Untitled - KiteLife

MODEL : OMNIFABRIC WEIGHT: 1 .5 oz . ripstop nylonFRAMING MATERIALS: fiberglassWIND RANGE : 6-25 MPHCONFIGURATION : double-rhomboid (721/2 inch wingspan)SKILL LEVEL : novice/intermediateMFGR'S SUGGESTED RETAIL : $99.00MANUFACTURER : PETER POWELL KITESQuad-line flying has shown, in thepast year, that it has the potential toprovide just as much enjoyment asthe more traditional two-line stunter .Events specifically designed to testthe expertise of those who fly themare beginning to show up on therosters of virtually every competition .It seems an inescapable fact thatnew multi-line kites are beginning toshow up as well .Accordingly, for the second year ina row, Peter Powell has introduced aquad-line kite at the KTA trade show .Their newest effort, the Omni, is aproduct that flies quite unlike anythingthat we have ever flown before .This is evident from the first time thatthe flyer takes hold of the lines .To begin with, all four of the lines a rethe same length . The handles,molded and color-coded, arestraight instead of bent . The controlis quite precise .As the kite takes off, the mostprevalent aspect of the new designcomes into play . It is, indeed, omnidirectional. Left or right, up or down :it makes no difference to this one!Its performance brings up an examinationof the Omni's design .For all intents and purposes, theOmni is two "joined" diamond kites .It is the way in which they are combinedthat makes the productunique . Instead of the usual side-tosideorientation, they are joined tailtotail. Subsequently, the kite issymmetrical to the horizontal crossspreaderas well as left-to-right .The effect on performance is startling. The Omni handles all fourmovements : forward, reverse, andside to side with equal speed andalacrity . There is neither hesitationnor tentativeness . No coaxing is required. These four basics are performedwith simplistic efficiency andwith about as much speed as theflyer may wish to achieve .Stops and starts are razor sharp .Spins are done precisely on center .At times the kite can become a realblur and, given its symmetrical design,one might have doubts as to"which way is up?" Not a majorproblem though . At first glance, wethought that the sail graphics on theOmni were "cute" . The truth is thatthey are nearly a matter of practicalnecessity . . .one arrow points to theside, the other towards the sky : instantreferencing for spins and otherspeedy maneuvers!We found the Omni a whiz ongroundwork . On hard sand, our usualflying surface, we were able to zipthe kite back and forth from oneedge of the window to the other,without ever launching . The Omnijust slid along . . . at a pretty good clip,too . Off-wind, the performance wasjust as crisp . One of the prettier maneuversare wing-stands . The kite'ssymmetrical design makes this a presentationmove .Quality of workmanship on theOmni is good . Both of our modelswere early production types andwe took the opportunity to give thema good workout . Two afternoons ofbashing and crashing about onrock-hard sand showed neither theworse for wear . Even in the hands ofnovice flyers unacquainted withmultiple lines, the Omni took all thatwas dished out . The Powell reputationof building kites that you canpass onto your kids remains intactwith this new kite .Our models were equipped withfiberglass spars and did need a bitmore breeze than we might haveliked to function well . We have nodoubt that lightweight models willbe made available as the Omnigains in popularity .That quad-line kites are here to stayseems to be a foredrawn conclusion. The Omni would seem to representan advance in multi-line performance. We think that you'll like thisone!CB/SB