Discussion
One of my children has a Tribord stunt kite that we bought him for about £15 off Ebay. It's no more than a meter wingspan with a shortish tail and it's fine if the wind is fairly strong and consistent. If the wind drops it spirals to the ground; it will not ride out spells of lighter breeze.
Can anyone suggest a kite that will ride out flukey winds and that isn't hugely expensive please?
£25 on a HQ Symphony Beach, the smallest 1.3m one. Simple 2-line kite but really easy to control and have fun with. No poles or structure to it so very hard to do any damage!
Fine for kids as long as the wind isn’t too strong, and good fun for adults to fly too - I have one for really strong/gusty days when bigger kites would be a handful.
Fine for kids as long as the wind isn’t too strong, and good fun for adults to fly too - I have one for really strong/gusty days when bigger kites would be a handful.
Edited by sjg on Sunday 11th August 20:37
sjg said:
£25 on a HQ Symphony Beach, the smallest 1.3m one. Simple 2-line kite but really easy to control and have fun with. No poles or structure to it so very hard to do any damage!
Fine for kids as long as the wind isn’t too strong, and good fun for adults to fly too - I have one for really strong/gusty days when bigger kites would be a handful.
+1Fine for kids as long as the wind isn’t too strong, and good fun for adults to fly too - I have one for really strong/gusty days when bigger kites would be a handful.
Edited by sjg on Sunday 11th August 20:37
Got one for my nephew and it's good fun in lightish winds with the advantage of being nearly in-destructable as no poles to break. It also packs up very small into a little pouch.
I recently bought the 2.2m version (£50) and have been having a laugh with it - strongish winds and it happily drags me (17 stone) around the beach, so not suitable for little ones!
[quote=C&C]
Got one for my nephew and it's good fun in lightish winds with the advantage of being nearly in-destructable as no poles to break. It also packs up very small into a little pouch.
I recently bought the 2.2m version (£50) and have been having a laugh with it - strongish winds and it happily drags me (17 stone) around the beach, so not suitable for little ones!
Big kites are great fun when the wind is light. I've got a Flexifoil 4.5m kite and it is scary when the wind picks up.sjg said:
£25 on a HQ Symphony Beach, the smallest 1.3m one. Simple 2-line kite but really easy to control and have fun with. No poles or structure to it so very hard to do any damage!
Fine for kids as long as the wind isn’t too strong, and good fun for adults to fly too - I have one for really strong/gusty days when bigger kites would be a handful.
+1Fine for kids as long as the wind isn’t too strong, and good fun for adults to fly too - I have one for really strong/gusty days when bigger kites would be a handful.
Edited by sjg on Sunday 11th August 20:37
Got one for my nephew and it's good fun in lightish winds with the advantage of being nearly in-destructable as no poles to break. It also packs up very small into a little pouch.
I recently bought the 2.2m version (£50) and have been having a laugh with it - strongish winds and it happily drags me (17 stone) around the beach, so not suitable for little ones!
So said:
One of my children has a Tribord stunt kite that we bought him for about £15 off Ebay. It's no more than a meter wingspan with a shortish tail and it's fine if the wind is fairly strong and consistent. If the wind drops it spirals to the ground; it will not ride out spells of lighter breeze.
Can anyone suggest a kite that will ride out flukey winds and that isn't hugely expensive please?
Can anyone suggest a kite that will ride out flukey winds and that isn't hugely expensive please?
So bought the Symphony as recommenced on this thread for my 7 year old.
Well two blokes were struggling to figure it out... Got it to fly eventually but not a huge amount of control and we had one on each line about ten foot apart. It’s also now a tangled mess, to the point I’m thinking of binning it.
Probably all user error, so make sure you do your research on YouTube etc rather than heading to the beach with only the instructions.
Well two blokes were struggling to figure it out... Got it to fly eventually but not a huge amount of control and we had one on each line about ten foot apart. It’s also now a tangled mess, to the point I’m thinking of binning it.
Probably all user error, so make sure you do your research on YouTube etc rather than heading to the beach with only the instructions.
Great thread to stir up memories.
I flew a Dunford flying machine in my youth - what a great kite which was stable in all winds but sadly is no longer available ( or is it ? ).
I introduced kites to my son and he now takes his kids kite flying. A fantastic feeling to be in direct contact with the wind, whether with one or two control lines.
I ought to know better ( at my age ) but waiting for the right wind to try out a 1.8m wing.
I flew a Dunford flying machine in my youth - what a great kite which was stable in all winds but sadly is no longer available ( or is it ? ).
I introduced kites to my son and he now takes his kids kite flying. A fantastic feeling to be in direct contact with the wind, whether with one or two control lines.
I ought to know better ( at my age ) but waiting for the right wind to try out a 1.8m wing.
1ians said:
So bought the Symphony as recommenced on this thread for my 7 year old.
Well two blokes were struggling to figure it out... Got it to fly eventually but not a huge amount of control and we had one on each line about ten foot apart. It’s also now a tangled mess, to the point I’m thinking of binning it.
Probably all user error, so make sure you do your research on YouTube etc rather than heading to the beach with only the instructions.
I remember mine coming with a manual like this which is pretty good at explaining how to launch and fly them: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_l1G9uyZCP3WmtMc... - but yes, maybe easier to visualise with a video.Well two blokes were struggling to figure it out... Got it to fly eventually but not a huge amount of control and we had one on each line about ten foot apart. It’s also now a tangled mess, to the point I’m thinking of binning it.
Probably all user error, so make sure you do your research on YouTube etc rather than heading to the beach with only the instructions.
Main thing to remember is that these kites want to get to or return to above you (at the edge of the wind window) - so keep a nice even pull on both lines to let it get up there, then start trying out pulling one or the other to change direction. If I have someone new to it using one of mine I just get them used to that before they try bringing it further down in front of them.
Make big pulls on one line or the other straight after launch and it can all go wrong quite quickly!
motco said:
So said:
One of my children has a Tribord stunt kite that we bought him for about £15 off Ebay. It's no more than a meter wingspan with a shortish tail and it's fine if the wind is fairly strong and consistent. If the wind drops it spirals to the ground; it will not ride out spells of lighter breeze.
Can anyone suggest a kite that will ride out flukey winds and that isn't hugely expensive please?
Can anyone suggest a kite that will ride out flukey winds and that isn't hugely expensive please?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Book-Kites-Origin...
This book tells you how to make your own with drawings etc.
You will need to find a supplier of rip-stop nylon.
This book tells you how to make your own with drawings etc.
You will need to find a supplier of rip-stop nylon.
Bill said:
sjg said:
Make big pulls on one line or the other straight after launch and it can all go wrong quite quickly!
and having different people on each line is going to go wrong immediately.SpeckledJim said:
Bill said:
sjg said:
Make big pulls on one line or the other straight after launch and it can all go wrong quite quickly!
and having different people on each line is going to go wrong immediately.Definitely cannot fly any 2 line kite with different people on each line easily, and something like the Symphony would be near impossible.
You basically need to attach each line to the kite, them unravel both lines fully and have them stretched out in a straight line parallel on the ground. Holding one line in each hand, with the lines straight, they will each be the same length to the kite. You ideally need to be stood facing the kite with your back directly to the wind. If you have a 2nd person, they can pick up the kite and when it fills with air, release it. It should then go straight up, provided you have equal pressure on both lines.
If it goes straight down, the kite is upside down. Get your friend to turn the kite 180 degrees so it is now facing up. You'll also need to swap the lines over to your opposite hands, ensuring that the lines are once again parallel with no twists in them.
Once the kite is released and goes straight up, gently pulling harder on the right line will cause it to steer right. Pulling on the left line will cause it to steer left.
The pull from the kite will be less when it's further off to each side, or really high (almost above you). If you steer it across in front of you lower down, it will pull a lot harder.
Here's a short video of my Symphony 2.2m on its first outing a few weeks ago...
Untitled by conradsphotos, on Flickr
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