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  • Mouthwash
    Mouthwash

    By Mouthwash •

    U-Turn Butane 3.5M

    U-Turn Butane First Impressions

    The Butane is U-Turns latest offering and sits in between the Nitro all out race kite and the Oxigen intermediate. Many people will remember that U-Turn's head designer, Ernst Stroble, was responsible for the much-loved Airea Raptor (I & II) well, the Butane is the Raptor III by any other name.

    The kite is supplied in a simple stuff sack as per U-Turn's other kites but it's a posher one with a mesh insert to let the sand out and promote drying. Works fine for me, I have several kites which live in a larger bag. I don't want several rucksacks to haul about.

    Out of the bag the kite looks fantastic. The U-Turn Claw design is on both sides of the kite. Mine is blue with a white claw design and everyone has commented how nice it looks.

    Construction is up to the usual standard, this kite is bomb proof with multiple internal bracing on its 28 cells. The leading edge vents are reinforced with mylar and extend to the majority of the cells unlike alot of other race kites. I could not find a stitch out of place.

    I have flown the kite a couple of times now and I am very impressed. It will scud my lardy butt in only 10mph winds. Anyone who knows me will realise just how much power that takes!! I haven't yet had it out in it's comfort zone (about 20mph) but I can't wait to test it out at those speeds.

    In the bug it handles beautifully on the brakes, it doesn't have power rings or turn-assist brake eyelets like the Oxigen but this doesn't make any difference to the Butane. This kite turns fast!

    Upwind performance is usually one of the key performance criteria in a race kite and the Butane doesn't disappoint. I feel this kite will fly as close to the wind and point as high as any other kite of this type. Where it seems to do really well is in it's stability - so far I have yet to luff it. Admittedly I haven't taken it out in a lumpy offshore at Redcar so I can't call it perfect yet. Anyway if the wind is that rubbish I'll get the Oxigen 3.2 out! Once I have given it a good thrashing I'll add to this review to let you know how it performed.

    I got mine from Belgium as they're not yet on sale in the UK. I understand they will be available soon from www.u-turn-kites.co.uk/. Prices should be between the Nitro and Oxigen. For the performance this kite promises I reckon that represents good value for money. I will be getting a couple more and heading to the races!!

    By : Chris B

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    Mouthwash

    Mouthwash 6

    Posted

    Hi Again. Well I finally had it out in it's element at Hoylake on Sunday. Wind was 20+ and the 3.5 Butane handled it like a dream, no luffs just steady power. Upwind performance was really good: I'm looking forward to really getting into this kite. I probably had the brake on too much and I think with some further setup it will be perfect. Advice is to run the kite with a slight curve in the trailing edge and the handles at 90 degrees to the kite. Top banana - I just love these kites. In fact I just bought 3 more!!

    Lofty1600949550

    Lofty1600949550 5

    Posted

    Looks awesome ! Definately a contender for the best looking powerkite award ! With the UDS as an option too ! Look our Blades and Riots , i feel your days are numbered !

    dough_boy

    dough_boy 3

    Posted

    Gutted that I missed out on your Oxigens, now thinking maybe to go the whole hog for a Butane......

    Mouthwash

    Mouthwash 6

    Posted

    Finally hit the beach with the Butanes this weekend. Wind was all over the place, real lumpy offshore gusting to 20-25 - the sand was lifting. Started out on the 5.5 which was handling the junk brilliantly. Flying with active brake control I only luffed it a couple of times, at others I could feel it fly out and depower but it just held it's shape, slipped back into the window and powered up. For such a high AR kite it is incredibly stable. As the wind got worse I swapped to the 4.5 and found this one alot twitchier in the winds I was getting, it felt like it was doing 10-25mph every few seconds. Flying conditons meant that, by now, there was only me and a 6m Phantom flying. Still found it difficult flying and the Butane was all over the place but still trying hard not to luff. Eventually it got so bad I swapped over to my 3.2 Oxigen Pro (nuff said). So, what am I saying? Basically I like this kite, it's an easy race kite to fly: that's not to say it's a beginners kite by any sense. Can I think of any faults...? Well, only that the bridle isn't full kevlar like the Oxi Pro/Nitro. It has kevlar in the main A/B section into the collector but the rest is sleeved dyneema. I guess this is to do with keeping prices down but it seems to be doing fine, especially in the overpowering conditons I was flying in. All in I can thoroughly recommend this kite.

    skidmarks1600949558

    skidmarks1600949558 0

    Posted

    bills a top guy got my 2.5 nitro and 9 m butane from him the 2.5 is mental the 9 m scuds me for wat seems lke miles in really low wind cool

    shark

    shark 0

    Posted

    im trying to make my mind up, currently have a 4.5 pkd cent. in the right wind, great kite love it. 2.5 and a 6.5. now do i want a butane evo II 4.9 to replace the 4.5 as i want a move up to date kite. and replace the other as time go's on , or do i buy a 4.9 nitro II, and have no cash left for any more?

    Offshore

    Offshore 6

    Posted

    I'd add here that I had the 3.5 out yesterday and it performed faultlessly. I love the fact that when you trim the brakes on this kite just accelerates - I just need a heavier bug to hold the power down!!! Or eat more pies!! Also recommend Andy Tipper at www.prokites.com for Uturns.

    andyc1600949550

    andyc1600949550 2

    Posted

    Just got a 3.5, with a 5.5 on the way. First impressions are that it feels like a highly tuned Century (same designer after all). Amazingly stable for such a high AR. Very impressed. Want more :)



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