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This is the Flexifoil
Super 10 power kite. It has the biggest wingspan of the Flexifoil
power kite 'stacker' range, the other two being 6ft and 8ft. The
stackers get their name, fairly obviously, from the fact that they can
be linked together in a stack, as shown to the left. You can mix any
sizes in the stack, although the biggest should always be at the top.
The lines required for stacking are included in each kite pack.
Included in the Super
10 kit, which currently retails for around £130, is the following; |
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The Super
10, like all the Flexifoil kites is made from Chikara ripstop nylon -
very tough stuff! It has 18 air pockets with a leading edge strip of
webbing which allows the air into the kite to inflate it - it's closed
at the trailing edge. As this kite is a dual line, it has a 3 part GRP/carbon
fibre 'spar' running along the leading edge, to which the lines attach.
This spar maintains the rigidity of the kite when the wind speed drops.
The spars can be changed relative to wind speed, i.e. lower wind,
lighter spars. The kite takes minimal time to setup, simply requiring
you to link the 3 part spar together, taping it at the joins for added
protection, sliding it into the spar pocket and then linking up the
lines to the spar.
Because the kite is shaped like an airplane wing, it automatically adjusts its angle of attack to be right for the wind direction and speed, all you have to do is hold on and guide it through the air! For this same reason, the kite can be launched single handedly by simply dragging it forward a few paces until it's full of air and starts to take off.
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The Super 10
can use a few different lengths/strengths of line, the most common being
40m/135kg which retails for around £27 at time of writing this. Dyneema
or Spectra line is recommended for all kites as it combines light weight
with amazing strength. This type of line has specific usage methods
which need to be followed closely. You can choose to fly the kite using
either handles or straps but straps (padded ideally) make for much
better control, allowing you to 'feel' the kite around the sky, giving a
much better flying experience. Using straps also allows you to use a
power winder and wind the line up that much more easily
The Super 10, like all Flexifoil kites, comes in a range of colours, only the rainbow version costs extra (approx £15 at time of writing). My Super 10 is the black version shown at the top of this page. I'm using Dyneema 40m 135kg break strength lines, padded wrist straps and the standard strength spars. The
Super 10 flies superbly in all wind types (although I must admit to not
having it out it very strong winds as yet!). It takes off easily and is
extremely stable in the sky - much more so than my Flexifoil Xtro Delta
kite. |
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