New Tech Kites

fratz · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:39 am Post subject: Will you make a Pro Techno

I bought the first one off of the GWTW swapmeet. Flew it a few times and got 2 more new ones.

The more I fly this kite the more I like it. I got them because I wanted something that I could get a few of and fit within the budget. You can't beat the price for the flying quality of the kite. It takes a pretty good beating too. This is definitely the kite I will recommend for beginners, but it offers much more. I got these to have extras for flying pairs or team.

I was prompted to submit this thread when I went out to the field to get some practice with my other high-end kites (Sea Devil and Mamba, hope name dropping is not a no, no).
I broke the lower spreader on the SD and decided to fly the Techno Trance. I spent the next couple of hours in 100+ degree heat having a blast with the Techno. The Mamba got in the air.

It has a very nice wind range. It will work in 3-4mph winds providing a nice opportunity to practice tricks. The wind brakes helps it to accommodate winds in the high teens and maintain smooth steady flying.

It is not top-notch craftsmanship. But still has a nice presence in the sky and holds up pretty well. I haven't broken anything on the kite(knock on wood).

I am not an aficionado at a lot of tricks, but what tricks I can do are fluid and look good. The Techno is very good with flat spins, axels, 540s, etc.
The kite fades and flick flacks well. I needed to get it a little deeper in the back flip for the lazy susans. I did add a little weight to the tail and that helped.

I very much like the straight lines. It also cuts some nice 90 degree corners. This kite offers as much precision (IMO) as the Tramontana but has many of the attributes of trick kite. I have been trying to learn to cascade and with the Techno I am getting there. The 1/2 axels are much smoother than with my other kites.
I really like the stalls and side slides it performs. A very floaty kite.

Since I have a few of these (one on loan to a friend) I decided to stack 2 of them.
WHAT A BLAST! The first experience was in wind that ranged from 4 to 10 mph. I flew them on 125' x 150# lines. They did make the line whistle from time to time. The next time I used 200# lines and was more comfortable with that choice. The winds were a little higher.
I also added some 5' tails to the wing tips.
You can axel and perform 540s just as easy with the stack as you can with the single. Boy they do look nice in parallel flight doing flat spin maneuvers.

I like the feel of the larger kite. It has very good feedback on the lines.

Here is what I would like to see in the development of this kite:
1) For an RTF package please use good line. Mine were not the same length and had too much stretch.
2) More color choices. I like the Trance the others look more like your flying jellybeans.
3) Pro Version - I would gladly pay extra for the sewing quality on the seams and reinforcements.
4) UL and vented - I can see myself getting the full set for all wind ranges. This could be my comp set.
5) More videos of this kite. I could only find the one that Dodd did with the Pyro and Techno.

Thanks for such a sweet kite,
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fratz