Blades

[Lynnlad]

Right im cool with blades etc etc, however can anyone give me a summary of the blades series

 

what im after is the characteristics of 1 2 3 4 and 5 etc. If that makes sence!? do they progress with age and technology, are the earier one just raw, that sort of thing. Ta

[the_robbo_82]

My first blade was a MK1 4.9m. It spanked me and I nearly gave up.

 

I've recently bought a MK V 4.9m. It hasn't spanked me on the way to the zenith. It turns really quickly but still lifts like a chinook. I think the main difference over time would possibly be turning speed (without having to use brakes)

[mick]

The short answer is that they are all different. You knew that of course BUT everyone here will have a different opinion of the differences.

 

For me personally, regarding for eg. the 4.9s, I found the Mk 1 was just a Blade. The II was more raw and aggressive, the III was smooth and predictable and better upwind on a buggy than the I or II. The IV with the AAA thingy, more tunable and consequently I think more of an all round kite and the V, sorry I havent used one.

[smackay116]

Blades peeked at mk3/4 mate cant go far wrong with a good mk4

[Lynnlad]

mick you gave the perfect answer, im a simple chap and happy to stick with those reasonings :-).

 

mk4 gets most good reviews, but the cost is still high when i could get a mk3 and still have funds left. Thanks all :-)

[mick]

mick you gave the perfect answer, im a simple chap and happy to stick with those reasonings :-).

 

mk4 gets most good reviews, but the cost is still high when i could get a mk3 and still have funds left. Thanks all :-)

 

Yes I think I did also . Seriously tho, you can pick up the MkIII very reasonably. I have a Mk III 4.9 and 6.6 and while I have seen the advantages of the MK IV I couldn't justify the big spend to change. You'll be more than happy with the III.

[de_flyer]

Where are the guys that like the new MK V??

I flew one of a friend several times and definitely will buy one. Very stable, quick turns and lots of lift

[XyOnGTE]

i own a blade 4m mk5 and love it to bits a pure beast and i would choose this any day over a 4.9 mk4. Its so predictable but still managed to have sheer grunt and scare you to bits any time you fly it

[dragon2009uk]

i own a blade2, 9m and it's an awesome kite,good stability, tons of float and relentless lift and at times can scare the living **** out of you. yeah it's slow but makes up for it with power:) when i comes to blades i like the older ones:)

Edited July 6, 2010 by dragon2009uk

[mick]

Where are the guys that like the new MK V??

I flew one of a friend several times and definitely will buy one. Very stable, quick turns and lots of lift

 

How many Blades have you flown then?

[Lynnlad]

Im eventually after the 4.9 and 6.6 or 6.5 depending on if i go mk3 or mk 4. Should be trying out the mk3 this weekend hopefully. I hear the mk5 have good reviews, but my reasonings come on a cost bases also. I could have 2 mk3 for a mk5.

[mick]

Many of the Mk III 6.6 had a small bridle fault that is well known and takes about 5 minutes to fix BUT many will sell this kite cheaply because they don't have a clue. I've bought a couple like this. If you find one cheap, providing it is in good condition, just buy it. If you don't get to fly a IV or a V you'll be no wiser. The 6.6 will make you smile. Its lift and float is lovely if thats what you want.

 

As a buggy kite which is what I use it for, its great. Respect it and watch where you put it and you get to stay in the buggy. My small race kites have caught me out more than the Blades. For sure, lately flying with Mk IV flyers I do see an advantage in being able to 'depower' it slightly but a Blades a Blade. Depowering it is like putting lemonade in with beer. It just aint done.

[smackay116]

Its like takeing the life away with the triple a. The point is ? Blades are lifty kites thats what they do

[hankster]

i had a blade 4.9 mk 2 which proceeded to spank me for every little error i made it nearly put me off powerkiting for life as i'd only been flying for 5 months or so no wonder its nicknamed the widow maker or widower it fooking lethal if you dont show it respect.but now 6yrs on i'd love another in the black and grey colours.

[Lynnlad]

Mick im a buggier really, i have the rages for that which are fool proof and allows me to tackle any wind really, Im after the blades to use for recreational jumping when i work away from home or i just cant be bothered with the buggy. They will also be used in the buggy on smooth wind days to mix things up a bit. Going out with a mk 3 4m this evening to get a feel. I have defo moved away from any mk2 adverts lol.

This bridal fault and mod, whats that all about then, first time ive heard of it.

[kristiaan_d]

just to add my experience, my friend has a 3.2 (?) blade 3 and it was the reason i got into power kiting. only spent an hour or two playing with it in high wind and i knew it was something i wanted to get into, all thanks to a Blade shame i dont own one yet.. gotta save my pennies.

[mick]

Mick im a buggier really, i have the rages for that which are fool proof and allows me to tackle any wind really, Im after the blades to use for recreational jumping when i work away from home or i just cant be bothered with the buggy. They will also be used in the buggy on smooth wind days to mix things up a bit. Going out with a mk 3 4m this evening to get a feel. I have defo moved away from any mk2 adverts lol.

This bridal fault and mod, whats that all about then, first time ive heard of it.

 

I think first off, the Mk III 4 mtre is quite a different kite to the 4.9 and 6.6. Yes I can hear the forum arses saying cos theyre bigger. We know that but in my experience as a buggyer, I wouldnt want the 4 mtre III. Ive flown them and to be honest, that was the kite that nearly broke my neck. ( crushed 2 verts) and paralysed one arm. They are so damn fast and I felt mega unpredictable. This is my opinion and others I know will rubbish it. Am I bothered? .

 

OK this bridle fault. Massively common on the 6.6 IIIs and I believe the 8. something but I may be wrong on the latter. Its a simple fault where one particular part of the bridle stretches and another part doesnt but it renders the kite almost unflyable. Theres loads of stuff on here if you search for it. I can't remember what the bridle is the A, B, or C but I know its the middle one and its dead easy to fix.

 

The faults show up as a kite that luffs badly, won't reinflate and a reluctance to zenith. You can also see the tightness on the bottom of the kite. These kites are lovely and stable when right.

 

And anyone that calls a Blade a widow maker shouldn't be flying one. Nobody EVER called them that. There has to my knowledge only ever been one death by a Blade and that was recently. Get a grip FFS.

[de_flyer]

How many Blades have you flown then?

 

The mk iv and v only (4.9 and 6.5). I don´t know anybody with the earlier models as they unfortunately are not popular in my place. I liked both but for static flying the mk v seemed better to me (personal impression only) as I found it more "smooth". The iv once knocked me down what I interpreted as the "pop" that is mentioned sometimes. But maybe it was just my missing experience at that time...

[Lynnlad]

Flown the mk3 a few times now and i quite like it, i have no other experiance with blades but will probably not look any further, it does the job!! Just wondered tho, to widen the wind range can a standard AAA kit be fitted to match wind conditions, anyone with experiance of this. I have them on the rage i own and really like the option.

[bendeman]

thank you mick the blade is a widow maker is shite iv never heard them called that but i didnt know there was a death by a blade they are mint kites and thats all i love 2 fly just cause they are so rewarding kites they are predictable and when u know them in most wind ranges there are fooking mint kites all i own is blades but i have flown some of my mates kites and they aint nothing to blade i love um but have had a few sketchy moments on mine

[Antigrav]

thank you mick the blade is a widow maker is shite iv never heard them called that but i didnt know there was a death by a blade they are mint kites and thats all i love 2 fly just cause they are so rewarding kites they are predictable and when u know them in most wind ranges there are fooking mint kites all i own is blades but i have flown some of my mates kites and they aint nothing to blade i love um but have had a few sketchy moments on mine

 

,.:;/\!?'

try using at least one of them next time

[the_robbo_82]

Its like takeing the life away with the triple a. The point is ? Blades are lifty kites thats what they do

 

I'd have thought that given you have MK IVs you would know that you can make the kite even liftier with a triple A

[kev1n]

have a 4.9 and a 8.5 blade 4, use them for landboarding, the 8.5 is usable from 10 to 15mph, very predicable and easy to fly, 4.9 is fast and is liable to pull you off your feet, the 4m blade 5 is more predicable but still has loads of grunt and as all smaller kites are bloody dangeruse

[smackay116]

If you put it on high they back stall alot more

[mick]

,.:;/\!?'

try using at least one of them next time

 

Couldn't figure this post out and then HA ! Pis5ed meself. Well done Antigrav for giving me a laugh on my birthday.

 

Well done Lynnlad. Welcome aboard the Blade train. It can be a bumpy ride so take care and have the ride of your life. (bit dramatic but what the hell)

 

Incidentally, the guy who was killed flying the Blade, I think 4mtre IV which is largely irrellavent (sp) was a cool buggyer dude who's name escapes me; Ralph or Alphonso or something but a guy who we should all look to as an example of the spirit of kiting. I'll hunt a vid out that was on here.