and c bridles, and the trailing edge design make for a stiff and responsive, high end, high aspect ratio race kite.

Construction:

The sail material is waterproof Porcher Marine. Very light weight and easy to clean.The material along with mylar stiffners in the air inlets/leading edge allow this kite to perform well in light winds. Add the v rib stiffners just below the inlets makes for a very strong leading edge maintaining proper shape and pressure throughout the wind window. There are 24 cells that receive ram air. The other 8 cells are cross vented/ported from the ram air cells ensuring correct and constant pressure is always maintained. I bowtied this kite once and it was my bad. Easy to inflate (3/4 mph of wind) makes this kite a true low wind machine. In 8 kts of wind this kite pulls like a truck in the powerzone.

One thing I did notice on this kite vs others I flown/owned are the intricate stiffners along b and c row bridles. These added stiffners placed lower in the cells again add rigidity. Is Auto Flight Stability (AFS) for real? Id say it is due to the internal design. This kite stays rigid throughout the window in clean or lumpy winds. Lastly, the trailing edge. U Turn say its classified if you will and dont say much about it so I will do the same. However, there is a unique design to the trailing edge that Ive only seen on one other kite Ive owned, and it somewhat mirrors that. It is a functional design and no doubt adds performance to the kite.

Bridles:

Color coded firewire which is very sheek. The brakes lines are almost transparent in bright sunlight (very thin). No questiopn drag has been significantly reduced. Sewn and looped nicely to the sail. Stitching on the birdles and throughout the kite is so intricate its hard to see. Feedback through the bridles is awesome. You can def feel where the kite is in the window, which is nice if your cruising at top speed in a buggy. Autopilot no but you wont have to spend alot of time watching the kite and can concentrate on the line your taking in the buggy or board.

Flying charactersitics:

This kite flies best on active or tight brakes. Tapping then releasing the brakes in the powerzone def increase power and speed. The kite drives hard to the edge, tap the brakes, she falls back a bit, relaese and your accelerating. She just keeps driving forward. Goes hard upwind, nothing like Ive ever flown before. Im sure you racekite and FS Speed pilots know what I mean. Awesome to fly even though it was on a board. No doubt a buggy would be the best bet for its true potential.

In a nut shell, awesome kite if your looking for speed, performance, and quality build! Thanx again to Ripsessionkites for allow me the demo!

Nice review. I found out stuff I never knew and I'm familiar with the kite !

i have been flying a set of u turn butanes for a year now and have been happy with them but the evo is the next set in my quiver simply because after you spend some time with them and learn to fly them hard and fast they are right up there with some of the best race kites on the market today.p.s. i had that 6.9 throw me to the ground so hard the end of the handle went inside my full face helmet and nearly broke my cheek and Ive been flying for 9 years but never got a black eye from a kite like that one , be careful,and yes rip and the boys still give me a hard time about the time she kicked my ass

lol. you went public with it. only us locals knew DS but now everyone knows. we have some pictures of it. remember to poke fun at him at NABX. j/k

thx again tridude for the review, glad you enjoyed the demo time. maybe you wanna demo a Butan after NABX.
my only complaint: Ripsessionkites NOT Ripseesionkites ... hehehehe.

4 weeks to go, Vegas Bound. :alien:

Hey Rip, you gonna bring some demos to Nabx...after reading Tri's review, I gotta try one now....but maybe a smaller size :wow:

Quote:

Originally posted by lunchbox Hey Rip, you gonna bring some demos to Nabx...after reading Tri's review, I gotta try one now....but maybe a smaller size :wow:

sure no problem, Tridude used a 6.9m ... i have something smaller ... 6.1m. I'll have my range of kites there along with Dirtslide and his Butans.

look for the British Columbia group, we'll have two U-Turn Banners up, i hope if i find Mr.Llama for rebar/cushions.


NABX Conditions (making it clear):
1. Please note that we're not going down there with the intent to sell kites.
2. Anyone can try my kites out, even my buggy. Probably the first of three ApeXX to see American soil.
3. I've been 5 times now, so i know the rules.
Its my time to relax buggy my brains out on an area 10x our local field.
4. Make some new buggy friends, and meet some old ones who i only get to see once per year.
5. Put some face to some of the usernames on this forum.

... lastly did I mention buggy as much as possible.

see ya on the playa. eat my dust!:flaming:

Quote:

Originally posted by ripsessionkites lol. you went public with it. only us locals knew DS but now everyone knows. we have some pictures of it. remember to poke fun at him at NABX. j/k thx again tridude for the review, glad you enjoyed the demo time. maybe you wanna demo a Butan after NABX. my only complaint: Ripsessionkites NOT Ripseesionkites ... hehehehe. 4 weeks to go, Vegas Bound. :alien:

Sure Rip, would like to give the Butan a go after the event! Also, Ripseesion has been edited!

Tridude - do you still have the Nitro Evo?

Sounds like it would work well with my Dirtsurfer

Quote:

Originally posted by DaVinch Tridude - do you still have the Nitro Evo? Sounds like it would work well with my Dirtsurfer

sorry to answer, nope .. the new owner is PraireWind.

OK - No problem.

PraireWind, Let us know how you like it