I started flying a Beamer II 3.6 at Christmas and love it: knocked myself about a bit being silly and jumping it in 25mph winds in the rain etc. Against all good advice.

The upshot being that now Spring is here and the winds around me (York) are dropping I've got a hankering for something big to fly in low winds and to get nice big floaty jumps; things tend to be a bit frantic on the Beamer.

I've been looking at a Flexi Blade IV 6.5, have read the website and the catalogue, and the reviews on here so I appreciate that you're probably sick of these questions about what seems, by all accounts, to be a great kite but, nevertheless, I'd appreciate your input.

What are the alternatives and how does the Blade compare to them?

What is (very roughly) the relationship between windspeed and jump altitude?

And (also in the finest tradition of guestimation) what sort of float time can I expect? As I say, I'm used to being dropped as hard as I get pulled up!

Many Thanks.

Really, nothings in the same catagory as the Blades. If you want the ultimate freestyle kite look no further. If you're looking for fairly lifty, there's options, Something like the Brooza has ok lift but super stable in the gusty stuff. Ozone Riot may be worth a look. Last option is to look into a depowerable kite, the PL Arcs are awesome in ok winds, The Frenzy seems to do well in anything 10mph and up.

Quote:

Originally posted by Toast I started flying a Beamer II 3.6 at Christmas and love it: knocked myself about a bit being silly and jumping it in 25mph winds in the rain etc. Against all good advice. The upshot being that now Spring is here and the winds around me (York) are dropping I've got a hankering for something big to fly in low winds and to get nice big floaty jumps; things tend to be a bit frantic on the Beamer. I've been looking at a Flexi Blade IV 6.5, have read the website and the catalogue, and the reviews on here so I appreciate that you're probably sick of these questions about what seems, by all accounts, to be a great kite but, nevertheless, I'd appreciate your input. What are the alternatives and how does the Blade compare to them? What is (very roughly) the relationship between windspeed and jump altitude? And (also in the finest tradition of guestimation) what sort of float time can I expect? As I say, I'm used to being dropped as hard as I get pulled up! Many Thanks.

Toast,

There is a Crossfire 6.3 for sale on the racekites forum. Sellers screen name is Tom W. This would be a great first jumping and lower wind summer kite. I have never flown the 6.3 but I did own a Crossfire 5.0. It was a great kite that gave me my intro into jumping. Going from a B 3.6 to a big Blade is a huge step. Kite is in great shape. He has attached pics. Postage and delivery time would be minimal (your both in th UK). Good luck!

Cheers Tridude! I'll take a look.

No probs, hope you can make a deal on the 6.3! Let is know how it turns out!

How's the new 8.5m Blade III treating you Tridude?

On this subject of blades, how would it react to a depower setup on the bridles? Any done it?

-Dusty-

Dat,

Not sure its possible with Flexi Blade. I maybe wrong but almost positive you cant. The Blade is their signature, some suggest the industry standard for fixed bridle freestyle kites! If you want a Flexi depower, they make the Sabre. However, U TURN may argue the fact that their Butane and Nitro Evos can rival the Blade for lift and a couple of the UTURN fixed bridle lines can be fitted for depower (Butanes I know for sure). If you have the knowledge and resources Im sure you could fit a depower bridle on a Blade but in a way that self defeats what the Blade represents-- freestyle full on power not depower! Just my onesie twosies on the subject!!:megan:

hehe, makes sense. Blades just scare me.

I think my next kite will be a depower.

If you go depower and are considering snow boarding or kite skiing, check out the Air Evolution depower kites! I noticed your from upstate NM.

http://www.air-evolution.co.uk/images/in-the-air.wmv

hey Toast....

As i've stated in other postings.... if you want lift and jumping, you need to be able to change the AoA of the kite. so a sheetable kite (depower) is the ticket.

sure you can make any kite even fixed bridle jump, but without proper inputs and timing and enhanced skill.... you drop like a stone just as you mentioned.

Air Evo, Ozone, Flysurfer.... although the most expensive, these will give you what you are looking for > Floaty jumps with lower learning curve. pull the bar in and up you go.

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Originally posted by ratindahat On this subject of blades, how would it react to a depower setup on the bridles? Any done it? -Dusty-

The pegas wingwarp depower system will work on blade IIIs 6.6 and up. All the wingwarp needs is a kite with separate A, B, C, D lines. Code used the wingwarp on his crossfire so you could ask him what is was all about. However, aside from the kit itself you also need a new bar and new lines so your brake and power lines are the same strength.

You can read all about it if you search the flexi site. The only blades I recall being fitted for depower was the 8.5 and from what I recall the only real benefit was to turning speed. The downside, blade IIIs were subject to bridle stretch and the depower can both cause that and compensate for it.

At the end of the day, blades are blades and arguably the best fixed bridle kite out there for raw power and lift. Believe me, as a fixed bridle flier in inland, gusty conditions, I get the benefit of depowerables but if you want to go that route, go that route and leave the blades the way they are. If it were that great a conversion, more would do it.

Has anyone flown the Air-evo? They look cool, just wondering how they actually perform

-Dusty-

Rat - I think Tridude has the only Air Evo in the US.

Hi all,

Thanks for such a great response to the new guy!

Things kinda got settled today when I was offered a big discount on a new Blade IV 4.9. A smaller size and power increase like Tridude suggested and I put the spare money into a bar* so I can choose to fly bar or handles in the future.

Powerzone and Pablo, thanks for bringing up the subject of depowerable but I think I'll wait until I find someone who can show me how to make the most of that system before I make the change.

Thanks again all.

*and a board, and a harness...

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Originally posted by ratindahat Has anyone flown the Air-evo? They look cool, just wondering how they actually perform -Dusty-

Rat,

Amazing kite! I demoed two other depowers prior to my decision on the Evo! Once I get the kite dialed in I will do a full review! I will say you cant go wrong with the Evo!

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Originally posted by Toast Hi all, Thanks for such a great response to the new guy! Things kinda got settled today when I was offered a big discount on a new Blade IV 4.9. A smaller size and power increase like Tridude suggested and I put the spare money into a bar* so I can choose to fly bar or handles in the future. Powerzone and Pablo, thanks for bringing up the subject of depowerable but I think I'll wait until I find someone who can show me how to make the most of that system before I make the change. Thanks again all. *and a board, and a harness...

Oh my from a 3.6 to a Blade 4.9!!! Youve got a sturdy set my friend but you do have the adjustable AOA bridle on the Blade 4. Def start on the second or middle knot. Faster but much more stable and floaty on re-entry!! You do have a lid (helmet)? If not you need to get one!:wow:

Quote:

Originally posted by powerzone hey Toast.... As i've stated in other postings.... if you want lift and jumping, you need to be able to change the AoA of the kite. so a sheetable kite (depower) is the ticket. sure you can make any kite even fixed bridle jump, but without proper inputs and timing and enhanced skill.... you drop like a stone just as you mentioned. Air Evo, Ozone, Flysurfer.... although the most expensive, these will give you what you are looking for > Floaty jumps with lower learning curve. pull the bar in and up you go.

Lower learning curve? Sorry but I have to disagree. Its much more than just pulling the bar in.

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Originally posted by tridude Oh my from a 3.6 to a Blade 4.9!!! Youve got a sturdy set my friend but you do have the adjustable AOA bridle on the Blade 4. Def start on the second or middle knot. Faster but much more stable and floaty on re-entry!! You do have a lid (helmet)? If not you need to get one!:wow:

I'll take that as a compliment . I've got myself a lid and will probably pick up knee and elbow pads too. Thanks for the setup advice - I'm going to start with everything as unaggressive as I can, go out flying when the wind is nothing but a breath and build everything up slowly.

I took the 3.6 out today to get some practice (big, impatient kid: I just wanted to go play!) and remembering that little flash jumping tutorial that's everywhere on here I have really improved my technique - much softer landings and getting a feel for keeping plenty of wind in the kite.

flash tutorial? must have missed it. anyone have a link?

Ratindahat,

this is it, but I've not posted a link before so this may, or may not, work!

<A HREF="http://chris.m.whittaker.googlepages.com/pendulumjump">site</A>

sweet, thanks