NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/kites/1752

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-27 | 2.8 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!haven.umd.edu!umd5!syrinx.umd.edu!jeffy
From: [e-mail] (Jeffrey C. Burka)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Re: Advice needed on RevI vs II
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 27 Dec 92 22:28:27 GMT
References: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park
Lines: 43

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Wes Voss) writes:

>I was looking at the Revolution kites (they look pretty interesting to me),
>but being a novice, I was wondering if any of you would have any opinions
>about whether the I or II would be more appropriate for my needs and skill
>levels... I am very interested in the ability to do accurate starts, stops,
>etc. In other words, I am looking for something with more control than I
>have now that also flies in less wind.

Generally speaking, the Rev I fits your requirements better than the II.
The Rev I is slower, more precise, and flies in less wind.  Skill level
is probably irrelevant; I'm not convinced that one is particularly harder
to learn on than the other, though the Rev II might be a bit more challenging
given its speed.

Basically, though, once you can fly a Rev, either kite will do accurate starts
and stops, fly backwards, and so forth.  Personally, I think the Rev II is
_much_ more fun and better suited to basic pleasure-flying.  For competition,
the Rev I is the way to go in precision, and many folks fly it in ballet
as well.  While the Rev I is definitely _more_ precise and easier to control
because of its speed, don't get the idea that you can't do any sort of
"target practice" with a Rev II.  I have no trouble landing on specific
spots (markers, flag poles, friends' backs, etc.) with my IIs.

For true ultra-light performance, you'd need Rev's ultralight kit for the
Rev I.  Basically it gives you everything but the sail--new endcaps 'n bungees,
long-throw handles, and a spectra bridle.  And the kit works quite well.
I don't know if it's possible to buy a Rev I already tricked out in the
ultralight kit, or if you have to buy the stock Rev I and then buy the
ultralight kit in addition.

I realize this is sort of a wishy-washy answer.  The basics are, though,
that the I will fly in less wind, but it's still not an ultralight without
a new frame; the I is more precise, but for many people the extra level of
precision is only necessary in competition; one is not necessarily
easier to learn on than the other.  Because of all this, your decision
may very well boil down to a question of price.

Jeff
--
|Jeffrey C. Burka                | "Show what you are / Be strong, be true  |
|                                |  Time for you to / Be who you are."      |
|[e-mail]            |                         --Happy Rhodes   |