PKD Century 7.5M

What can I say? I like old kites. Or at least, while I can't afford new kites, I like old kites!

I was looking for a low wind (and low cost!) foil for the buggy, my 6.2 Oxigen Standard won't pull much below about 10mph (for me at least - combined 'me and buggy' weight of about 140kg) and doesn't really get moving 'til 12mph. From 12 to about 18mph it's a good kite but I've been caught out with no sub 10mph foil a few times.

Enter the 7.5 Century, a couple of years old but potentially a bargain low wind beast. Mine's in Porcher Marine fabric - slightly lighter, more waterproof and theoretically flyable in lighter winds.

First impressions

....are that this kite is very well-made, bridles are multi-coloured and very light, all stitches on the sail are strong and straight. There's lots of stiffening inside with cross-vented cells. No dirt-outs or velcro bridle crocs though, don't know whether later models have them (bit of a surprise considering that the Airea Raptor II, upon which the century is based, did have them). Opened, it looks larger than its 7.5 metres. It looks good with its "soulfly" graphic too [at least to everyone not flying it - I wish manufacturers would put the nice bits where the pilot can see them].

My first flight

....was fantastic - occasionally as low as 8mph, but mostly 10-14, smooth north-easterly winds (the best for our flying site, not only smoothest direction but means you can get the longest runs). For a race kite - especially an older design - it was stable, barely luffed and rarely bowtied, power was [mostly] progressive, speed phenomenal and the kite cut upwind like it didn't know where the wind was coming from!

Second flight

- next day was simply awful: the wind was anything from 0-8mph, then 16mph gusts so the kite wouldn't get off the ground one moment, then pull you straight upwards (or outwards) the next. It also luffed, bowtied and frustrated the hell out of me; I'm so glad I got the good session in before the bad one, I think this could've put me off it!

Since this session, I've not experienced another bad one, so I put this one down to a combo of pilot error and bad wind!

After a couple of months of ownership I realise this kite benefits from being flown with active brake input. It's certainly pretty quick for a big kite, you can work it if you have to, and because of this speed you can fly it straight out of the window if you're not careful. There is also a surprising amount of lift too; something I try to avoid, but the freestylers out there might enjoy!

Acceleration is phenomenal but creamy smooth, on our slightly cramped site you find the end coming up with alarming speed while the kite is still accelerating!
I fly mostly on a flat-ish common, which, if the wind is right, offers a run of about 500m maximum; I thought I would struggle with any race-type kite simply because of lack of space and not ideal winds, but this (mostly) hasn't been the case. Yes, it doesn't like really lumpy wind, but efficient kites generally don't. Otherwise, I'm glad to report that the Century is almost as stable as my Oxigens.

Having said that, it isn't a learner kite, you will need some skill to fly it, but it's much more stable than a race-bred kite - with origins going back about 5yrs - has any right to be, even to the point of allowing the lines to go slack for a moment in a turn, without everything going bosoms up - the advantage of so few open cells I guess.

Any pilots who consider themselves to be 'intermediate' flyers wouldn't have too many problems, though it does have a tendency to lull you into a false sense of security and spank you every now and again, not quite "a la Blade", but it still needs to be respected.

As I said earlier, When I bought this kite I was looking for an ultra light, low wind sail; I don't think the 7.5 is a really low wind kite (even in the light material) so I ought to be disappointed. However, what I've found is a mid-range high-performance kite that will perform [highly] even in the inland site I call home.

Let's face it, for a small outlay you get a lot of kite with a Century, but unlike some other old race kites, you don't need to be a skilled racer to enjoy them. If you've got enough skill to fly an "intermediate" kite and you want something fast then there's very little else that'll give you so much "bang for your buck". Yes you could buy a PL Viper for only a little more, or a blurr for 3x the price, and yes, they might even be just as fast in the right hands. But when you can't (or can't bring yourself to) afford a new kite, I guarantee you'll get as much fun out of the century. And, if you decide to move onto the latest race gear, you probably won't lose much in the resale value.

Conclusion

These kites, despite their age, have a lot to recommend them.

OK, so the century (not this size anyway) isn't the low wind kite I hoped it to be, I wouldn't really consider getting this kite out until the wind is about 12mph, (though it'll pull in around 8mph) but the fun I have when I do fly it is immeasurable: it puts a smile on my face and a few extra heartbeats in my chest, it's surprisingly agile for a big kite and, in my particular situation it's ideal - challenging my kite and buggying skills every time I fly it.

The Century may not be a race winner these days, but it's a long way from being redundant, its stability alone will make it a worthy addition to your quiver and unlike many kites around the 7m mark, it doesn't handle like a Jordanian oil tanker. If you're thinking of giving racing a go, or like me just want to cruise fairly quickly then spare it some time, it will reward you handsomely.
 

By : mikeymustard