Dual line stunt kites - Introduction
Don't worry! - you don't have to read all this to fly a kite. It's here to help you if you run into any problems or if you're really interested in learning more now.When the words two lined stunt kite are mentioned usually people remember Peter Powell, the producer and namesake of the world's first stunt kite, but forget that image - a lot has changed since.
A 2 line kite is essentially triangular (or a delta, hence the name
delta kite) in form with a carbon (for better quality &
performance) or GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) frame (for a budget
kite) around its angled sides. Along the bottom of the delta, another
spar (carbon or GRP rod) pushes out a profiled sail edge of either
Ripstop nylon or polyester with the aid of two thinner little spars
called stand-offs.
We select only quality value for money 2 line stunt kites, that we
guarantee to fly in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
None of our stunt kites have baggy (for the wrong reasons), or poorly
made sails. Nor do they have frames that are inappropriate to the
market they are aimed at. If we don't rate them, we don't sell them.
The two flying lines are attached to the knot protruding from the
front of each bridle. Unwind your lines to the flying length that you
require before taking off (a simple pull and step backwards) and
landing (anything from a dive bomb with a quick stall to a gentle
descent at the edge of the 'wind window'). Most importantly, the line
must be set at even lengths. Line lengths below 20 - 25m are harder to
control the kite on. Longer lengths of ie. 25-40m will give you more
delay time when controlling the kite. Too long and the kite will not
respond in time. This one dilemma of buying a budget kite, to keep
costs down they tend to scimp on the line length, giving you shorter
lines. This is often not helpful to beginners as it makes the kite
seemingly fly faster.
But perhaps the most important thing to know about two line kites is that they are fun and not beyond the master of anyone with basic motor skills. Once the kite is flying, give it a pull with your left hand (the left line) and the kite will spin left. Even that hand up with the other one and the kite will travel in that direction. If of course, that direction is the ground, you had better correct it, say by pulling the right line to turn right and hopefully, skywards. Naturally, remember after you have completed a loop, there will be a twist in your line, which will need to be undone with another loop in the other direction; pretty simple hey?
What makes stunt flying so much fun is that you are constantly interacting with the kite and the wind conditions. In no time at all you will be pulling off innumerable loops of all sizes, dives, crisp turns and expert landings, but there really is much more to it than that. The new age of kite flying has enable us to learn and perform a whole host of ever more technical tricks that involve, among others, the kite stalling in various ways (such as rotation flat 720 degree nose down a foot from the deck, or falling over itself one way then another). You can make it travelling in an intricate pattern with quick stops and starts with enough practice. All this is possible in various wind conditions from force six to indoors! The sky's the limit.
However, your choice of kite will effect how advanced the tricks you can perform with it. What conditions it will fly in and generally how easy it will be to fly. There are roughly three basic sizes of sport kite, 4ft, 6ft and 8ft (these are rough sizes, often not 100% representative):
4ft kites are those generally aimed at the budget flyer, simply because they cost less. They often have strong spars and come packaged with line. However, although the 4ft kites we stock are normally well received, the smaller end of deltas are the hardest to fly, very often to keep the price down the line packaged is cheap, stretchy, heavy and does not slide together easily when twisted. In addition, the strong frames (GRP at the cheaper end) distort slightly in the wind and are often heavy; therefore, you need a steady, moderate wind. Nevertheless don't be put off, all are 4ft kites are excellent introductions to the sport and capable of all the basic tricks. Just pay as much as you can for a 'good' starter, maybe one with a carbon frame and the better end of line supplied. A good choice being the Yukon as a minimum.
A 6ft kite is where things really start to pull off, all our models are very capable of the more advance tricks (indeed many manufactures produce specialised 6ft trick versions of their kites). You will have a much larger sail area and a carbon frame to cover a large range of winds (and give you a tug in the stronger breezes). Since the kite is larger, the bridles are further apart thus the kite will seem much less twitchy and sensitive. Within no time at all you will be enjoying what sport kiting has to offer and hopefully pulling off tricks such as tip stands and snap stalls. A good choice for an introduction 6ft kite being the Hype, or more modern Jive.
At the far end, the 8ft wing is much slower and sleek, the most controllable size that is normally designed (in standard forms) to fly in the lighter end of the wind range. 8ft wings are used in competitions and are sometimes framed in carbon that has a graphite wrap for extra rigidity and reduced weight. Not only do they offer the best control, but also are the most precise. An expert only size? Ironically, a beginner would learn faster and better on an 8ft wing than any other.
Confused? We hope not, please take a look at our selection and if you have any further queries please get in touch.
<back to top of page>...