Having had a taste of power kiting in Australia, I well-and-truly caught the bug and I am desperate to buy myself a kite now that I have landed back in the UK. A friend of mine who has done a bit of power kiting recommended a Peter Lynn Hornet 4m as a good starter kite - what do people think to this recommendation?

I have used handles and a bar and found handles much better-suited. I have no intention of using it on water or with a buggy, nor do I particularly have aspirations of using it to jump. But I want something which gives me a bit of a battle to keep it in control. I loved the feeling of getting the kite with some real power behind it and scudding (thank you Scoop for the helpful tutorial!). I'll be mainly in 10-20 mph winds.

Any thoughts and/or recommendations? I am in the UK and don't want to spend much more than £200 if it can be helped.

Thanks.

I'm not sure what size y ou have flown thus far, but the hornet is a very nice kite to start with. Especially with what you are looking to do. 10-15 is a more comfortable range for the 4m, but 20 isn't too much of a stretch. i would look smaller if too many days are above the 20 mph mark.

The size kite I used previously was:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZNMYRuM3pg

How big is that? I felt pretty comfortable flying that kite and certainly liked the pull it gave me in weak winds - something like that would be fine for me.

Oddly enough, I just this second clicked onto a YouTube video of you, BigMike, reviewing the Hornet II.

EDIT: Not sure if it has a bearing but I am 90kg and 6'3" - does that affect the size of kite I'd need?

Quote:

Originally posted by AstraeusI am in the UK and don't want to spend much more than £200 if it can be helped. Thanks.

There's the powerkiteshop.com there and they sell everything, including PL Hornet's.
The 4M goes for £194 RTF (Ready To Fly) free shipping.

Call them with your questions and doubts. They're excelent and their service is impecable (bought 2 kites from them).

About the kite, it's very similar to my Beamer 4M and in the 10-20MPH can give you a thrill.
But take in consideration that a little experience is required. Just start on lower wind days and progress from there. Once you have the Know-How, you'll be able to take much more from it.
And if you feel overpowered, remember that the kite-killers are there to do their job.

There's also the forum.kitecrowd.com where you can find someone near you to hook up and give you some pointers/help and maybe try different wings.


Wlecome to the addiction,

Try racekites.com before kitecrowd.com :D We are a friendlier bunch. The 4m Hornet was my friends first kite and it was a good choice.

I have had my PL Hornet 2m for 3-4 years now. Has never let me down, very predictable. Could almost fly it blindfolded
I did have a go of a hornet II 3m and I don't know if was because I was so used to a 2m but turning seemed ALOT slower. But I think it might be because it was improved to make it more stable in the air either way it still flew beautifully.

the 3m is what my friend started with. so i recommend it for beginners. but you are larger than my friend so maybe a 4 would suite you better.

+1 for a 3m unless your winds are typically very low.

The 3m is plenty big enough to give you that power you crave but will allow you to fly in higher / more fun winds without being overpowered by the kite.

A 4m may make more sense if you wanted to use it as an engine ?

Clunthoo, In my experience kites about 3m DO slow down and act like they are real power kites. Where you have to think about your next action and initiate it early.

In addition to my previous statement, I neglected to mention that my friend was able to buggy with the 3m hornet in about 15 gusting to 20 mph winds. He was in a PeterLynn XR and he only weighs about 130 to 140.