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Page 1 of 2 The following article was posted on GWTW forum a few weeks ago. Now the author Randy Greenway gave his permission to have this published on EWF too. Nicely done! Thanks a bunch Randy!
OK first, let me think what word best describes my first hour with the Nirvana FX?
Oh, I have it...
WOW!!!
Second, is this really just like a Nirvana only smaller? I can't answer that, at least not yet. How would a smaller Nirvana fly, anyway? Could a smaller kite even attempt to fly like a Nirvana? Someone smarter than me will have to answer that one.
Third, I can't yet compare it to the Frenezy Evolution. I'll have to fly 'em side by side before I would touch that question. The Nirvana FX does have a wider wingspan and is taller thus a lower aspect ratio vs. the FrenEvo so that might tell you that it is a different kite.
OK, here goes...
I will add more later as I get more time on this kite but let me just say the Nirvana FX is one very nice kite. Super easy Crazy Copters, Yo Fades, Slot Machines and Multislots, Backspin Cascades this kite loves this trick!, Inverses, Jacob Ladders and very fast Cometes slow ones, too! The kite is very precise for a kite of it's size so long as there is proper wind. I could really snap off sharp and angled corners with that distinctive "pop" you hear when you know you hit it right! It did lock in to straight lines better than other 2m kites I've flown. I like to finish off arcs with a little snap to a straight line well, I'm working on it anyway and this kite does them very well.
What else? Lewis's, Yo-Yo Multilazies, Rolling Susans... Multilazies are very consistent and forgiving of mis-timed inputs. Flic-Flacs were a little different so I'll explore them a bit more. See tail weight comments below.
Rolled up flight was nice and controlled so IMO the stoppers are set perfectly. Fades seemed good but the wind was bumpy. Did I say the Cometes were easy? I'd call this kite a Comete/Crazy Copter trainer for those that struggle with these tricks.
After many hours now on the Team Next Up I had to be careful with my inputs on the smaller kite as I don't always do well initially with them. Not so for me on the Nirvana FX. Sure, it took a few minutes to adjust but soon enough it was handing out tricks like Shriners handing out candy in a Fourth of July parade. I can't remember having this much fun with a kite in the first hour of flight. What I did not like: To this point not much. Again, typically kites of this size have not been my bag, at least of late. It's trickiness overcame much of my worries over size. I really had to mind my inputs as I could easily yank it out of the sky. I did experience some oversteer when the wind was low. I chalk that up to my heavy-handedness, low and swirling wind. As stated above, Flic-Flacs were different. The flare was fine but the transition to the Fade acted a little funny. Not bad just different than the kites I've been flying recently. No matter as it did not hamper my ability to perform the trick.
A few additional comments. I shorted the incidence about 1cm from standard. I used the new barrel weight with the shortest rod inserted (14g) and really felt that might be too much weight. The nose went goofy at times during Half Axels which for me is an indicator of too much tail weight. Maybe drop down to the 9-10g range. I found some used Icone White's laying around from a previous re-frame so I used those for LS's just for giggles. Flew it on 75' lines today and it felt pretty comfortable at that distance. I'll try 100' next time.
As stated above, I'll report more as I have additional time with the kite. I've added a few new Nirvana FX pictures to my blog if you are interested.
Original source: http://gwtw-kites.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32278 (registration required)
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