Well, I'm back from a little vacation at the coast. I got hours of flying time. Like another said, the blade came out every time I went to fly. It is an absolute joy to fly. The first day at the beach, I had about a 3.2-3.8 mph wind. The kite would launch and fly without flaw. The wind would have to drop below 3 mph to cause trouble. It was really fun to pull a 6.5 blade 3' above the ground all the way across the wind window without causing bodily harm. The amazing thing about the Blade in the least lifty setting is how controllable and stable it is. You can take it to the edge of the window and just let it sit there. Want to edge it up 5'? Just a little nudge on the top handle, with no luffing, no drifting back into the window etc. Next day I'm in a little more wind, up to 7-9 mph. Time to make a aoa adjustment. I take it back to the middle setting and start working on some pendulum jumps. All this time, I thought I didn't know the magic of jumping. I try one and then another while learning the timing of it and realize that the size and lift of the blade are one thing but they are useless if you can't turn the kite fast enough to redirect from the 10-2 oclock position and then back again from the other side. This is the cool thing about the blade. It will turn almost as fast if not as fast as my 5m Crossfire and the sail stays tight while you are cranking it around. That day I'm sure I pulled off 50-60 jumps that were all around 2-4 feet off the ground. What a workout. It was like a solid 2 hours of chin ups. I tried the same technique with my 6m Ace later that day and found it has the lift but I couldn't just turn the kite at the edge and then have it react as quickly as I was used to on the redirect. The next day was the topper. I had 9-12 mph winds with gusts to 14. Another family was there flying a single line delta the grandad bought 35 years ago up in New England. I spoke and then went down the beach another 300'. They walked up as I was unpacking being curious about why a kite would need such a big bag. They were in awe as it unfolded and snapped taught in the wind. I sorted my lines and strapped in and then launched straight up the window. I scudded about 25 feet before it settled at the zenith. The son of the grandad said "wow, I bet that thing could almost lift you off the ground". Well you know there is only one way to respond to a statement like that. I say to myself "watch this" I pulled it left, then cut to the right and sent it hard to 2 oclock while running at that just right angle to the wind. I felt it pull and jumped and was WAY higher than ever before. I'll be conservative and say I was 10-12 feet high. Then just as the day before, with a now instinctive redirect, I floated down to the sand and landed on my feet. It was nirvana.

Like I said before, the lift by itself won't work safely if you can't control the direction of the kite. The true beauty of the Blade is how it has the power and lift to do whatever you want it to and the stability and quick turning that makes someone like me able to look like I really know what I'm doing. I said months ago that you would have to have quite a bit of experience to be able to appreciate the differences found in a Blade at around $800. I was wrong. Even Wexler (almost 13) could discern the nuances of the AOA settings and always wanted it set on the least lifty setting because it sped the kite up and handled more cleanly at the edge, along with somewhat reducing the grunt that his 90 pound frame doesn't appreciate so much. He was fine with this kite up to around 8 mph. This kite will find a way in to my quiver sooner or later. I will have one as soon as my toy account builds up enough to take the blow. I hope it happens soon because this one has to go home now. I hear it's been missed and can see why.

Nice review Bob. We read alot of reviews some seem almost to good to be true but in this case, you have to experience it to believe it. Flexi have a PTPer (prime time player) with the 6.5. Fly it thru the weekend----Ive got H2O aerobics classes all day Sat and Sun so no flying here!

I was sort of missing the 6.5 until the 8m P3 showed up, thats another review! Glad your enjoying her! OBTW, welcome to the double digit lift club!

Yes!! Congrats on all the jumping Bob! It will give you a high you cannot get anywhere else. Wait til you hit 15-20 ft.In 15-18mph wind! You will feel like ya went 30!Be careful in gusty winds because when it does snath ya up which it will. when you own one, you'll want to see what it can do. It will Excuse the term: Make your go nutts shrivvel up. and you'll be shaking like a leaf from the adreniln!! Live to fly.:D

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude Ive got H2O aerobics classes all day Sat and Sun so no flying here!

Do you teach them? I used to do that!

Bob, awesome review!

Review? Quote:Well you know there is only one way to respond to a statement like that. I say to myself "watch this" end Quote. Iv'e done that! It's Love!! Way to go Bob!

Excelent review.
Now we just have to hook you up with an 8.5m Blade and see what you can get out of that.

I wonder how well the bigger kite retains its turning ability. I also wonder if that would just be too much kite to fly static. It would be interesting to get to try one out. The 6.5 was pretty optimal so the big boy might have the same lift in lower winds. The range of managability would be much narrower I imagine.

Im sure the series IV 8.5 flies nice. I had the BIII 8.5. It was rewarding to fly but also alot of work. Great calorie burning kite! The 6.5 has been easier on the ole body (50 in June)!

I'm sure the 8.5 is a well designed highly refined kite just like the 6.5, but the shear size of it would have to make it less optimal for my size and variable wind speeds. The 6.5 is no small kite. It is plenty of power for me right now, At least till I start doing those reverse backloops to turn my buggy around. Speaking of calorie burner, I lost an inch off my waist over the 4 days at the beach. I'm sure the chinups I was doing with the Blade played no small part in the reduction.

Bob, so you're suggesting a Blade 6.5 as a weight loss plan?? Have to admit, it would certainly beat going to the gym:singing:

You would be amazed at the justifications I can come up with for a new kite. That inch went somewhere. Since I was so active, I didn't eat much more than 3 meals and then the increase in strenuous activity did the trick. I just need about 3 more weeks of kiting at the beach and I'm there!

Kite Fitness; I like it. Let's put a Blade 6.5 in Richard Simmons' hands and watch. Weeeeee.

If the Blade 8.5 handles like a Quadrifoil Comp XXXL 8 meter then it would be a dream kite. The XXXL turns on a dime and if your good you can actually stall it out and do 4 point rolls with it 1/2 the way up the window in front of you (in light wind of course).

I'm looking forward to getting a Blade IV 8 meter. I'm just not thrilled with the dang mesh!

Scott

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob I say to myself "watch this" I pulled it left, then cut to the right and sent it hard to 2 oclock while running at that just right angle to the wind. I felt it pull and jumped and was WAY higher than ever before. I'll be conservative and say I was 10-12 feet high. Then just as the day before, with a now instinctive redirect, I floated down to the sand and landed on my feet. It was nirvana. Like I said before, the lift by itself won't work safely if you can't control the direction of the kite. The true beauty of the Blade is how it has the power and lift to do whatever you want it to and the stability and quick turning that makes someone like me able to look like I really know what I'm doing. I said months ago that you would have to have quite a bit of experience to be able to appreciate the differences found in a Blade at around $800. I was wrong. Even Wexler (almost 13) could discern the nuances of the AOA settings and always wanted it set on the least lifty setting because it sped the kite up and handled more cleanly at the edge, along with somewhat reducing the grunt that his 90 pound frame doesn't appreciate so much. He was fine with this kite up to around 8 mph. This kite will find a way in to my quiver sooner or later. I will have one as soon as my toy account builds up enough to take the blow. I hope it happens soon because this one has to go home now. I hear it's been missed and can see why.

When my dad pulled off this mega jump I had just started to walk back to the camper to grab the the beamer and pro foil. I turned around to watch my dad for a sec, he pulls the kite hard left and then redirected it right and he ran as fast as he could, I mean he was booking it. The I saw him go about 12 14 ft in the air... I was awed and so was the onlooking family. I heard one of the guys say "did you see that, we need to get one of those.":o

The Blade is absolutely the best kite I have ever flown. It does not act like a 6.5m should, it acts like a 4m. It is a very stable kite, at one time I yelled to my dad this kite is so stable I could pull it to the side or to the zenith and hold both handles in one hand without it diving into the ground. I actually was able to eat a bag of Cheetos while flying it. So if you are looking for a kite to add to your quiver I recommend the Blade 6.5m.

"I actually was able to eat a bag of Cheetos while flying it."

Now thats skillz................ Wex, you should sell the rights to Flexi to use that comment.........

That is a pretty heavy comment when you think about it. 12 year old boy. 85 lbs. 6.5m Flexi Blade. and a bag of Cheetos. He was pretty smitten with the kite when I figured out the bridle settings that same day. He really figured it all out on the low lift setting and always wanted it set there after.

Hey thats a good idea tridude.
im sorry I accedentally typed this on my dads this is wexler.

[Edited on 3-6-2008 by BeamerBob]

tridude how muchdo you think they would pay for it.:saint:

if anyone get Richard Simons to fly a kite...please film it...that'd be hot, hot pink spandex with tube top on...sliding along whilst screaming and flying

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Excelent review. Now we just have to hook you up with an 8.5m Blade and see what you can get out of that.

I have never flown an 8.5 is it better than the 6.5.

Did Angus demo and when is it due in?

Not this last weekend but will fly this weekend and forward on to Bobby after that no mattter what. I can't see him suffer like that waiting.

This has to be one of the most anticipated kite purchases in awhile. I'm getting U2U's asking when I'm going to get it and where is it and such. I have company coming in that want to see the Blade on Easter weekend so that will be great to get it in next week. Angus has looked out for me since the day I bought the Beamer. He hadn't flown a 6.5 Blade before so I wanted him to give it a go to know what I was talking about. I don't think I could stand a pass the blade program though.

Oh c'mon Bob. You know we all want to try it too. Did you ever get a try at the 4.9 Davinch sent out? I have got a chance to try 3 different items from Davinch so far. Thanks Davinch. Is there a 4th? I'm ready. And please let us know how the Ace is. I am curious. Ya know that kite went through alot of hands and had a long trip all over the place. If it made it through still in good shape I think Pansh should get some credit for that. It is not all that bad imo. If it took on all of us and made it home safe. That alone says something.

I was originally on the list but then was going to fly Angus's 4.9 but the wind didn't really blow that day. And planned to fly Tridudes the same day but he couldn't make it. All those opportunities prompted me to take my name off the list. So I've never flown a 4.9 except for retrieving Wexler that day at tybee island. It was moving him down the beach a little at a time and it was time to pack up. I'll share my blade face to face but couldn't do without it for months on end. I'm starting to let myself get excited now.

You should be! If I was getting a new Blade I would have the mail mans #number! And I can't let any of my kites out of my site for more than a day anyway. I loved the 4.9 I can only imagine the fun your going to have with the 6.5! It's a dream kite imo. Excited for ya.

I got to fly it in smooth winds about 6-7 mph. acampbell is right. The kite will pivot on the power bridle that it is turning around. I will get some video week after next to illustrate how it does and since angus is loaning me most of his quiver, I'll be able to compare the 4.9 with the 6.5. The blade would've been fine in a buggy yesterday in the winds I had. I couldn't get it to jump even in the middle bridle setting.

Once she beds in, woohoo! So Angus, how did the 6.5 work in the buggy?

I had a light wind day with it and it was sweet. Because of the light weight for it size and the tight turning, it was easy to "fly it like you stole it", as you like to say. I squeezed out a max of 23 mph on the GPs in winds of 5-8, usually 7 mph.