Things You Need To Know

Stunt Kite Lingo

With every new passion comes a new slang it seems, So to speed things up for you, I will walk you through some of the basics.

The Frame

We will start with the frame of a stunt kite. The average stunt kite has five rods that make up the frame and could have from anywhere from 2-6 smaller rods that give the sail depth and help to create an AIR FOIL. These smaller rods are called STAND-OFFS (SO). Some more advanced stunt kites also have ROLE BARS and some stunt kites have a ROLE CADGE.

Lower Spreader

The lower spreader (LS) on most stunt kites is split into two rods of equal length. These rods meet at a junction called the CENTER T. At the other end of each LS is a CONNECTOR most often made of rubber. This connects the Ls to the LEADING EDGE (LE) If anything is to blame for your stunt kites LS, LE breaking, then it would be the connector (or you). This fitting should not be too tight, or the LS will not pop out in a crash. Some advanced pilot prefer a tighter fit when flying in high wind.

Upper Spreader

The upper spreader (US) is one rod at the top of the kite that crosses the kite just like the LS and connects to the LE in the same way. Commonly the US is smaller in diameter to save on weight. This is not the case with all stunt kites. Some stunt kites require a larger diameter US. One that comes to mind is the Premier Nighthawlk. Other stunt kites are altogether different, requiring no US at all. A stunt kite with no US in no doubt a low wind, or Ultralight (UL) stunt kite. Don't fly a kite like that in winds over 8mph.

Note I found it hard to break an US and I have a bad habit of flying without regard for the kite.

The Spine

The spine is just what it sounds like. This is the backbone of a stunt kite and with new pilots a spine can be the first thing to break. This often looks fatal to new pilot as the spine is the rod that sits snug in the nose of a stunt kite and security in the tail (bottom). As it seems all beginners learn how to do the nose dive before anything else, stunt kite manufacturers have taken note of this and come up with many different safeguards to help prevent damage to the spine. The spine, however is the easiest internal frame part to replace on any stunt kite, so it makes me laugh when I here how much time and money has gone into the protection of it. To prevent damage to the spine of your kite or any parts for that matter, do the fallowing:

• Learn to control your kite
• No tricks or high wind until you can control the kite
• If you think the kite's going to nose dive, run to it fast

It might be a good idea to check out the How To Fly Page also.

Definitions

Air Foil

A stunt kites air foil works something like the wing of an airplane (in a way). On a stunt kite the wing takes its shape when the wind hits it (like with a sail boat, or hang glider). An airplanes wings are fixed in the foil shape.

Stand Offs

In most cases the stand off is the smallest rod on a kite. Some stunt kites have as many as six, however most stunt kites have two to four of these 2mm rods. The stand off is used to keep the kite sail in shape and reduce noise. It sits on the bottom of the sail on what is called the trailing edge (TE) and connects to the lower spreader

Role Bars

The role bars is used for tricks like the Yo-Yo and other role up tricks. Yes "way back when" we only had those darnd old Yo-Yo stoppers and sometimes you could get a line snag. The Yo-Yo stopper is a small stub that sticks out about half way up the leading edge. I find the Yo-Yo stoppers to be the better part for the job, but that's just my opinion.

Role Cadge

The role cadge might consist of two rods (each connected to each lower spreader at one end). The other end could connect to the LE, or the US. The role cadge prevents the kite from getting crunched by the force of the lines wraped around the kite when flying roled-up (wraped in the lines).

Center T

The center T is the only conector found on the spine of a stunt kite. Conecting to the center T is the spine and both lower spreaders.

Conector

A conector is a small fitting or joint where two or more rods come together. on most stunt kites (even the starter kites) you will find that the LE is split into two rods. The upper leading edge and the lower lea

Leading Edge

Leadingding edge (ULE & LLE). The conector used to join these rods is called a ferrul.

Leading Edge

The leading edge of a stunt kite is just what it sounds like. The two, or four outer rods that give a stunt kite its delta shape.

Ultra Light Standard and High Wind

Most new pilots wont need to know about this until they get some tricks under their belt, but if you want to fly in little or no wind, then you can spend the extra cash to get an UL stunt kite. Most UL stunt kites are limited when it comes to advanced tricks, but you can find some really radical kites that fly in winds from 2-8 mph if you look hard enough.

A high wind (HW) stunt kite will do all of the radical tricks that a standard kite will, but it requires more wind to fly. The HW stunt kites are designed with vents in the sails (big holes) and deep sails so they don't go too fast in the high winds.

Wind range for stunt kites

UL: 0-8 mph

STD: 3-24 mph

HW: 10-30 mph

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