PKD Buster 3M

I'd been into powerkiting for just over a year, having got into it by purchasing a 1.8 HQ Symphony, and then last year adding a 3m PKD Buster. I like both kites alot and enjoy flying them. I don't buggy, mountainboard or kitesurf - I'm someone who just enjoys flying the kites and feeling the power they generate. If I had more opportunities to fly then I would likely take up buggying or mtbing.

Anyway, after reading more and more about the different kites and sizes out there, I decided that it would be worthwhile to add a larger kite to my collection for the lighter wind days. Afterall only having limited opportunity to fly it makes sense to have at broad collection so whatever the wind is doing I can fly something.

I decided on the 7m PKD Buster for a couple of reasons....firstly budget. I looked at a 7m Flexifoil Bullet (very nice) and liked it very much, but the price difference is too great for me to justify. Secondly, I like my 3m Buster - the shape, the flight characteristics, the stability, the quality, the power it generates. I had looked at the 7m HQ Beamer and came very close to getting one of those instead. The only thing that turned me off a Beamer was seeing a video of one (a 7m) in flight and the central chamber appeared to be creased and crumpled. Not sure if this was just a one off (I think it would be) or not but it made me stay with Busters. Afterall I just wanted a bigger kite for lighter wind days so it just seemed logical to go with the same again.

So shopping around for Busters I'm amazed that there isn't a great deal of price difference between shops - both real world and online. That was until I discovered www.Kitestore.uk.com. They were selling Busters with 12.5% off the RRP! So I paid my £210 (incl p&p) and received (on a Tuesday after ordering online late on the previous Saturday) a shiny new 7m Buster in it's plain white stuff sack, a golf-ball topped stake, and a Dwyer wind meter! The white stuff sack is nothing to shout about but the wind meter and stake are sensible safety additions to the overall package so credit to Kitestore for doing this. I would have bought the kite without these free extras at that price so I feel I got an excellent deal. It's worth checking them out if you're purchasing any kite and/or equipment.

I did the obligatory thing that everyone must do on getting a new kite - I opened it up in my living room.

First Impressions....it's big. No, it's not big it's BIG! At over 5 meters in length I only just managed to open it out fully. As can be seen from various adverts, it's white underneith with a jade green topside. Very nice and inoffensive but I would prefer some sort of graphics similar to Flexifoil kites (but it's done to keep costs down so can't complain).

The lines are neatly wrapped around the usual winder and the handles are held to it by two shock-cord bands. I know a lot of people don't like the lines but I've never had any problems with them and not had any reason to dislike them. Okay, at 20m they are a bit shorter than they could be and the "two lines twisted together" appearance of them may seem odd to some but they are sleaved at each end (red for right lines, blue for left lines), are already attached to kite and handles and on my 3m Buster have never broke, frayed, split or otherwise deteriorated.

The handles are the usual PKD Buster handles but at 39cm in length are noticably longer then my 3m Buster handles. They have the same brake line cleat system which again, some people don't like. I've not had problems with this system and find it quite useful when adjusting brake lines to the conditions - just always make a point of checking the brake lines are secured in the cleats before launching. I do like the metal handles and the strop joining the two at the top makes them feel "solid" when flying.

It's worth stating that Busters have been updated recently to include longer (except the smallest 0.7m one), stonger 25m lines and on the 7m and 9m Busters, longer 49cm handles. They also apparently come with rubber tubing over the flying line knots on the bridle that I must admit would be a welcome addition. The kite I have is "old" (Oct2003) stock and so doesn't contain these mods.

So time for the first flight....

With my new wind meter I know there's a 6-8mph breeze. I set the kite up, which translates to unwinding the lines/handles, staking them and getting the kite out of the bag. It sits up easy enough and looks quite impressive. Back to the handles, adjust the brake lines to what I think is right, albeit a little conservatively, take a deep breath and pull. The kite filled with air and lifted about 2ft off the ground and attempted to turn clockwise in the air. It then landed again. After checking the bridle one of the thinner bridle lines had got caught on the power line knots - an example of why the new rubber tubing over them is a good mod. So after unhooking the snagged bridle line and adjusting the brake lines a little I try again. There was hardly any wind but the kite slowly gained speed and moved "majestically" (i.e. slowly but purposefully and without fuss) through the air.

Knowing the bridle is tweakable, I landed the kite and tried it on the first knot on it's own (it came set up on knots 2 and 3 which is standard for Busters). The speed increase through the wind window was noticably quicker and for these conditions ideal. The pull was still there and had me skudding across the muddy field. I did notice that on this bridle setting it did luff a couple of times during turns but it may have been caused by turbulence from nearby trees.

The second time I flew it there was a 10-12mph wind, peaking at around 14mph (the Dwyer wind meter is excellent by the way!). The kite flew even quicker and the pull was amazing - a good, steady, solid pull. The pull of my 3m is sometimes short-lived because it's quicker through the wind window but since the 7m is slower, the pull is more long-lived.

I decided to try tweak the bridle again and went for knots 2 and 4 together, knowing this brings more power. What a difference! The kite moves a little slower and the pull is definitly more powerful. A surprising difference is that it seems to provide the greater potential for lift. It's a low lift kite (not "no lift") but when the wind is getting to about 12-14mph I can feel it trying to lift when overhead. I decided to try a few pendulum jumps and wasn't disappointed. Not sure how high I got but had some pretty good, long, floaty ones. I haven't tried knots 3 and 4 (or 4 on it's own) so yet to find out whether this actually further increases the amount of lift produced.

One thing I noticed about the 7m over the 3m is that when the wind was blowing at around 14mph and I wanted to get the kite down to rest my arms, applying the brakes became quite difficult. I suspect it's due to the leverage required because of the long handles - with tired arms it was more of an effort than I expected or experienced before (never with my 3m despite flying it in much stronger winds). I think the problem would be worse and possibly dangerous with the 9m and even the 7m with the new 49cm handles. Having gone for so long without kite killers it's convinced me they are needed and are at the top of my shopping list.

The third time out flying saw a 7-8mph breeze again. This time though it kept dropping to nothing which was a little frustrating. I needed to tweak the bridle again to the 2nd and 3rd knots and this made the difference between it flying and not flying. It's quite amazing to think that even with the bridle tweak and low wind I still managed a decent jump, especially considering I've a more stocky framed physique. It's probably also worth stating that I didn't experience any luffing during turns as I did on it's maiden flight.

I've flown it a few more times and still remain happy with the purchase. It's great to be able to change the flight characteristics by tweaking the bridle but the instructions that come with it should give more indication on the different settings than it currently does. I hadn't previously played around with the bridle settings as much on my 3m as I have done with the 7m because previously it didn't seem to make that much difference. I now suspect the adjustments are easier to see and feel on the larger kites than the smaller ones but again that's something I'll now try out.

In summary, this is a pretty decent kite. I'm more than happy with it and when you consider the price is it excellent value for money. I don't have much experience with flying other kites so can't compare this against other makes and models. If I did have the cash then I would be looking at a 7m Flexifoil Bullet because I like the graphics and colour schemes and it sounds like it has better quality, lighter fabric (the handles don't appeal though - give me metal anyday!). Other than that, I've no reason to want another make. I'm not able to say how this performs in a buggy or on a mtb but I suspect it'd be great in a buggy and for mtb use if you weren't too fussed about lift.

Just one final comment...I got my 3m out in a 22-27mph wind for the first time since getting my 7m and two things struck me immediately - the first being how quick the 3m is and secondly, how small the 3m now looks in comparison! However in these winds, the 3m was the right choice and the 7m stayed in the bag!

If you're thinking about a 7m traction kite then certainly consider a Buster, even if you can afford a Flexifoil. Whatever you have or decide to go with, have fun, respect the kite, fly sensibly but above all fly safe.

By : Adrian G