Secure the ends of your flying lines onto the matching pigtails using the Lark's Head knot shown here, and you're ready to go!
4-D PILOT'S GUIDE 4-D SUPERLIGHT PILOT'S GUIDE
Anywhere, any time, the 4-D lets you take to the air when nothing else will fly. Its 58" wingspan makes small spaces big so you can fly in tight quarters with ease. At barely 2-1/2 ounces, its super-light weight gives it the buoyancy to stay aloft in swirling breezes and even indoors, where walking backwards with short lines provides enough lift for a huge range of graceful aerobatics.
In the air, the 4-D has the precision and presence of a much larger kite. The line feel is balanced and responsive without being twitchy like most small kites. Its light weight and buoyancy makes it forgiving in turbulence and gives you time to recover as the gust passes. For freestyle fanatics, it’ll do a wide range of tricks without the heavy feel of many trick kites. While it takes smaller motions to fly, you don’t have to be an expert to have a blast, making it the perfect addition to any kite bag.
Safety Information
As a pilot, you - and only you - are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you when you fly. Read these instructions thoroughly, and make sure you understand how to properly use your kite before launching. Below are some important notes to keep in mind in order to ensure a safe flying experience:
- Make sure your flying space is clear before launching. Kites can move quickly and unpredictably, and your kite or its line could seriously injure anyone in their path if something goes wrong.
- Never wrap your flying line around your hands. In a gust, the wind can cause your kite to pull hard enough for the line to cut you seriously. Always hold the lines by their wrist straps.
Assembly
Unroll your kite and lay it out flat as shown.
Unfold the left and right wings and connect the leading edge rods at the joint hidden inside the leading edge sleeve.
Insert the marked end of each lower spreader into the aluminum center "T" fitting, and the other end into the lower leading edge fittings. Insert the upper spreader into the two upper leading edge fittings. IMPORTANT: Hold the spreaders close to the end to avoid slipping and puncturing the sail.
Taking care to keep all bridle lines clear, insert the four thin standoff rods into the fittings on the lower spreaders to tension the sail. Orienting silver marks on lower spreaders into the center T positions standoff fittings properly so that standoffs are perpendicular to the spreaders.
Tension the sail at each wingtip using the special fitting as shown.
Hang the kite from its bridles as shown, checking that the kite is symmetrical and the bridle lines run clear without tangles around frame or fittings.
About Flying Lines
IMPORTANT: The flying lines that come with your kite require proper care and handling to ensure their longevity. Used correctly your lines will last many years, but if mishandled you'll risk breaks, tangles, and even the loss of your kite. We've outlined the most common issues flyers encounter with their lines below, along with information to help you avoid making these mistakes yourself. Replacement flying lines are not covered under your kite's warranty, so be sure you read and understand the information in this section before you start flying.
Broken Flying Lines
The included lines are sufficiently strong to support your kite when flown within the advertised wind range (0-15 mph), but if those speeds are exceeded your lines may break. To prevent this, avoid launching your kite in winds near the very top of the recommended range. Wind speeds are variable, and flying at the maximum wind speed will leave you vulnerable to breakage if conditions suddenly change or an unexpected gust of wind comes along. Wind speeds are also generally stronger higher up in the air, so if you notice ground level speeds near the upper limit it's best to wait until conditions calm a bit before launching.
Breaks can also occur when attempting to tug your kite free of something it's become tangled in. Stay away from trees and other obstacles to avoid getting stuck, and if you experience an unplanned landing, check to be sure your lines aren't caught on anything before re-launching.
Lastly, keep a safe distance from other kites when flying. Lines can cut through each other when they get tangled in flight, so leave enough space for your neighboring kite flyers when choosing a spot to fly.
Tangles & Knots
Tangles and knots can be hard to fix, but luckily they're also very easy to prevent. Just remember this - your flying lines should always be either completely wound onto the included winder, or they should be making a straight line from the wrist straps to the kite. Avoid dragging your flying lines on the ground, unwinding them into a pile at your feet, or taking 'shortcuts' when winding them up at the end of your flight session, otherwise you're likely to end up with a tangled mess as your reward.
Attaching Your Flying Lines
Useful Knots
Double Overhand Loop
Used to finish the end of your flying line. Works well for both sleeved and un-sleeved lines.
Blood Knot
Can be used to join two pieces of line if your flying line breaks.
Where to Fly
Wind becomes turbulent as it tumbles over and through obstacles, making it harder to launch and fly your kite. To get the best flight experience, fly well upwind of any obstacles that might cause turbulence.
First Flight
For your first flight, pick a spot with smooth, light winds blowing around 5mph and a kite-friendly surface such as sand or grass. At first you will likely over-control the kite by pulling too much with your arms to steer. Practice steering in smooth, straight lines with just your fingertips to get a feel for the light pull and quick response of the 4-D. If you've never flown a dual-line sport kite before, we suggest learning the basics with a larger kite until you can comfortably launch, steer around and land in moderate winds without crashing.
It takes practice to develop the finesse you'll need to fly in light winds. Here are a few tips:
- Maneuver the kite as you fly to always keep tension on your lines. Fly with a fingertip touching each line so you can feel the smallest changes in line tension. Turn the kite back towards the middle of the wind window before it comes to a stop at the edge.
- Don't stand in one place. Be ready to move backwards any time the wind drops in order to keep tension on your lines and keep the kite moving. Whenever you feel a gust, use it to work your way back downwind without losing too much altitude.
- On those no-wind days, practice flying slow. Keep the kite moving, but see how slowly you can fly without losing tension on the lines. This is a key skill for flying indoors and in zero wind. With practice, you'll be able to hover the kite in a stall and let it float backwards, knowing that a quick downwards sweep of the arms is all it takes to get flying again.
Training Videos
Way to Fly Series
In 1996 we released our first comprehensive training video, Way to Fly, and it's still a great resource for new flyers to learn from almost 30 years later. While the kites we shown in the videos are no longer available, the concepts and skills discussed in the training are still relevant today. Start with Way to Fly: Part 1 to get a good handle on setup, basic flying controls, and core concepts, then move on to The Advanced Way to Fly once you've mastered the basics and you're ready to take on more challenging tricks and maneuvers.
Freestyle Pilot
Freestyle Pilot is an organized, step-by-step training program designed to guide you from your first basic landings to the most challenging freestyle tricks being done today. Includes many new, more challenging maneuvers that were developed after the release of our original Way to Fly series.
Bridle Tuning
Like most sport kites, the 4-D can be adjusted for optimal lift in different winds by sliding the red and blue attachment pigtails up or down along the outer bridle legs. Two knots about 1-1/2" apart mark the limits of the adjustment range.
For indoor flying and the lightest winds, loosen the Prussik knot and slide each pigtail up. This tilts the nose slightly into the wind, increasing lift.
If your wingtips start shuddering in stronger winds, slide the pigtail down to depower the sail and improve turn performance. No other adjustments are needed for the 4-D.
Packing Your Kite
When you're done flying for the day, you'll want to pack your kite back into the bag to keep it safe and ensure you don't lose any parts while it's stored away. Here's how we recommend folding your kite for storage:
- Remove the upper and lower spreaders, and un-tension the wingtip nocks. Lay the kite out on the ground face up and gather the bridle on top of the sail.
- Disconnect the leading edge rod sections and fold the wings in half, bringing the wingtips up to the nose of the kite.
- Bring both folded leading edge rods to the center of the kite, and grip them together in one hand along with the spine. You should be holding all the rods as a bundle in one hand, with the sail fabric hanging below.
- Make sure the standoffs and bridle are tucked into the sail, and roll the loose sail fabric up until it is neatly gathered against the bundled rods. Secure with velcro kite wrap.
- Slide the packed kite back into the bag, strap the flying lines into the case, and slide the spreaders into their pockets.
Troubleshooting
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance
The materials in your kite are durable and designed for a long life with minimal maintenance. Here are a few tips to keep it healthy:
- Give your kite a pre-flight inspection before you launch to be sure everything is properly assembled, the frame and sail are intact, and the flying line isn't worn.
- Beach sand is abrasive and will wear on lines and fittings, so do what you can to dust off the sand after a session at the beach. Compressed air or a soft brush work great if you have them, and a freshwater rinse is a good idea if your kite has been swimming in salt water.
- Keep your kite out of hot car trunks and avoid using solvents to clean the sail as they can dissolve the adhesives in the seams. Warm water and a little dish detergent on a soft sponge works best for cleaning kites.
- Keep your kite out of the sun when not in use to prevent the sail from fading or becoming brittle.
Repairs
Sail tears are rare, but can happen if your kite lands in a sticker bush or needs to be yanked free from a tree. If this happens to you, don't despair! Our favorite repair tape is made specifically to make permanent, nearly invisible repairs to torn sails.
Broken or lost parts can be a downer, but we've got you covered with replacement rods, fittings, flying lines, and tails ready to ship so you can get patched up and back in the air ASAP!
Support
Our Warranty
We’re confident you’re going to have a great time with every product we make. We guarantee that your new kite will arrive ready-to-fly and defect free, with all parts and accessories included. If you run into any issues upon inspecting your new kite, let us know and we’ll do what it takes to make things right.
Need Help? Get in Touch!
For help with general inquiries, repairs, or warranty issues, please contact us at info@prismkites.com. We’ll respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. To ensure fast service please include any relevant information in your email so we can get started helping you right away. This could include the model of your kite, the name of a part you are looking for, or your mailing address if we need to send something your way. We look forward to hearing from you!