Or is it just going to buckle and collapse and have difficulty staying inflated? I need the absolute minimum windspeed this thing will stay airborne.

I don't remember the brand name(someone else's kite)(not a pansh); but it looked like the one pictured here.

First hand experience with a "big kite" in too much wind creates much respect for the larger kites. Until I experienced it for myself; I had no way to comprehend or imagine the power or potential of a bigger kite.

I need something that can be flown(preferably buggy in) on those days when there is just barely any wind at all.

Yes but perhaps not very well It'll involve a lot of running backwards to begin with and make sure you keep the kite moving. I did it with my 12m Ace but it was hard work!

Some fixed bridles will pull in quite low winds, others like more wind.
In the video the wind was barely moving the leaves in the tree tops, never mind the branches. A later check said the wind was 0 - 4 kts on the day this was filmed, the kite is 10m not 9m.
S

I have buggied with my 12m Yakuza GT in nearly zero winds. It does take some serious work getting the kite inflated but once you get it in the air and keep it moving, it creates its own power. You are not going to set any land speed records but you can buggy in the lightest of winds. Each kite will behave differently and some may work better than others. Your terrain will also have a ton of impact. If you have a ton of resistance then buggying in light wind will be very difficult. As mentioned, keep the kite moving at all times. If you stall the kite it will become a balled up wad of nylon on the ground.

Some of us have buggied in 2mph wind with 10m Century II on 160' and 200' lines, it was in clean winds at the beach. Buggy speeds reached 8 to 12mph. Long lines are not popular north of the border but with the room and some care you can do quite well. I know that you can buggy with a 12.5m Century II on 25m lines in 2mph.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Long lines are not popular north of the border but with the room and some care you can do quite well.

It is funny you should think that we all like short lines. There are loads of us flying at GP on 25+m lines. Vancouver for the most part has garbage for wind. Our park is fairly small, so short lines would be nice, but there are obstructions on three sides which make for dirty air on our most common winds. If you want any kind of clean wind on most days at GP, you had better have longer lines.
S

Surface also plays a big role in zero wind. Plus line length.

1mph was all grant, ken 3 and I need for a Vapor 16m on 17m.

Quote:

Originally posted by Scudley It is funny you should think that we all like short lines. There are loads of us flying at GP on 25+m lines.

Good to know, only hear about the short lines.

Quote:

I need the absolute minimum windspeed this thing will stay airborne.

If you could provide us with a make and model kite I'm sure we could be specific. That being said though I would have to put the number to your question around 4 or 5 mph. I say that because I'm presuming you would like to launch the kite, fly it to zenith and park it there while you walk over to your buggy and sit in it. All without it collapsing on you. For that to happen you'll need a good 4 anyway. Of course like the others have mentioned, you can buggy in next to no wind with efficient kites on smooth surfaces, and most importantly, skill. Back in the mid 90's I remember being at one of the Wildwood conventions and several guys were flying the old Quadrifoils in the gym with the rest of the indoor flyers. Anything will fly in basically zero wind but how hard do you want to work? If your looking to park and ride with some basic sining of the kite then 4 is basically the bottom. Of course if you know the make and model of kite I'm sure others can chime in with their actual experience with that kite.

I think it was an older model JoJo. Shaped like the one in the pic.

i had a 9m century that i was able to buggy with in wind you couldnt feel on your face...

you wanna know the bottom end?.... go fly it

Using my 9m Blade II as an example.

It is an older kite and has softened up a bit. Yours being used should be similar.

It is NOT the 1st kite up!It needs just a bit more than 1 to fly but needs a bit more to generate power. At about 3 or 4 I can get moving. If I have space I can build speed and keep going no matter what. In our small parks it isn't that way . You just get moving and it is time to turn.

I have purchased a 10.8 Reactor II because the nine's not cutting it.
Folks I ride with use Vapor 11.2 to 16 and Yak 16

Kites all fly different. Simply saying you have a 9m FB is not going to give somebody accurate enough info to answer what it's bottom end will be. I can assure you that there will be kites out there that fly earlier. By FLY I mean power you on a ride .

Big kites and low winds = too much like work. IMHO

Yes a 9 meter fixed bridle kite will fly in 1-4mph wind.
However there is so many things involved. Like the make, model and age of the kite. Weight of the kite is a huge factor as well as line length, line diameter and line weight.
Also the skill of the pilot is a huge variable. Also, what you want to do with the kite makes a big difference.
I can fly many 9 meter kites in 1-4mph. However, someone with little experience would have lots of trouble even getting the kite up.

So give us more info and maybe we can help you out some.

-Scott

Scott covered all of the bases.

I regularly fly my KiteSurfer XXXL (9.66m closed cell fixed bridle on 30m lines) in 1-4 mph winds. I get a great workout trying to get it to inflate, but once it is inflated it is very light so any wind keeps it up and it doesn't deflate in the lulls. You just have to keep it moving to generate a lot of power in apparent wind. Once you get rolling you can even park and ride.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Big kites and low winds = too much like work. IMHO

I agree completely, but I still do it.
S

power flyin a big kite in next to no wind is a blast. I like to cruise the beach on a landboard w/ my reactorII 8.6m when there isn't enough wind to buggy.Great low end power