Peter Lynn C-Quad at Prokites.Com

Quick Review

I'd always seen the c-quad as a bit "quirky" having flown the 3.2, 4.2 and 6.3 using handles. It was difficult to get used to since it doesn't like a conventional 2 line flying style - in fact flying it this way usually results in the kite falling head first into the beach. The price was always very attractive and much less than an equivalent ram-air foil kite such as the Blade.

HOWEVER the use of the curved bar has changed my opinion. The bar prevents too much movement of the main (top) lines and the control is all through the brakes. The lines need to be set up fairly well though. I use a harness (db capstan). Once hooked into the harness the bar assumes a "neutral" position when the kite is overhead and the brake lines are just slightly slack. The trailing edge flaps a little. The left hand picture above shows the bar poised for a launch. The right hand pictures shows a left turn. The kite is incredibly manoevrable. A gentle pull on the bar turns the kite and a harder pull has it spinning on the spot - the kite's performance is fairly similar to a Revolution for those who have flown one !

Landing is a case of pulling the outer sections of the bar DOWN and TOWARDS the body but still maintaining steering input through left and right pull / push actions. A very gentle and controlled landing is possible. One advantage of the bar is the ability to fly one handed at times !

C-Quad in use - as a buggy kite the c-quad is very good. On the move it seems to develop more and more power ! The biggest downside of c-quad ownership is the packaging. It has to be coiled up into the bag. This is not particularly hard with the 3.2 and 4.2 but the 8.5 is a nightmare due to its sheer size. The other major concern is the carbon fibre rod through the leading edge. Its easy to break due to a heavy landing or too much manhandling to put it away. To date using the bar I've had NO uncontrolled landings (but can be commonplace using handles for a beginner).

Price Guide:

2.2

£99.00

3.2

£129.00

4.2

£149.00

6.3

£169.00

Don't forget these prices do NOT include handles / bar and a quad line set.

Peter Lynn C-Quad

Unlike a "foil" kite which has inflatable cells, the c-quad has a single skin with a frame of carbon fibre and glass fibre rods. The skin is made from specially curved sections which create a typical airfoil shape in flight. The c-quad is one of the simplest (and cheapest) yet highest performing kites on the market.

Control - In as much as the c-quad is "different" so is the control. It has to be steered using the brake lines and NOT by a conventional 2 line style on the top lines (which suits many high performance foils such as the Blade). Handles are OK but the curved bar is much better !!

The curved bar is in fact a Quadrifoil Kitesurfer bar - same price but it looks better than the black Peter Lynn version !! The brake lines are connected to the outer fixing points on the bar. Using a harness adjust the brake lines so that the trailing edge of the kite just flaps when directly overhead. Response is superb and very controllable !

The c-quad 8.5 is huge. In a very light wind (est 3-4mph) the kite was sluggish compared to a Blade 7.2 in the same conditions. The 8.5 is fairly heavy which may limit low wind performance. Once in the air and using the curved bar, response was OK but not as good as the Flexifoil.