RVF400

The Manta is one of three new kites from Ozone. Along with the Access 2, Frenzy 07, the Manta is an advanced high performance depowerable, probably best described as a high aspect ratio Frenzy. As usual and obviously expected from Ozone the Manta comes with a great backpack, bar, lines, manual etc !! The 25m 300Kg lines are preinstalled on the bar so setting up is VERY quick and all lines are numbered!! For the 07 models the chicken loop has a longer and more flexible "kicket" as Ozone call it to lock the chicken loop onto a harness hook. Its VERY much easier to use than the 06 version which was separate and quite awkward to use. The bar has a central cam cleat adjuster strap and as Access and Frenzy owners will know a SUPERB release system which is incredibly effective. As a last resort, the chicken loop itself has a release which detaches EVERYTHING from the harness. So.....what about the kite? I've flown Frenzys and Access 1 and 2s so its was interesting to set up the Manta ready for a flight. Test conditions were good with a nice 12-13mph onshore breeze. The bar features a "handle" for want of a better description between the "brake" lines so popping this over a ground stake holds the kite down easily and it sits up with no fuss or flapping around. Once hooked in to the chicken loop and releasing the "handle" the Manta flew straight to the zenith. Thoughts of any instability due to the higher aspect ratio (4.7 flat) were instantly dispelled and after a couple of gentle turns to gauge the power I thought what the heck and jumped into the XXRACER buggy. Although the Manta is big and not really a buggy kite as such it performed SUPERBLY. An hour earlier the wind was gusting higher with a spell of heavy rain approaching so at that time the 6m Access 2 was the buggy engine. In comparison, the power from the Manta in the lighter wind was VERY strong and pulling the bar had the buggy slipping sideways. Dialling in a little depower using the central adjuster strap optimised the outright power against the forward speed and it was obvious that the Manta was going to perform well. Coming into turns it was possible to throw the bar forwards onto full depower as the kite flew directly upwards and literally spin the buggy round underneath using the brief downwind course of the buggy to tame the Manta's lift then it was into a dive and back in the opposite direction. OK, this kite might not be a buggy kite but a touch under 35mph on the gps unit wasn't bad with the wind hovering round 12-15mph. As the wind started to pick up, maxing out at about 18-20mph, a bit of static flying showed the potential performance of the Manta. The lift is excellent - effortless jumps but in such a controlled and predictable manner with a lot of "float" without having to really think !!! WOW !! Its easy to see why the Manta is used by Ozone rider Chasta to get his fantastic glides !! I'll have to explore the kite more but first impressions are very , very good indeed. Having flown Ozone kites for several years I was comfortable enough to push the Manta right from the bag so to speak but its NOT a beginners kite! Graphically the Manta looks good in the air - the 10m has a distinctive red strip whilst the 12m has a blue stripe and the higher aspect profile is much closer to a high performance buggy race kite and in my mind looks better for it. Ozone have a winner with the Manta and it will be great to fly it again soon and develop the review. By : RVF400

Peter Lynn has launched the Reactor as a medium/high aspect ration kite aimed at intermediate to advanced flyers for buggying and landboarding. The package comes with a reasonably good quality backpack - not as nicely finished as Ozone but useful all the same and the same style as the larger bags used for the twinskin kites such as the Venom.. Inside you'll find the kite and a ready to fly pack comprising 2 x 25m 210Kg lines, 2 x 110Kg lines, a plastic ground stake and aluminium handles. Each pair of lines is on a separate winder so its VERY quick and easy to set up. The handles have ground stake loops and the usual attachment points for a strop. The package does NOT include kite killers (or a strop). The kite itself (4.9m) is made from a good quality fabric and the construction is extremely neat throughout. The seams are double stitched and nicely sewn. The bridle is made from dyneema which is spliced and stitched at the attachment points to minimise drag. The actual attachment points are simple tabs sewn into the kite but no additional reinforcement patches. In some respects the bridle is unusual in that many kites now use lightweight, braided dyneema cored line, however the Reactor's bridle looks durable. All but the end few cells are open and are a basic rectangular shape so nothing fancy here! The centre cells have diagonal ribs, no doubt to maintain the kite's shape in tight turns. So, overall a "simple" construction. Graphically the kite looks very good - this particular one in red, grey and black hence very distinctive with screen printed "Reactor" logos. Setting up was VERY easy and took no time at all. The lines were attached to the ends of the handle leaders and with no other adjustment it was ready to fly..... Once launched in a wind -I guess of about 8mph, 10 max, the 4.9 accelerated quickly up to the zenith with a real feel of potential power. The kite is very responsive with or without brake assistance. In this wind I was able to spin, stop, reverse without any problems at all - in fact it felt REALLY good, particularly straight from the bag as described. Even in the lightish wind, the Reactor had an impressive wind window and flew fast. Therefore first impressions are encouraging. I've yet to try the Reactor with a buggy however the first flight suggests it will be interesting. Its certainly VERY responsive, agile powerful and quick so a more thorough test is needed. The Reactor is priced competitively - this 4.9m is "only" £209.99 list and represents great value for money considering the size of the kite, the bag and the ready-to-fly pack. Although the construction is fairly simple, it does have a quality feel. I can't comment on absolute lift and performance just yet but will post the results ASAP !! Considering how easy the 4.9 was to set up and fly, its probably suitable for beginners with some knowledge and experience. Andy (K720, Hoylake)