I expect this to have a bit different response to standard front line, back line control of a FB. The AOA should adjust to some degree with the middle
lines in the middle of the bar staying somewhat static.
I had similar feelings about holding down power. I am pretty sure you can hook it to Paraskiflex bars? In my little mind a CL in line with the center
lines would work?
Happy to help a brother out. Steffen most kindly sent me one when I completed my LS2 quiver purchase. I'm not 1/8 (read 1/16) the street kiter Sean is
so I lent it to him so he could give it a proper test drive. Good write up by him on the Down Under site.
I still wonder about the changing AOA?
How does the depower work?
ill take a closer look and better pictures next time I'm out but the front line bridles attach at the top of the handle, then there are a middle set
that attach at the middle of the handle and back line or steering line bridles attach at the bottom. I don't recall any pulleys but I don't remember.
It definitely changes the angle of attack when you tilt the handle to and from. Rotating the handle is how it steers. Flying one handed your thumb is
pointed up on the handle to use as leverage for more power or was off for less. It works but is pretty difficult while holding all the power in one
hand. Depower would probably work better hooked in which you can do but I have not done. I would really like to add a 2m line set to see how it would
do. I have always had an easier time street kiting with some lines versus straight off the bridle.
The funny thing is when I would be going into a turn with the handle in my dominant hand, it would be a smooth transition, then I would switch to my
left hand to go the opposite direction. I kept failing on the transition initiated with my weak hand and I was cussing the kite. However, the kite
was performing as it was designed because I had no problem with the dominant hand transition. So it was ME, not the kite. It took me an hour to
program some finesse into my left hand. It was like a stranger was flying the kite
The concept is the same as in Paraskiflex. Looking at the design prior to testing it years ago I was expecting some AOA control by tilting the bar but
I quickly discovered why they never mentioned this feature - it just simply would not work with the given bar length, very low AR and bar being too
close to the body when hooked in. The "steering wheel" steering was very sluggish and extremely dependent on lines tension and length so at the edge
of the window where you want to turn the response was terrible as it was in the lulls. Now, this Street Star version looks better with higher AR and
wisely specified very short (or no) lines.
The "steering wheel" steering was very sluggish and extremely dependent on lines tension and length so at the edge of the window where you want to
turn the response was terrible as it was in the lulls. Now, this Street Star version looks better with higher AR and wisely specified very short (or
no) lines.
It could be just a learning curve, but steering does feel sluggish as opposed to nasa. Do you think the addition of 2 or 5 meter lines would have a
negative effect? I don't have near enough time on this kite to form a well rounded opinion but initially, I'm struggling to find an advantage to this
kite versus a nasa in terms of unhooked one handed flying other than easy landing / reverse launch
Any additional distance between the canopy and the bar can only make steering response more sluggish. The longer the lines (and the less tension on
them) the less of the torque of the bar is transmitted to the kite - and this is the major problem with this design. The potential advantage would be
a simple AOA control by tilting the bar. As for other things - not so much. You can just as easily fly any FB one handed (with much better control)
and land and reverse launch easily on 4 lines and even have some "nasa depower" on 5.
Any additional distance between the canopy and the bar can only make steering response more sluggish. The longer the lines (and the less tension on
them) the less of the torque of the bar is transmitted to the kite - and this is the major problem with this design. The potential advantage would be
a simple AOA control by tilting the bar. As for other things - not so much. You can just as easily fly any FB one handed (with much better control)
and land and reverse launch easily on 4 lines and even have some "nasa depower" on 5.
Look here from minute 1:10 to 1:30 .
That does not looks like a problem!
This looks really fast.
Perhaps there is a special control technique?
Any additional distance between the canopy and the bar can only make steering response more sluggish. The longer the lines (and the less tension on
them) the less of the torque of the bar is transmitted to the kite - and this is the major problem with this design. The potential advantage would be
a simple AOA control by tilting the bar. As for other things - not so much. You can just as easily fly any FB one handed (with much better control)
and land and reverse launch easily on 4 lines and even have some "nasa depower" on 5.
Look here from minute 1:10 to 1:30 .
That does not looks like a problem!
This looks really fast.
Perhaps there is a special control technique?
It works as advertised imo. There is definitely a technique to it but it does work well. Flying any kite straight off bridles has always been a
challenge in my wind. a few meters of line allow me to work a kite just enough to work through a lull. You must have decently clean wind at ground
level to fly any kite without lines. I hope to get the opportunity to try it out with some short lines added and see how that goes.
The 4 m kite starts flying in 2 Beaufort really comes alive at 4 to 5 you for three starts to get a little more fun it's a lot of work in the buggy
but perfect when you're riding on a longboard the unhooked the power sensation on the joystick gives you the freedom to look at the road and forget
about the kite you can fly it on a bike, too... and there's a photo where it looks like he's slacklining with it!
The depower works without any crumple and gives a wide wind range.
Best with a longboard.
Basically it does everything Born says it does really well. That's the gist of it.
Scout II 4m
Montana VI 9.5m
Matrix 15m
F-arcs 1200 & 1600
Pulse 13m
Ozone Reo 8m
LF Envy 12m
The 4 m kite starts flying in 2 Beaufort really comes alive at 4 to 5 you for three starts to get a little more fun it's a lot of work in the buggy
but perfect when you're riding on a longboard the unhooked the power sensation on the joystick gives you the freedom to look at the road and forget
about the kite you can fly it on a bike, too... and there's a photo where it looks like he's slacklining with it!
The depower works without any crumple and gives a wide wind range.
Best with a longboard.
Basically it does everything Born says it does really well. That's the gist of it.
Thanks Suds! Greatly appreciated. A German/English speaker Down Under also took a swing at it:
Not yet Sean. I did receive word on September 25th that they had received it but since then it has been radio silence. If I were to get lucky and
get it today through Saturday then I could bring it with me to Ivanpah next week. If not, then I suspect I will next be able to give it a proper test
flight at IBX2018 next Spring. Fingers and toes crossed!
Born sure does nice videos. He looks like a pretty big guy - kite was only 4.0 M. I'm impressed. Ironically, today we actually have several inches
of snow here in Atlanta. So much in fact, that when I got back from the airport last night, the Lyft driver had to drop us off a half mile from my
house (roads closed) and we had to carry our suitcases the rest of the way. Several cars abandoned on the road into our subdivision. If only I had
some skis and a snow board.....
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