Date:	Thu, 30 Mar 1995 14:24:51 -1000
From:	marklift1@aol.com (MARKLIFT1)
Message-Id: <3lfi4j$9nh@newsbf02.news.aol.com>
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Subject: Air Master Revisisted

The day after the Smithsonian, I had the opportunity to fly Jason
Benedict's
Air Master with a Skyshark 5P frame.  Now I have flown an Air Master
before
but always the ultra light version.  Anyway, I was pretty impressed with
the
way this kite flew.  One of the advantages of flying some elses' kite is
that
they may tune it better than you.  ;-)     Or worse.  But I liked the way
Jason had it tuned...heavy.  I was able to do full window slides, axels
and
even what looked like a coin toss.  (In fact I think it may have *been* a
coin toss)  The coin toss seemed particularly easier with this kite than
any
of mine.  It's axels are slow and deliberate which makes it easier to land
on
the other wing tip.  It seems to hang in the axel for a second.  Also
impressive was the precision of the kite.  Hey Jason, how come you never
win
precision events with this ;-)  

One of my problems with the ultralight Air Masters is that I always found
them a bit fast for my taste.  Maybe it was just the way they were tuned. 
Or
the fact that Jason was flying it on 200# test?  It did tend to move a bit
faster than I wanted when it was directly downwind and the wind was
gusting
in the mid to high teens, but most full size kites would.  It didn't hurt
that the graphics were great on this one too!

Can I borrow it for competition, Jason, or do I have to buy my own?    
;-)

Disclaimer: I know Peter Betancourt (sp?) who makes the Air Master but
have no ties to the company.  In fact I don't even own one.  And Jason
didn't threaten me too much to do a review. ;-)
Mark V


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