STUNT KITE

[Guy B Jr]

When practicing the pattern with a stunt kite, a tail shows you how good your circles are. It also slows it down, since this was in 14MPH wind. 

Guy B Jr

[Jorge de Azevedo]

When someone practice with a tail airplane, post a photo to us please, specially flying a square eight.

[Larry Renger]

Beautiful photo.  Do you use one handle and 2 lines or 2 handles?

[john e. holliday]

The stunt kite my son flew on had one handle with two lines.   That is how he learned to do maneuvers for regular control line flying.

[pipemakermike]

Many (many) years ago I was company pilot for Cambridge Scientific Kites, one of the early manufactures of stunt kites. I had many combat bouts with the designer of the kite some of them filmed for local television. I was always able to beat him as I had been flying controline combat for some years. I realised quite early on that he always flew using both hands and thought of the movements as based on the vertical axis whereas I flew with one hand and treated the kite as a horizontal flying machine just like a combat model only one that was limited to a down wind area. We had streamers tied about 2/3rds along the lines. I was never beaten!

[MarcusCordeiro]

If one can have the kite set as a model, two lines and a handle and the kite responds the same way as a model, it could be useful for some basic things like inside and outside loops, maybe eights. That's a lot of help to get the feeling.

Marcus

[Jorge de Azevedo]

If one can have the kite set as a model, two lines and a handle and the kite responds the same way as a model, it could be useful for some basic things like inside and outside loops, maybe eights. That's a lot of help to get the feeling.

Marcus

Hello Marcus,
Nice to met you here,
Did you have the experience of putting a tail in your own control line airmodel ?
Abração,
Jorge

[MarcusCordeiro]

I will...

When I start flying combat next summer.

later

Marcus

[Guy B Jr]

Larry,

The handle is a 15 inch piece of broom handle with a hole drilled one inch from each end for the two lines, thereby giving the control we are used to.

The lines are 85' of 50# dyneema (same as spectra)

Even though I flew combat and rat race in the 50's, 60's and 70's, when I started back, I was having trouble with figure 9's ending a flight. Then Tony G., Howard Rush, and Schultzie each provided info about stunt kites including the one about both lines on one handle. Best advice I have ever been given since I started flying in the early 1950's. Flying back and forth from one side to another quickly gives way to the intuitive eye, hand, and brain coordination that instinctively turns the handle the way you want to go.

Pattern maneuvers are limited to mostly rounds (inside loops, outside loops, horiz eights and vert eights). You can even do a wing over with a top about 80 deg rather than 90 deg. I haven't been able to do more than 2 corners of a square loop.

For retreads and beginners, the stunt kite is the best training tool I have ever seen. If I had one back in the 50's, I would have been a better combat flier. If one gets rid of their inhibitions with this, then there is no need for an indestructible trainer.

[Shultzie]

Be very afraid...
SPORT KITES CAN BE EXTREMELY ADDICTING!!!!!
Yes..
I have a special single  handle made up for flying one of my small Prism 3D kites. Works beautifully.
Here is one of my latest new low wind (actually ) WIND KITE duel line called "The ECHO!
www.intothewind.com/shop/whatsnew/Echo_Stunt_kite

However this kite is waaay to fragile for newbees...and a tad expensive..
I would highly recommend The PRISM JAZZ...which come with lines, bag, handle great instructions for only $49.00 and is virtually INDESTRUCTABLE.
Cut the lines down to 65 or 70...make up an 11in singe handle out of a piece of plastic pipe tubing.
This kite rules....I was a sponsored Prism kite competitor (freebee kites)  many many years ago...in the early 90's. The little Jazz Quality kite for the $$$$ and the small size helps keep the pull to a minimum...(Also the Prism MICRON would perhaps be even a better choice for a single handle...the size also would CUT DOWN ON THE EXCESSIVE PULL ON YOUR FLYING WRIST N ARM...in stronger winds.
www.prismkites.com

[Guy B Jr]

Shultzie,
The Echo kite seems to be very similar to the Prism 4D I just bought from Midwest Kites. Haven't flown it yet. Do you have any experience with the 4D? (line lengths for various wind speeds, etc.)

[Shultzie]

Shultzie,
The Echo kite seems to be very similar to the Prism 4D I just bought from Midwest Kites. Haven't flown it yet. Do you have any experience with the 4D? (line lengths for various wind speeds, etc.)

YOUR 4D actually has a much better and more stable frame....My new Echo has a very suspect sail standoff design (which takes a lot of integity out of the frame stiffness away from the frame....WAY TO FLOPPY AND FLEXS WAAAAY TOOOOO MUCH WOBBLEES for the needed crispness in hard square corners.. and a very difficult bridle to make small necessary adjustments for wind speed.
I HAVE MADE DRASTIC CHANGES TO BOTH THE ECHO'S ORIGINAL FRAME AND NASTY SUSPECT BRIDLE DESIGN.
GO WITH THE 4D N ENJOY!!!  However even this size of kite...generates a lot of LINE PULL..which could put some unhealthy strain on your flying hand and arm.

I had one of the first 4D which I traded off for an old collector Kite from TOP line kites in Calif.

YOUR 4D WILL SERVE YOU VERY WELL FOR A SINGLE HANDLE KITE~!
Years ago...I flew Prism kites in Competition with pretty good success...plus their company is local nearby and here in the Seattle area.

Check out this kite video......Careful..this might be too adicting for some CLPA flyers. :Go to the Photos and Video section and click on the... THE SIXTH SENSE heading NOW OR NEVER and enjoy the ride of one of our best choro flyers ever born.

http://gwtwforum.com/index.php?=8200.0