The C-Quad range comes a various sizes – from 2.2 square meters through to 8.5 square meters (and larger sizes do exist, but aren’t that common) – although the 3.2 and the 4.2 are the best suited for general use. They were originally designed for kite surfing, but were quickly found to a) sink when hitting water, and b) be very very good for all other traction activities. For the larger sizes (4.2 upwards) inflatable flotation tubes can be fitted to the vertical spars if you really want to go out on the water (there are better options….). You can use them for kite jumping (a dangerous passtime time that none should attempt, but everyone does do at some point), but they aren’t the best for this (everyone goes for the Flexifoil Blade II’s for this).

In flight they are actually graceful in the sky. They are flown in a manner very similar to the Revolution kites (i.e. lots of wrist movements, not a huge amount of hand pulling to turn).

I use mine for good old being-pulled-along-ground-by-big-kite kind of fun, but have also used it to kite buggy a couple of times (my objective for this year was to do some kite buggying), and they work great.

Purchased: December 2001

Details

WidthHeightDepthWeightSparsSailWindrange
w cm
h cm
d cm
x g
carbon fibre+fibreglass core (leading edge), fibreglass (vertical spars). Chikira Nylon 4 – 30mph (although 8 – 20 is more fun/safer)
Cost

£150.00 (inc. handles) + lines (220lb top, 80lb bottom)

Good Things

• Very powerful for it’s size (I have heard it said that a 3.2 C-Quad is equivalent to a 4.0 parafoil such as a Blade II, that may, or may not be true – it’s very hard to judge exactly………).
• Cheap (there are now cheaper traction kites – the Rhombus Firebees for instance).
• Very, very manoeuvrable and quick.
• In light winds you can actually do most of the Revolution Type tricks – slides, flying backwards, even the dive-stop. Just don’t try it in strong winds……..
• Works great as a kite buggy engine (seems to hold it’s own against more advanced parafoil designs).
• Due to their design can’t collapse in the same way as a parafoil kite does in gusty wind.

Bad Things

• Putting it away (or even putting it up) can be a nightmare! There is a technique to do it, but even so 1 times out of 10 it goes wrong & you spend upto half and hour messing around with twisted lines and bridles……
• It’s got spars, therefore it breaks. The cost of a leading edge replacement is around £11 if you fit it yourself. I have done this twice in 1 year.
• On a related note – the connector between the vertical spars and the leading edge itself can become damaged – and in my case this caused the vertical to puncture the sail… twice.
• Powerful – there is a tendency to forget the power of the C-Quad & end up doing superman impressions at speed, on your face, across the flying area if you are not careful (but that is part of the fun of big kites. I think….).
• Different flying technique to parafoils – can be difficult to learn (or so I have been told – as I started with the Revolution I didn’t have a problem with the C-Quad).
• Although they can’t collapse, they can fall from the sky – usually at the extremes of the wind (right above your head, or right out the extreme left or right) they can simply start falling, leading edge first.

Final Thoughts

I like the C-Quads – even if putting them away is a trial – even more so by yourself in a strong wind. The ability to almost trick fly the things in low wind, and get pulled around in higher wind is fantastic. You will find by talking to other flyers that people usually love or hate the C-Quads – you really have to try for yourself before you can judge these. Just bear in mind they cost a lot less than some of the other alternatives……

Links

• Peter Lynn Kites