BigDavey

Flying Wings Beetle - £35

ROFL - U kidder U

Hadn't realised the Alpha Plus was as aggressively priced as that. Nice one!

That said - the Gem was my first... Wouldn't part with it for the world - I'm gonna be buried with mine TBH I'd forgotten about the Alpha Plus - But as I said there's dozens of variations - each bit of advice will be as sound as the other (from that fliers perspective) It can get a bit confusing when everyone discusses their favourites Confuse-o-meter 0% |-------------------------|X|----| 100%

Depends on how much you're willing to spend... around 50 quid: Premier Addiction, Prism Adrenaline, Flying Wings Beetle, Flexifoil Atom 50-100 quid: New Tech New Jam, Flexifoil Pulsar 100-150 quid up: Prism E2, Benson Outerspace, Benson Gemini Again, these are just a couple of suggestions as there are dozens of kites available and everyone may have different opinions on each dependent on the individual. A lot of the cheaper kites come RTF (ready-to-fly) complete with straps and lines - The E2 going one step further by including a DVD and Wind Meter in the package. Best advice to give is to meet up with a few other delta flyers and have a play with a few different kties to get a feel for what you like / don't like. Any kite's trick capabilities aren't likely to limit you for some time yet.

I'd second DNA's post - but would add the following: The E2 uses HotRod carbon - Not the most common (i.e. Pultruded / Avia / Skyshark etc.) and would be worth keeping one or two spare rods. In general Prism use custom-made components meaning that some parts aren't easily replaced (e.g. the Elixir uses a 5 then 7 wrap lower spreader custom made for Prism by Avia) Best advise is to make sure the E2 is properly assembled as there were some issues reported with the lower spreaders moving apart slightly causing the rod to split at the t-piece. That said - Enjoy the kite. I'd a play with one a few weeks ago and they're really nice.

1... KiteFliers is one site I'm aware of - Highwaymen Kites also have a 2nd-hand section. Yet another is Gone With The Wind - You'll need to register for the forum and look at tehe 'Swap Meet' section. It's a US-based site, but you can still pick up some great 2nd hand bargains there. My Amazing's on the way from the states and ended up only 20 USD for postage to the UK... Not bad at all. 2... Depends on the type of flying you're into. If it's freestyle flying then it's hard to get better than the Dot Matrix and Minigem - Another option from the same stable as the Stranger is the Psycho - not a subtle kite and you'll have to have quick reflexes. For the more precision-based stuff then you'll be after a vented kite along the lines of the Tramontana or Matrix. This is by no means an extensive list, which could be as long as several arms , as it does depend on your personal flying style. If you get the chance, meet up with some other flyers and see what they have in that arena, and give them a go (if the flyers are amenable enough) Hope you find the right kite (the one that's looking for you...)

Backspins - pff! Ladders - pff! Betcha can't cut a decent octagon Uh-oh - Davey hinted at the p-word /me points at h_i_r_o... He started it

I'd go with Desciple on the adjustments to the New Jam - I've got the same issue with the standoff-connectors at the back of the sail catching the lines - I'd probably change them to the Jaco style connectors (pop-thru rather than clip-over) This isn't a criticism of the New Jam, as I've got the same issue with the Elixir - Same type of standoff connectors. A small end-cap wouldn't go amiss either - Not that it's likely to happen, but for peace of mind Yoyo glides would be an idea - Once I start flying rolled-up Up until then shouldn't need to worry too much. If you want to go down that route there's a great article on Aerialis which covers adding the yoyo-glides using 2mm carbon rod.

My first point of call would be Richard Marsh at URL=http://www.tradewind-kites.com]Tradewind Kites[/url] Could also try Kiteworld Good luck - Hope u get it - They're a really nice kite.

Sorry Hiro, Was meaning that I'd never managed 540s consistently as I'd always been popping the line too hard - Trying a more gentle approach worked better for me. I suppose that I was having similar issues with the BS pull - Again I'd been popping the kite out of the fade while trying. When I switched to more of a hard pull - or a strong sweep - it worked out better. Didn't jerk the kite out of the fade. Just had a thought - The movement is less of a BANG! and more of a WHOOSH! (at least in my head it is...) I guess it's not all brute force and ignorance then

DNA - Had a play this weekend on the Jam, Elixir and Psycho. Managed to get the Jam pretty consistently (even though the winds weren't favourable) and even one rotation with the Psycho (was a bit surprised TBH) For the life of em though - Couldn't get the Elixir to spin for toffee - Need more practice... This was using both techniques - Both from pancake to fade and from a stable fade. Getting the feel of the BS pull is the thing which does it. Can be quite heavy-handed, but is a pull rather than a pop. I'd been popping away for ages and getting nowhere until Dodd gave me a pointer on it - Nailed within 5 minutes, dead chuffed. Now getting the 540 from the same approach - rather than a pop it's more of a pull... Makes a change to get a bit of progress

The Psycho is a ridiculously quick kite - So unless you've got the reactions of a (insert your choice of something with really quick reactions here) I'd be a bit wary of recommending one as an entry delta. (No reflections on your flying - just getting used to deltas after power kiting may take a bit) That said - Once you're used to it, it has to be one of the most entertaining kites to fly about. As I said it's 'really' fast, spins like a mad thing and can give you tricks that leave you going - "What was that?!" For the money I'd look at some alternates (at the moment - 'cause everyone should have a Psycho) such as the Pulsar etc. Similar wind range, but a bit more refined in their flying. Everyone will have their tuppence to pop in on this one - Just wanted to be first

Nice one, I've only recently started backspinning - Learned it from Dodd at Flightschool Ireland. He used a slightly different technique: Fly down towards edge at either 4 or 8 o'clock. Pancake then pull into a fade. As soon as the fade locks pull the outside hand back & extend inside. Haven't had much chance to practice though given weather & family outings recently - but once I get out I'll give it more time.

Hir0, Which BabyT have you got? - The present model, or the older (winglets) one? Was seriously tempted after flying the older BabyT a couple of months ago. Huge grin factor - That said I'd need to fly the 3D again for a fair comparison myself again.

Sounds like gravy to me... Ahhh... Bistro Beetle / Adrenaline / Addiction / Firecracker would all be a much better entry point. Then again they don't go as well with the Sunday roast

There's always the Permier Addiction... Only about 40-50 quid and has been getting some very favourable reviews (on GWTW forums and Khite's site) Comes RTF and is from the same designer as the ADX (meant to be a scaled-down version of the ADX) Just thought I'd help add to the confusion...

If you get the chance - Get out and about with some other flyers and have a play with theirs. That'll give you a chance to make up your own mind on the kite that best suits you L8r

Well... Given that you're already into traction kites a foil stunt kite won't be offering anything extra to what you already have (except less pull) so I'll definitely suggest going down the delta route. We've just run Flightschool Ireland over here with Dodd Gross and a good number of the students were power kiters wanting to get an idea of what deltas are capable of - Definitely something new for them. In the price range you've set I'd suggest the New Jam - I spent a lot of hours on them during the FS, ended up owning one by the end. It's a very accessible kite, handles crisply and is very capable - this will let you grow with the kite... I can't comment personally on the Beetle, but by all accounts is a (nearly) indestructible entry-level kite. Should be capable of most tricks you'll be running with at the outset, and is really well priced. May have to get one myself eventually to fill out the bag (some more!) The Stranger I haven't flown either, but it's generally regarded as a great kite (I've its little brother the Psycho for heavy winds) but you may also consider the Pulsar from Flexifoil as a more up-to-date alternate. As for the Nirvana / Gemini / Elixir approach - I can't say anything against that as I started out on the Gem a couple of years ago Whatever you choose - hope you enjoy it!

I tend to get most of my spare spars from either Kiteworks or Tradewind Kites. It's a good idea to get some lengths of 6mm (and some 4mm rod) for field repairs if needed. www.kiteworks.co.uk www.tradewind-kites.com Might find the following helpful - I have... If the LE has a tendency to break at the ferrule - epoxy a few inches of rod (usually double the depth of the ferrule) inside the tube (a 4mm rod fits nicely into the 6mm spar) This should strengthen the spar at that point as it's where mine have been most likely to break. Regards, Dave

Hi, Can you post a pic of the kite, and repair? Regards, Dave

How much do you want to spend? Also - what wind ranges would you need... For example the HQ Breeze is a great lightwind kite - Needs just a breath and can cope up to 12 mph. Capable of a lot of tricks, but given that it's an UL it's not that friendly toward lateral rolls (flic-flacs, turtle recovery) - It's only about £80 so represents good value... I've a penchant toward Benson kites (Gemin, Outerspace etc) and the new Gemini UL is a really sweet kite - £170 though Good winds!

40m is a bit long (for me anyways) - I've got a 35m set I'd use for precision flying (Tramontana) My 'trick' flying is on 25m ,20m or even 15m lines - all depends on the winds & how I'm feeling at the time. You shoould find the Erazor a bit less spongy on the lines as the winds pick up - then it pulls HF

Ta - Different to my own Quick quiz on the leech line - Did you get it looped, or still wraps round the end nock? Soz for the 20 questions

Hi Sky, What colours are the Psycho in? Regards, Davey