Fire Bird - Fierce when it's hungry

·  Shape: Bird
·  Size: 310x170cm, 90cm packed
·  Weight: 300g
·  Rods: 11, 6 fixed
·  Fix:  Medium 
·  Bridle: Fixed to Air Rump Pocket
·  Tail Provision: Nil
·  Pull: Medium
·  Test Launch Wind: 11.3km/h
·  Launch: Force 2 up

Being a kite fanatic can be tough. One would think that kiting is finally an activity that the entire family can participate in, but the females have their own ideas. Talking of Mars and Venus. Compound the problem with a family day out with 5 monsters and I'm left with steering them to play near a flying field. Kiting and open fields, we're don't have much places where the kids can play safely in while daddy flies a kite. To think of it, could be a good thing given the large number of people using Kevlar lines here. Yes folks, high tension Kevlar lines can cut through the skin.

So, I sneak out while the kids are taking their turns on the pony ride. It was a good wind day after all, 1 kite at a time. I even have to pretend that I'm on the other side of the track to take pictures of them riding. The handler gives me a hard stare once he knows what I'm up to.  What is this about horses and kites? Saw it somewhere but never bothered to investigate. I only know dogs like to chase the kites when they are near the ground.

A little more support spar to maintain the shape

Frame to support the head

I like the simple color combination of this kite. I suppose it would look better if more black lines are added or it being not so rigid. Feels a little heavy, with all the spars in the package. The wind spars are broken down to 2 parts and thankful to the colored plastic cap on the spars, you can join the 4 rods together easily, the longer combination being the vertical. To make the head more life-like, there is a little rod hidden under. You need to push it out but the support brackets look a little fragile (yes, this is a CN kite), so I've omitted it in this high wind (no difference, aesthetics only). Make sure the tail support is between the vertical spar and the sail. It may drop off otherwise. There are 2 additional support spar for the wings. Make sure they are attached or the kite won't take off. Also, the horizontal spar should be on top of it.

This is not for mediocre wind, definitely. Compared to the Phoenix, it needs a larger force to take off. The kite feels heavy on the bridle and long lines won't help, in this case. At the test flight, it threatens to lift-off once it is fixed. I would suggest at least low force 2. To be fair, it does hang in the air for a long while, though, at 6km/h. So don't take it out when there are few kites in the sky.

Once it took off, and for those longer liners, the first thing you noticed is the flapping in lower portion of the wing. It is more loose than it first appear. This sought of created a balance for this kite to hang in the air. But, of course, it also creates disturbances. The first 10m is the challenge but once it lifts off, this kite deserve its name. Fiercely asking for lines, it ascends rapidly. The air pocket would be filled by now, looking like a solid block.

Flew it at a multi-storey carpark just b4 rain

Listing to the left when it is denied lines

Not sure whether it is inherent in the manufacturing since this is a borrowed kite, this bird will list to the left whenever line is denied or on back-reel. The head will turn left and become horizontal. You need to hold still, or give it some line, to right itself. Since I'm flying in a small field with trees around, I didn't took the chance to see what happens next. I hoped it just do the turn around.  So, watch out for this, especially when reeling back.

When you have a good wind and a fierce kite, things will burn. And, I don't mean your hands (from the lines). Taking it back is a lot more difficult than I thought, especially with the left horizontal inclination of this kite. The kids took the opportunity to go for a second round and I burn more money than the cost of the kite. Add the bill of cleaning the stains left by the red UV lines (just have to rest between reels).

Overall, the kite is stunning and memorable (not just the events of the day). Hey, everybody scrambles to get their kites to launch. Poor moms and dads who has to get into the sun or rush to the nearest kite store. Too bad it takes such conditions to lift off or I'll strongly recommend it against the deltas.