FollowMeChaps

My experience Absolutely zero when it comes to foil/power kites although I was heavily into kites in the '70s whilst a student with several genuine and home made Peter Powell 2 line stunt kites and attempting height records (without CAA blessing!) with stacked single line set ups. What was I looking for? A straight forward power kite that would give me a real work out and hours of fun. I also wanted it to be able to act as an engine for messing around in a homemade buggy which I planed to knock together as my skills developed. I had no aspirations of becoming a total kite or buggy nut with a quiver of kites and I wanted to spend as little as possible to have fun - at the time the Beamer seemed the cheapest all inclusive package. Why the Beamer III? All the advice that I could glean on this site and the wider internet pointed to the Beamer as fitting this bill. It appeared to be the cheapest all inclusive option and came complete with sack, ground steak and killers. Why a 4 mtr? Again all the advice for someone in my position seemed to point to a 3 to 4 mtr engine. Thinking that size matters and carrying a few more pounds than I should (pounds weight that is, not pounds money!) I went for the larger option thinking it would be more useful once I started to buggy and would be the macho option - though how I could call daffodil yellow a macho option beggars belief! The Seller As I was looking to save money the internet was my obvious choice and I found a few companies selling it at a reduced price with free postage. As luck would have it business trip took me near one of them, AirbossWorld, so I arranged to try the 3 and 4 mtr kites under their 'try before you buy' offer. In the event there was not even a breath of wind the day I called but had I been able to call back another day this would have proved most invaluable. I was very happy with the advice and service they gave. The Beamer Package Full marks here as it comes as a complete package - a well made kite with an attractive pattern, excellent manual, more than sufficient handles, apparently good and colour coded flying lines, a good pair of kite killers and all packaged in a robust rucksack with 2 additional pockets for those necessary bits & bobs like gloves, etc. I have read disparaging remarks about the 'comedy zip' but it seems fine to me and provides an excellent anchorage point of spare karabiners, etc. Admittedly the DVD was total rubbish, , but then I was buying a kite, not an entertainment system. My only slight grumble was that it was not 'ready to fly' as the handles and lines were not already connected to the kite. Ease of use Again 10/10. Once the lines and handles were attached all seemed to work well. The kite sat comfortably on the steak and brakes awaiting input from the pilot. The correct tug on the powers sees her launch to the zenith where she will sit awaiting further inputs in all but the most gusty of conditions - I say 'her' as surely something as graceful and charming as this must be female; though she can be a real bitch in gusty conditions - yet more proof of her femininity! Control is easy and responsive to both pulling on the power lines and tweaks on the breaks. A mixture of the two gives total control. Wind Range Over the two months I have owned her I have flown in a variety of conditions ranging from next to no wind to furious gusts. I have to say that I'm most impressed in her light wind capabilities. I fly mostly inland and some of the best fun I have had is to fly her in literally next to no wind where I have needed to actively fly her to generate sufficient lift to keep her airbourne. This makes for great fun walking a perplexed dog a few miles across fields whilst trying to keep a kite aloft - it has done wonders for my control skills. With little wind there is a tendency for her to luff on the edge of the window but once the wind picks up to just a few mph she will remain solid throughout and pull like a train when going through the power zone - I'm looking forward to Christmas when I'm hoping for a cheapo' harness to give them arms a rest! I have also flown in really gusty strong winds where I have to admit I find her too powerful to really enjoy with surprising lift for a 'non-lifty' kite. I am sure that the harness will help me realise full enjoyment here - I was kindly allowed to try one out by another Racekites member - thanks Taunton. My problem with strong wind may be my ability however as I am still suffering from a hand injury sustained the day before I got the kite when I was bitten by an adder! I ended up in hospital and spent 2 weeks off work and am still suffering some discomfort from the bite some 7 weeks later. I'm sure once I gain full control of my hand again I'll love those windy days! Manufacturer support? Whilst I have had no problems with the kite I did have cause to email the manufacturers in Germany with a query about how best to mark the kite. I emailed them one month ago and to date I've had no response whatsoever, not even an acknowledgement that they had received my email. I know that under English law any problems with the product would be addressed by the seller rather than the manufacturer but it does leave me wondering what back up there would from HQ be in the event of a problem! Parapacking As a newbie to power kiting I was daunted by the prospect of having to wind 4 lines and the probable ensuing tangles. I consequently followed the advice on this site and have parapacked since day one. Not only has it worked every time, and I'll often unpack again once home to dry out a damp kite, but it makes setting up to fly so easy. I'd 100% recommend it to anyone. Conclusion I am completely satisfied. I spent £118 and am left with the confident feeling that I got value for money, I certainly got exactly what I thought I was paying for. I do admit that had I discovered the Pansh brand at the time of purchase I would probably have been swayed towards a Legend purely because it's considerably cheaper, though had I done so I would then have had to fork out separately on killers and a steak and would be writing this review on another kite and who knows what I would have thought? By : FollowMeChaps