Power kites - Introduction
The power kite is a kite with power & it can potentially pull you. It's great fun, battling with the kite, sliding along behind it and to the further potential extreme of being lifted off the ground.
Much better still is harnessing this power for traction purposes
which has endless possibilities. Blat along on a snowboard, mountain
board or a three-wheeled kite buggy achieving speeds approaching 50mph.
Although this is all maybe a bit too dramatic. It would be wrong for
you to assume that a 2m/6ft kite would have the power to allow for serious
traction activities, or even that a much bigger one would be suitable to power kite
in a very low wind. In addition, you need to understand that it is very
possible to fly a power kite without constantly being dragged behind it.
The power a sail produces varies from kite to kite, (which are suited for different activities) and the manner in which the kite is flown. A large kite static above you produces very limited pull, but one in a dive or upward flight can be very frightening, if unexpected. Most importantly though are the wind conditions (even a small power kite can be a monster on a blowy day).
A power kite is awesome fun & can be a serious work out. One of the aspects of power kiting that originally convinced Paul Thody (one of Air Born's founding partners) that it was for him was that he lost a stone in weight during the first month he had a 10ft Flexifoil. Perhaps it was just that he was kept out of the pubs most evenings! However, he is certain that the exercise he did, physically fighting with the kite whilst flying was the major factor. Of course, your arms will receive a good work out but so will the rest of your body with many people under estimating just how physically demanding power kiting can be; leaning back constantly against the kites power, pulling yourself up when jumping and walking backwards being pulled forwards. How much power you want simply depends on what wind conditions you go out in.
When buying a power kite you need to consider your body weight, the
wind speeds you will use the kite in and your fitness level. These will
all determine what you can do with the kite.
Most power kites look something like a para-glider when flying, using the wind to inflate cells through a front vent. The canopy is supported by a bridle, sometimes very complicated, other times more basic. (Pictured above a Flexifoil which has a spar across the front that allows for no bridles).
Two or four lines? Flying a four line power kite is a little different from flying with two lines but not hard. Being inflated by the wind, the kite tends to blow back into shape. To get the best out of it you need to tilt (not pull) the handles to turn it. Four line kites are generally used on shorter lines (25/m75ft) The top lines take all the power and are therefore generally have a higher breaking strain. By tilting a handle the kite will rotate from it's centre, not the end (as a 2 line kite would), thus having a smaller turning circle - they have many other advantages as well.
With a four line kite the angle in which you set the kite at (by what degree you tilt the handles or fine tune the lines) greatly effects its power. Tilt the handles right back and you will have a fast kite with minimum pull, tilt right forwards and the kite slows and increases its forwards pull (great for buggying), keep tilting the handles forwards and the kite will stall and eventually fly backwards - perfect for landings and keeping your kite on the ground ready to go.
It is worth noting that several four
line kites like the Blade can be converted to two lines with minimum
fuss & no fuss quick on & off bridle kits are available separately from us to do that.
What size: At the smaller end of power kites you can fly them in
most winds, but will not get significant power unless in stronger
winds. With bigger kites, these can still pull immensely in medium and
light winds (some are huge). However, a big kite in a big wind can be
very dangerous and in the worst-case scenario, you will have no control
over it or yourself. (Nowadays most power kites come with safety
systems so that you can let go to de power. These are also available
from us separately). So to be able to say buggy or surf in all
wind conditions you will need several kites. For example, an 8sq m for
light winds, 4sq m for medium winds and 2sq m for very windy days. What
size kite you get is up to you, many flyers simply purchase an average
size kite and forfeit its power when using it in light winds. An
avarage kite would be between 2-4m.
Stacking: The only soft kites we sell that are able to be stacked are the Flexifoils and Arcs. Flexifoils have been stacked for years very successfully and combining different sizes is no problem. This makes a Flexifoil a great starter kite because although on its own, except in larger winds, it will not produce massive power, it can be easily up graded. Nevertheless do remember that Flexifoils aside from there many virtues are not the most efficient 'pounds for power' kites and if you wish to take the sport up more seriously with an aim to move into traction activities, you maybe better off with another (more expensive) kite to start with i.e. a Pepper, Rage or the more advanced over head lift kites the Twisters or Blades.
Power kites for water use: With the explosion of kite surfing
the market is being flooded with kites designed specifically so that
they can be landed (or rather crashed) and re-launched on water.
Although technically you can use any power kite over water since you
aim not to crash it, this obviously cannot always be helped and
certainly not when you start to learn tricks. Water re-launchable kites
come with inflatable tubes that you pump up i.e.
Naish Wings.
We hope that we will be able to answer your questions in our write
ups of our kites. If you have any more questions though, please call or
e mail us.
Paul Thody (Air Born Kites) holds the world record for hand flying (unanchored) a stack of 50 Flexifoil 6ft kites at the Cervia kite Festival in Italy on 27 & 28 September 1997.
Safety warning: Beware of pull of large power kites! Always wear suitable protective clothing, including a crash helmet if jumping or buggying. Only jump with significant power and attempt use on water once experienced. Heed manufacturers instructions and please ask advice (it's free!).
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