Date:	Fri, 11 Mar 1994 23:26:55 -1000
From:	edho@uclink.berkeley.edu (Edward Chi Man Ho)
Message-Id: <2ls1sv$292@agate.berkeley.edu>
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Subject: Quadrifoil questions

Hello,  I should properly introduce myself.  I guess I am an intermediate
flyer.  I can fly my kite around without crashing, but can't do axels and
stuff.  I fly in the Berkeley Waterfront and am humbled by the sight of
some of these flyers.

Oh, I think you for all you guy's help for my XTC question before.

I am asking for some advice about getting a quad-line foil?
	1)A Quadrifoil 25 or 30 seems to be in my price range. (does anyone
	note that kite flying is a very expensive sport?) What is the amount
	of pull that one experiences from this kite.  I saw a Quad 50 being
	flown and the flyer seems to be really getting a work out.
	How would this compare with my 8' XTC?
	2)If I ever become an Engineer and make enough money will this foil
	be strong enough to pull a buggy?  They look like lots of fun.
	3)I have never flown a Quad.  Is it hard?  Can my girlfriend fly
	this kite without being taken away in the wind like Mary Poppins?
	


						-Thanks,
						-Ed


			:-)
  


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Date:	Sat, 12 Mar 1994 02:53:06 -1000
From:	jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka)
Message-Id: <2lsdvi$ti@umd5.umd.edu>
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park
Subject: Re: Quadrifoil questions

In article <2ls1sv$292@agate.berkeley.edu> edho@uclink.berkeley.edu (Edward Chi Man Ho) writes:

>I am asking for some advice about getting a quad-line foil?
>	1)A Quadrifoil 25 or 30 seems to be in my price range. (does anyone
>	note that kite flying is a very expensive sport?) What is the amount
>	of pull that one experiences from this kite.  I saw a Quad 50 being
>	flown and the flyer seems to be really getting a work out.
>	How would this compare with my 8' XTC?

The Quadrifoil 25 is a great kite and I've been extremely happy with mine.
I've been flying mine on a 150#/150# line set without any trouble for over
a year.  I *have* been dragged by the kite (on my feet on sand,
rollerblades on pavement, and on a sled, skis, and my stomach on snow), so
don't think it has no pull.  On the other hand, if you've got secure
footing and you're not a featherlight, you should retain enough control for
team flying with the kite in winds up to 15mph or so.

I've used the 25 for traction, parachute drops, team flying, and I've seen
them used in quad ballet competitions.

If you're worried about the pull, get a Q-15.  They're much cheaper ($100?)
and can be more fun to fly with a tighter turning radius and a touch of
oversteer.  But don't expect to use it for traction.

I've not yet seen the 30, but I suspect it's the basic rectangular shape of
the 50 and 75, designed for traction more than any other sort of flying.


>	3)I have never flown a Quad.  Is it hard?  Can my girlfriend fly
>	this kite without being taken away in the wind like Mary Poppins?

Obviously, this depends on your girlfriend and the winds in which she tries
to fly the kite.  But I know many women who fly the Q-25 (and Stacey
Carmichael competes with one...).

Quads aren't hard to learn, but they do take a bit of dedication and
willingness to be frustrated at first (particularly if you already fly dual
and are trying to make the switch).  The Quadrifoil is one of the easiest
quads to learn with.

Jeff
-- 
|Jeffrey C. Burka     | "Everything is still with a fear of never coming out |
|Suffering Bad Grammar|  Never following through / Never ever finishing      |
|jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu |  What we wanted to do."  -- Melissa Ferrick          |


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