Flexifoil Blade 2 3.0M

Having had a brilliant couple of months flying experience with my first ever traction kite (a Flexifoil Blade II 3.0m), my bank account and I decided that the time was right to move onto bigger and better things... So started a period of frantic research and asking mates (as well as random kite-flying strangers on my local flying patch) for their views and opinions, amid frequent requests of "Can I have a go, Mister?". Due to several recommendations of it being a good step up from the Blade II 3.0m, as well as several test flights with it, I decided to move up the scale and go for a Blade II 4.9m. As my budget didn’t quite stretch to a brand-new kite from a recognised shop, I found eBay to be filled with these power monsters and it wasn’t long before I had my hands on one of them - in unused condition!

Although I’ve seen and flown Blade II 4.9ms several times out in the open, nothing quite prepared me for when I got home and took it out of its bag. The design and build quality all of the components is top notch, and whilst the colour scheme has had criticism for being boring, it does look smart and instantly recognisable. When fully laid out, the sheer size of it (easily dwarfing myself and taking over my living room), sent a shiver down my neck and through my spine, as thoughts soon turned to the fun I would be having. And it wasn’t long before I got the good weather and opportunity to take it on its maiden flight.

Setting up for the first time was a breeze (unfunny pun intended), and I immediately took to how responsive it was. With some fine tuning of the brake lines, the kite will happily sit up to attention whilst staked down. Slight tugging at the lines, like a dog wanting to be taken off its leash, definitely confirms that this is a kite not designed to be kept down on the ground. Despite my initial fears that there wasn’t enough wind, launching the kite was ridiculously easy and continues to impress when you consider how much material there is to inflate and lift! Some people complain that the wing-tips do not fill as well as other kites, and whilst this may be true in certain situations, the extra power generated when these sections fill up is quite amazing. Take for example, when you’ve applied the brakes to a turn, and the empty wing-tip has folded over. A quick sharp shake and the wing-tip unfolds out, gulping in air and propelling you forward with the sudden acceleration… Absolutely wonderful!

Once airborne, the kite will happily sit at the top of the wind window awaiting your next move, but one of the first things I noticed when flying the Blade II 4.9m in comparison to the Blade II 3.0m is how much slower it turns. Having gotten used to the zippiness of the Blade II 3.0m, it takes a period of readjustment to feel comfortable - very much like driving off the motorway and reverting back to 30mph speed limits. Even with some brake applied, the kite takes longer to make its turn and so flying ‘figure of eights’ and ‘loop the loop’ spins do take some practice and getting used to. Aside from the obvious dangers of a kite so large and powerful, I can imagine that this slower speed of turn being quite off-putting to anyone starting out flying traction kites. There were certainly a few crashes in my early days with this kite, but there is that lovely loud “bumpft” sound that the escaping air makes upon impact to compensate as well as scare people around you!

Despite all this power, this kite is pretty easy to manipulate. Generating lift is incredibly simple and almost natural to such a kite, and jumps can be achieved after little practice. The smooth, softer, controlled landings do take a bit more time though… Generating lateral power requires more exertion due to this tendency to lift, but with some effort and practice, this too can be achieved to great satisfaction. Whilst Flexifoil have chosen to address this by launching the Bullet range, I still prefer the Blade for its power, and for something not so smooth and easy to fly! The Blade II 4.9m has a good wind range – being big enough to make the most of lighter winds yet a manageable size in stronger winds. Yes, it can make you feel completely overwhelmed at times, but isn’t that why we do what we do? And it is because of this “Oh my!” raw feeling that I prefer the Blade IIs to the Blade IIIs. It can take some work and effort, but what you put in is returned tenfold in satisfaction and wide grins!

For anyone wishing to stay loyal to the Flexifoil brand, and looking for a powerful kite with some serious lift and drag (so long as you’re prepared to work for it), you can do much worse than a Blade… And with the introduction of a new shape design and colours to tempt established flyers and introduce traction kiting to another generation of younger flyers, Flexifoil are onto a winner! However, having flown the newer Blade III 4.9 and a similar sized 4.5m Bullet (amongst others), I can honestly say that the Flexifoil Blade II 4.9 remains my favourite and preferred kite.

Author : bsuym