They look like fun; I just don't know if it would hold my interest for very long or not.

What are your opinions/experiences with them?

I have been intrigued by them as well, thinking abotu a SUL so that I can still fly SOMETHING on those days the wind is not cooperating to fly the power kites

go to http://www.revkites.com/main/Techniques and you will find the techniques section of the rev kites. this is the easiest way to start your rev experience.
takes time and effort to get good at the kite, but worth while.
I have one and been at it for 4 years, hahahahahahahah did I say I've been at it for 4 years. (up, down, right, left, I am getting better).:dunno:
get good enough and you can buggy with the thing.

Yeah, I need to put one back in the car - great for unwinding at lunch times

Kam - You are EEEviill.. I already keep my power kites in the trunk for after work fun, now I have to get a rev and put it in the trunk for lunch time too!

flying revs is always good fun and will help your foil control skills alot. The revs are so quick when you go back to your foil it will seem like its in slow motion.

I have 3 left that I am closing out if you guys want to get together and get a steal of a deal. I will be willing to ship them separately if a couple of you want to get together on this package.

http://www.dakitez.com/servlet/the-774/Revolution-Clearance-...

I've got a "speed series" Blast (not the Power Blast 2-4). It's Great !!!

I'm not a fan of sparred kites. The Rev is my only exception because it's so versatile. High wind, low wind and when I'm feeling overly energetic, no wind. For me, learning to fly mine was a "lite switch moment" sort of thing. After about and hour of the old "Neophyte Waltz", walking back and forth, staging the kite for relaunch, all the sudden it just clicked. (YMMV) It's now my entertainment when the winds are too light to buggy and goes with me almost everywhere I go. Great fun, great skill builder, great way to entice conversation with passers-by and introduce folks to the sport.

you can also check out
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=15304
he is a good seller and a good buyer.

Rev's are excellent buggy engines as well. Nothing is better upwind or has more power (size per size).

I used to compete with Revs back in the late 80's and early 90's. Fun kite and super fast. We used to put hooks on them and see who can pick stuff off the ground with the most speed and precision. it's been 20 years since I've own one. Would be nice to pick one up for those static flying days.

SCARY powerful - but so easy to dump it all in a flash! The PowerBlasts are a different kettle of fish to the regular Revs though - as is the Shockwave I have too

And best of all - they won't take up much room in your truck, Lam :D mine usually sits on the parcel tray ...

A few Revs and another quad that I just like the funky scalloped edges on (a general fondness for platypus kites prevails).



Don't get enough air time on them and not as good as I would like to be with them, but they probably won't be leaving home any time soon.

ATB,
Sam

Sam - That thing looks wicked!

So SUL if the light wind/indoor version I believe
SLE - heavier duty?
Blast - high wind?

I have also seen reference to Rev 1, 1.5, etc.. Where's my best overview/outline on the Rev models Sam?

And who makes that oen you show?

One thing to realize is that the number of knockoffs are increasing in the area of the revs. Lots of copy cat country's are all over ebay and craigs list. Real Revs are not cheep, and the others are, so buyer beware.
I take trade ins for some of my sales and the number of knockoffs are increasing in the kite world, "It doesn't fly as well as my other Rev and I want to get rid of it", because its not a Rev, *&%()*&(........

PowerBlast is about ripping your arms out ... dunno what the 'regular' Blast is about :D

My first one was a 1.5 SLE and is pretty easy to fly but needs a little wind. The Shockwave will fly in nearly nothing but is trickier to handle than the 1.5. The PowerBlast 4-8 is ... a monster.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza PowerBlast is about ripping your arms out ... dunno what the 'regular' Blast is about :D

Because sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes...

From the Rev Site:
"Combining the control & stability of a 1.5 SLE with the power and performance of the Speed Series results in the Blast."

ATB,
Sam

Yeah even used revs are spendy it seems. Quality does cost. I saw all the copies on ebay but also know the quality is not there. The sad part is some of them are damn good lookin pattern/color wise.

I have a buddy I used to work with that has a few, gonna have to squeeze him a bit see if he give me a deal on one of his rev's. He did say a while back he has too many of them.....:evil:

Revs are my favorite kite to fly. The video that is posted shows some real skill at control and takes a lot of practice but that is why I like them so much you can always work at getting better.
The picture that Kent posted is myself and son Chip in front of his 4-8 power blast which is a really big kite and a great low wind buggy engine. Between us I think we have one of every model except the B-series so we fly them when ever we can. Chips favorite is the 2-4 Blast. I don't know if I have a favorite but I have been flying the vented more because it seems to handle the gusty Ohio winds better.
Last year at NABX Chip only buggied with the 2-4 or 4-8 power Blast. They are really good at getting up wind and dumping power when needed. He says he likes them because if the wind dies too much he can always stand up and static fly til the wind is back.

How fast is the 4 by 8 compared to a foil in buggy use?

Quote:

Originally posted by lamrith So SUL if the light wind/indoor version I believe SLE - heavier duty? Blast - high wind?

SUL is for light winds, but there is actually a seperate Rev for Indoors that has a lighter frame and the sail itself is lighter.

The SLE refers to the beefed up leading edge. It's a bear of a spar, but required more wind because of the weight.

Quote:

Originally posted by lamrith I have also seen reference to Rev 1, 1.5, etc.. Where's my best overview/outline on the Rev models Sam?

Couldn't find a good overview, so I culled the Rev site and made one for you. It's here.

Quote:

Originally posted by lamrith Sam - That thing looks wicked! And who makes that oen you show?

It's the Elliot Dropkick. Elliot (German kite company) made the Ecko series of powerkites... their current power kites are the Lava, Magma and Plasma. They also make the Virus Buggy. The Dropkick is still made, but do currently see a US retailer for it. I bought mine from Into The Wind in CO. Had to wait 5 weeks on a backorder. ITW still carries other Elliot kites, so they could probably special order for anyone that wanted one.

Other quirky quads include:

Benson AirBow (which is actually quite 3D above and beyond the illusion created by the panel layout)



HQ Mojo


Flying Wings Vamp Devil


David Davies Skydancer


When Mr. Davies passed on a few years ago, Con Engels of Windstar Kites got permission from the Davies family to continue producing the kites.

Kitehouse Engel ("Angel")


In terms of precision, the Revs generally trump most other quads, but sometimes the platypus quads score a tad higher on the whimsy meter. ;-)

ATB,
Sam

That Skydancer is HAWT!!

Thanks Sam!! I found a rev forum that had a few newby threads about the various base models.. Glad I am not the only one confused...

I love my Rev 1.5 SLE . It will teach you some skilz.:bigok:

I think Revs are great kites. I always keep a few kites in the back of my car unless the temp gets too high during the summer; Rokaku, 2 Buka Fighters, Rev Super Blast and Vented B Series, a Sled w. a Martn Lester Albert Ross Diver, and a couple of Ozone Traction Kites.

My two favorite Revs are the Super Blast (now called the Power Blast 2-4) which is great for low wind fun or with the heavier lines and 10mph+ wind some great traction. For pure stunt kite precision I lke the B Series Vented Rev. It's cool and you can do most dual line tricks with it including axles.

Variety is the spice of life.

Gbrown,

Did you know that your picture made it onto the calendar this year?

http://www.cafepress.com/awoc.567564871

Click the small link below the image that says "View Calendar Pages" and then check out March. You and your son are now famous.

I had a PowerBlast 2-4 and it was fantastic with the Dirtsurfer when the winds were above 15 mph.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=1418&page=1#pid65776

It just took some time to set up - not as fast as throwing a foil out and getting going.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza PowerBlast is about ripping your arms out ... dunno what the 'regular' Blast is about :D

The 'regular' Blast can be very quick, but seems a bit less fluid than the 1.5's while performing cartwheels / bicycles and the like. Hovers are rock solid in the lightest winds but I find clock maneuvers a bit rough and less precise than with the 1.5's.

It will fly on a gnat's fart. I like mine best in light breezes, (2-5) with the small leading edge spar. It surges and flutters a bit in bumpy air but cuts thru it very nicely when powered up. It "floats", "side slides" and climbs so well in a half stalled condition that that is typically where I try to keep it. However, tap the back lines, fill the sail and zoom, away it goes.

With the Beefy Spar in solid winds (15 to 20), there's plenty enough there to buggy with and the precise handling makes it idea for navigating around trees, light poles and small spaces.

Bang for the buck in terms of versatility, I think the Blast has it hands down.

Love my Rev 1.5 SLE! Small learning curve at first, but it was a fun challenge to learn something new. The lines always feel like sewing thread compared to my ozones, but I'm not getting picked up off the ground with it either.

Got two 1.5 Barresi sign. One vented & the other one STD red & black. It's very nice to flight with other pilot doing some ballet. Got 80` & 120` line set.

Alone with the 120` + earplug with good music very cooool!

RTZ
How fast is the 4 by 8 compared to a foil in buggy use?
That is going to be pilot skill. There are a lot more foil fliers. It is also difficult to harness a rev so it will be less likely used for high speed runs.
Last year Chip had the fasted time in the slalom race using his 4-8 if I remember winds were on the light side. His real advantage was the upwind speed and ability to point higher.

Kent
thanks for putting us in the calender. I guess I can add being a pinup to my resume

Quote:

Originally posted by lamrith Yeah even used revs are spendy it seems. Quality does cost. I saw all the copies on ebay but also know the quality is not there. The sad part is some of them are damn good lookin pattern/color wise.

"Hi.... my name is Sam. I am here to empty your wallet."


New Rev 1.5 Full-Vent Fire - $135

Few color combos can match the dark beauty of The Black & the Red.

New Rev 1.5 Mid-Vent Black & Red $124

These are K/O but if you buy Spectre in bulk, you're good to go.

Bargain hunting isn't only a skill.... it's a survival skill when you're addicted

ATB,
Sam