HQ Crossfire 2.4M - 7.7M

HQ Take a step up:

The Beamer is one of the most successful beginner/intermediate kites out there, and wanting to make a kite that would be the next step for flyers, but with the same affordability and robustness, HQ's foil designer Alex Hesse came up with the kite that was to become the Crossfire. Alex designed his own aerofoil profile, calling it the AH001, with the aim being to have predictable lift for the kite to be used for landboards, snowboards and the more extreme end of buggying. The initial size range is going to be from 2.4m to 7.7m.

On opening up the 4m prototype for the first time some key features became apparent right from the start. The kite is of very strong construction, with Mylar reinforced forward sections to the ribs the air vents are held open even with the kite lying on it's back on the floor. This to me means improved resistance to collapsing, with the vents held open the kite inflates readily on launched and can recover from any lack of internal pressure easily.

All bridle attachment points are reinforced, which coupled with the fully sewn Kevlar/Dyneema bridle makes for a tough set up. Velcro closures on the tips at the trailing edge allow for any errant sand or much to be much more easily cleaned out, and the sensibly placed Velcro bridle keep makes control of the bridle during packing much easier if you are in the habit of swapping lines a lot. By placing this keep within the leading edge of the kite the trailing edge can be weighted down wind sand etc for launching without the problem of burying the stored bridle which happens when the keeps are on the trailing edge.

Visually the kite is a little different from the rest. For the first time I can recall the benefit of the visual appearance of the kite is directed towards the pilot, rather than onlookers. With the underside being the main colour, and the upper skin in white the pilot is presented with an illuminated kite rather than the often pasty appearance of kites with white undersides and coloured tops. The decorative stripe which adorns the lower skin is reproduced on the top using the main colour of the underside of each kite size. With the kite aloft the pilot is presented with three layers of décor, the underside, the internal cross bracing ribs, then the top surface. Which all points towards a fresh looking kite which has good contrast against the skies which is easy to keep visually oriented.

The Crossfire comes complete with standard pre-stretched Dyneema flying lines. I have never had to adjust any of the lines supplied by HQ, so no problems there. The handles are an improved version of the Beamer types, with thicker softer grips which will appeal to a lot of people, and the addition of nylon ferrules to protect the leaders where they exit the handle. The backpack is an excellent piece of kit which carries the big comedy zip the Beamers have which does make me grin. Kite killers have been included and a stake too, so there is no reason to buy anything else to get yourself airborne out of the packaging.

So, to flying. This kite is very well behaved on the ground. Staking through the brake loops allows the kite to sit tight on the deck reliably without any tendency for the trailing edge to lift up. Launching is straightforward, the kite rises in a gentle power up and sits at the zenith with ease. It is here that the 'step up' from the Beamer becomes apparent. This kite has lift, and where the Beamer was designed to have reduced lift, the Crossfire has it in abundance. You're not going to get rest at the top with this one!

The pronounced arc shape to the kite means that the pilot is presented with a lozenge shape with it's curved leading and trailing edges. Manoeuvring around the edge it becomes apparent that the Crossfire is very stable, keeping in good shape in all but the most unsavoury of winds that all kites would suffer in. Unlike some kites the Crossfire responds well to control input whilst at the edge, so keeping it there is easy. Sending it through the power zone is where the real benefit of this kite comes to the fore.

The power these kites generate is big, very big. In direct comparison to a Beamer 5m for instance the Crossfire 4m generates way more power, and is rather more relentless in the way it delivers it. The airspeed is impressive too, one of the reasons why the Crossfire generates so much pull is due to the airspeed coupled with the aerofoil section working together. One thing I always look for is good control under braking. There are a number of 'high end' kites I could mention which become very twitchy with some brakes dialled in, so some time was spent perfecting the brake bridle configuration to ensure that the kite could be 'parked' in the wind window in a way which retains the controllability, but allows the pilot to get that extra 'bite' which comes from a slight application of the brakes.

One thing which the range achieves is a genuine progression as you go through the sizes. Predictably the little 2.4 is a little rocket which is amusing in it's speed alone. As you go up the range the kites retain the same characteristics with the inevitable trailing off of speed as you get bigger. My favourite though is the 6.3. I like the winds where this is the right kite to use, and the combination of speed and power is a real joy for me in a buggy. With the lift thing there have been a few occasions where I have been floated out of the buggy, but always with grace. This kite 'glides'. Ripe for buggy jumping this kite strikes me as being far more user friendly than some kites put to this purpose as the lift is realised in a progressive rather than a snappy manner. Free jumping is a grin with these, without the 'snappy' feel of others launching yourself is smooth and the landings soft.

It was always in mind that there was to be a variety of control options, the Crossfire will be available with three. Standard handles, a bar with reversing and re-launch facility, and a bar option which uses pulleys on the kite end to gain tighter turning and a sharing of power through the bar and a chicken loop arrangement. This last version requires some setting up, but has the advantage of allowing brake setting to be dialled in through a de-power strap.

In conclusion, and probably the most surprising thing of all, the price. Starting at around £160 these kites represent excellent value for money.

Is there anything that could be done to improve them, well, maybe I'd like a purple one...

Author : Jerry