Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 04:43:30 -1000 From: uspehmev@ibmmail.COM Message-Id: Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: BFK Catalog:MEFM ----------------------- Mail item text follows --------------- TO: I1044027 IBMMAIL IBM Mail Exchange FROM: MVIRGILI PALL400 Mark Virgilio at Pall East Hills DATE: MARCH 16, 1994 SUBJECT: BFK Catalog:MEFM Just received this year's edition of the BFK Catalog with the MEFM on the cover. Any comments about the rave 5 star reviews it received across the board? I competed with an EFM with a Windsport frame last season and my flying improved considerably, however I've yet to see any Master level flyers compete with them and they were pretty much absent from the Nationals. We have one team on the East Coast competing with them, but that's all I know about. BFK talked about international competitions. Are MEFMs really being used in competitions outside the US? Curious to see what people will be flying this year, Mark = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 06:38:23 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: Organization: Harvard University OIT/NSD Subject: Re: BFK Catalog:MEFM In article , uspehmev@ibmmail.COM writes: > Just received this year's edition of the BFK Catalog with the > MEFM on the cover. Any comments about the rave 5 star reviews it > received across the board? I competed with an EFM with a > Windsport frame last season and my flying improved considerably, > however I've yet to see any Master level flyers compete with > them and they were pretty much absent from the Nationals. We > have one team on the East Coast competing with them, but that's > all I know about. BFK talked about international competitions. > Are MEFMs really being used in competitions outside the US? > > Curious to see what people will be flying this year, Well, I'll be flying Katanas this year! ;-) The MEFM is certainly a very nice kite, both in the way it flies and it's graphics. Workmanship is high as well. For the way that I like to fly, it doesn't rate 5 stars, but I'm sure that for many it is the greatest thing going. This just points out differences in flying style and regional differences. At a few of the West Coast events that I attended, the only Jordan Air kite being flown was flown by Dean. Dodd Gross was flying the only Tracer. Tracers and Dean's kites are seen everywhere on the East Coast. I never saw a Buena Vista kite on the East Coast and only rarely do you see a Comp Edge here, yet they are both very popular in California. The MEFM has a few advocates here in the North East. I wouldn't be surprised if lots of people in the South-Central USA, where the MEFM is made, fly MEFMs. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 10:47:35 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: Organization: Harvard University OIT/NSD Subject: RE: BFK Catalog:MEFM In article , uspehmev@ibmmail.COM writes: > Has anyone out there flown their MEFM in 30 mph winds? (And lived?) > If so, how did you have it bridled and did it track at all? I > tried once in 20 mph winds and thought my arms were going to fall > off. To its credit, it didn't break. I have to agree that wind estimates are often misleading. The MEFM has a stated range of something like 2 to 30. You really can't have a single kite that will fly well in that wide a wind range. It involves too much compromise. I think that the "Into the Wind" catalog has the Katana as 3 to 18 (don't remember exactly). While it is true that the kite will fly in that wind range, the real, usuable range is probably 5 to 12. I can fly the stock kite down to around 4, but then I switch to an ultra-light version. Above 12, I get out another kite, maybe a 4 foot flexi, or a vented Katana-2. > Yes, Marty, I figured you were going to fly Katanas (me too!) but > which ones? Katana IIs? California Katanas? And just what is a > California Katana anyway? Disclaimer: Mark is not a plant. I didn't put him up to asking these questions. Please also note that I make the Katanas and am definitely biased. Storm Front is flying Katana-2s, the Katana is too fast for team flying. I guess this isn't really fair, some might be able to use it for team flying, but I certainly don't have the reflexes. I'll fly the Katana in pairs and individual ballet, and either a Katana-2 or a California Katana in precision. Realize that the following is a generalization: East Coast flyers fly with a softer, more fluid style. Many folks in California and Hawaii fly more agressively with sharper movements, and generally more technical tricks. Neither style is better, they are just different. The California Katana is an attempt to make a kite that would appeal to flyers with this more aggressive style. It is flatter and has a stiffer frame than the other Katanas. It is easy to snap stall, and to axel. Tip stabs are easier with the California Katana than the other kites that I make. I'm pretty happy with the California Katana. Several prominent west coast flyers have flown it and complimented me on the way that it flies... -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 08:41:01 -1000 From: uspehmev@ibmmail.COM Message-Id: Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: RE: BFK Catalog:MEFM ----------------------- Mail item text follows --------------- TO: I1044027 IBMMAIL IBM Mail Exchange FROM: MVIRGILI PALL400 Mark Virgilio at Pall East Hills DATE: MARCH 16, 1994 SUBJECT: RE: BFK Catalog:MEFM Has anyone out there flown their MEFM in 30 mph winds? (And lived?) If so, how did you have it bridled and did it track at all? I tried once in 20 mph winds and thought my arms were going to fall off. To its credit, it didn't break. Yes, Marty, I figured you were going to fly Katanas (me too!) but which ones? Katana IIs? California Katanas? And just what is a California Katana anyway? Mark = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 17:48:52 -1000 From: Robert Scribner Message-Id: <5C+u4o8.rscribner@delphi.com> Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Subject: RE: BFK Catalog:MEFM most of the northwest masters teams are using turbojets from ramjet kites. we find this kite to be a great team kite due to its slow speed and great tracking. We also like the way that it is priced. Its a kite you might like to try some day. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 12:37:06 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: BFK Catalog:MEFM sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) writes: >a stated range of something like 2 to 30. You really can't have a >single kite that will fly well in that wide a wind range. It involves >too much compromise. Not if it's a soft kite. My old Bainbridge 5m Peel takes about 4mph of wind, a racing Icarex 5m should take considerably less. At the other end, I was ablt to use it to buggy in all directions in 40+mph wind. The kite never showed any sign of strain (unlike the pilot!). Similarly, Flexifoils have massive wind-range, In the hands of Jost (sp?), the new racing 6's fly from less-than-anything-else-in-the-desert to as-much-as-you-dare. Andrew -- Work: gaffer@rec.com Phone: +44 793 614 110 Fax: +44 793 614 297 Play: andrew@tug.com Phone: +44 256 464 912 Post only stuff of general interest Don't quote more than necessary. Don't send Email via news. Keep lines < 80 cha Read the FAQ's. Flame only by Email. Set Distribution: world. Keep sig less tha = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =