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KITECH FLY 3 & 4 – USER MANUAL

WARNING

Kiting is hazardous Power kiting is a dangerous sport, involving risk for the

user and others. Improper use of this kite can lead to

serious injury or even death!

Personal Responsibility

The user alone is responsible for his/her security and for

that of others when flying this kite. The suppliers of this

equipment are not responsible to any damage or

personal injury caused by the use of this product in any

manner by the user.

Before using this kite, qualified training should be carried

out. The enclosed operating manual should be read,

fully understood and the instructions should be followed.

The instruction manual is also available for download at

www.KitechKites.com.

Do not use this Kite for Flying

This kite should not be used as an aircraft and is not

certified for flight. Flying with this kite can be extremely

dangerous!

Never kite:

→ in gusty, stormy winds or when lightning is present

→ close to obstacles or other people

→ in offshore winds

→ without your kite leash

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Your Kitech FLY 4 Kite ....................................................................................................................................... 4

The FLY 4 .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Safety leash on the FLY 4 ............................................................................................................................... 5

Chicken loop safety (CLS) .............................................................................................................................. 5

Getting started ................................................................................................................................................. 6

Laying out the kite ........................................................................................................................................ 6

Pre-inflation .................................................................................................................................................. 6

Connecting the kite ....................................................................................................................................... 6

Launching the kite............................................................................................................................................. 6

Launching in light winds (downwind) ............................................................................................................. 7

Launching at the edge of the wind window ................................................................................................... 7

Launching with assistance ............................................................................................................................. 7

Flying the kite ................................................................................................................................................... 7

Steering ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

Power/depower ............................................................................................................................................ 8

Clam cleat ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

Having fun with Kitech kites .......................................................................................................................... 8

Controlling the kite in extreme situations .......................................................................................................... 8

Flying the kite at the zenith ........................................................................................................................... 8

Your kite overflies ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Hard impact with your kite ............................................................................................................................ 8

Water relaunch ................................................................................................................................................. 8

Trailing edge down ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Leading edge down ....................................................................................................................................... 8

Unable to relaunch ....................................................................................................................................... 8

Landing ............................................................................................................................................................. 9

At the edge of the wind window.................................................................................................................... 9

Downwind landing with the CLS activated ..................................................................................................... 9

Downwind landing in low winds .................................................................................................................... 9

Securing the kite on the ground .................................................................................................................... 9

Packing and storing your kite ............................................................................................................................ 9

Kite care ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

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Salt water ................................................................................................................................................... 10

Sand ........................................................................................................................................................... 11

UV rays ....................................................................................................................................................... 11

Moisture ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

Cleaning ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

Part wear ........................................................................................................................................................ 11

Chicken loop ............................................................................................................................................... 11

Flying lines .................................................................................................................................................. 11

Depower line .............................................................................................................................................. 11

Pulleys ........................................................................................................................................................ 11

Repairing your kite .......................................................................................................................................... 11

Kitech 6-month limited warranty..................................................................................................................... 12

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YOUR KITECH FLY 4 KITE

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Kitech kite! To ensure safe kiting and maximum fun, we

recommend that you read these instructions thoroughly. This manual tries to address most frequently asked

questions. Please contact us by email if you have additional questions regarding the operation of your kite.

THE FLY 4

By owning a Kitech FLY 4, you now have one of the most advanced and versatile kites on the market in your

hands. We are confident that you will have a lot of fun with your new kite!

Before you launch the kite for the first time please make sure that you have checked all lines, and most

importantly check if the safety leash line is correctly connected. Your first flight should always be

completed in light stable winds.

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SAFETY LEASH ON THE FLY 4

The FLY 4 depower system allows the kite to be

controlled even if the wind gets stronger. Pull the

rope from the clam cleat to lower the nose of the

kite and reduce power.

An emergency situation may require you to

activate the chicken loop safety release. Simply

pull the red handle and the chicken loop will open.

The use of a kite leash will prevent your kite from

flying away upon release. All Kitech kite leashes

are equipped with an emergency release system.

The quick release on the kite leash is activated by

pulling the yellow transparent handle towards you.

This way you can separate from your kite even if

the kite is only attached to the leash.

CHICKEN LOOP SAFETY (CLS)

With the CLS, the kite can flag out on one of the

front lines of the kite. The remaining pull will be

very low and make it possible to restart the kite.

The CLS keeps your kite from flying away when

separated. Once the chicken loop system has been

activated, the bar slides upwards some distance on

one of the front lines to a stopping knot. Pull in the

front line to reach the bar and reassemble the

depower loop.

The CLS and the front lines should not be twisted

before each start. Straighten out all lines before

launching the kite. When kiting, ensure that the

leash never becomes tangled. If tangled, the

safety system may become impaired or not be

able to function at all.

Ensure that the free sections of the front

lines are not caught in anything (body,

fingers, harness, etc.)! Reattach the Chicken

Loop to the harness and carefully let the

front line go. Release the brake line. The kite

should now unfold and may be restarted.

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GETTING STARTED

LAYING OUT THE KITE

Unfold and lay out the kite, trailing edge (the edge

with the Velcro openings) facing the wind for a

launch from the power zone (downwind), or with

the folded wingtip facing upwind for a launch from

the wind window edge. Weigh down on the kite

with a bag, sand or snow. Unwind the flying-lines

from the bar in a 90° angle to the kite. Check that

all of the kite’s lines, pulleys and safety-systems for

any tangles or knots.

PRE-INFLATION

In light winds, it may be necessary to pre-inflate

your kite. There are many ways to pre-inflate a

Kitech kite. Lift the leading edge of the kite from

the ground and let the wind fill the kite through

the air inlet valves on the front of the kite. The

more air gets in the kite, the more controllable it

will be when rising in the air.

CONNECTING THE KITE

Hook the chicken loop to the harness hook and

secure it with the security pin (red plastic tube).

Attach the kite-leash to the harness. The position

of the leash may vary according to the type of

harness used. Always check that your bar’s quick

release and safety leash function correctly!

LAUNCHING THE KITE

Your Kitech kite is very simple to self-launch. Here

are various options and some tips for a successful

launch. The clam cleat should be relatively open

and the red part of the bar in your left hand. Grip

the front lines with your right hand and pull it in by

approximately 30 cm (12 in). The kites will then

In order to properly pre-inflate the kite, the

deflation vent/vents located at the middle of

the trailing edge should be closed!

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rise and inflate. Steer the kite so that it climbs

towards zenith (above your head). We

recommend that you first practice the various

launching methods in light winds, and then slowly

progress to launching in stronger winds.

LAUNCHING IN LIGHT WINDS (DOWNWIND)

To launch your Kitech kite in very light winds,

inflate it a bit, as previously explained, and launch

it from the power zone. Hook into the harness and

pull the front lines. This launching technique

should normally also work well in water when the

wind does not have enough strength to launch the

kite on its own.

LAUNCHING AT THE EDGE OF THE WIND

WINDOW

A launch from the edge of the wind window is the

most convenient method for launching a Kitech

kite. The main advantage of this method is that

you won’t get dragged downwind as you may

when launching from the power zone. Lay out the

kite parallel to the wind, fold about 50cm (20 in) of

the kite’s tip facing the wind over itself and weigh

it with sand, snow or a bag.

Your position should be about 30° upwind from the

kite. Hook into your harness and gradually tension

the flying lines by pulling the bar and slowly

walking backwards. When the lines get tensioned

the kite will start to stand upright on its wingtip,

now slowly steer it upwards along the edge of the

window into the zenith. Continue slowly steering

the kite up in the air and the sand/snow/bag

should let your kite go.

LAUNCHING WITH ASSISTANCE

Position yourself in a way that the kite can be

launched from the edge of the wind window.

Have an experienced helper hold the kite on the tip

facing down against the wind until the kite

gradually stands up straight at the edge of the

wind window. This is similar to handling tube kites.

When the rider shows the thumb up (international

sign) the helper should release the kite. Once free,

slowly steer your kite into the air.

FLYING THE KITE

STEERING

The steering of Kitech kites is similar to all other

kites. Pull on the left side of the bar to initiate a

left hand turn (counterclockwise) and to the right

for a right hand turn (clockwise).

Power kites can be extremely dangerous in

untrained hands, not just for the user but

also to any bystanders.

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POWER/DEPOWER

In normal flying conditions, the bar would be away

from you and in such a position the kite is

depowered. By pulling the bar against you, the

kite’s angle of attack is increased and thus the

power is increased.

CLAM CLEAT

The clam cleat trimmer adjusts the basic trim as

well as the angle of attack of the kite. To depower

the kite in strong winds (reduce the angle of

attack) simply pull the clam cleat rope. Likewise,

to increase power (higher angle of attack) let the

rope out.

HAVING FUN WITH KITECH KITES

The FLY 4 is designed to guarantee maximal flying

speed and hang time while jumping. The kite also

performs well when combining jumps and kite

loops and is well suited for advanced tricks.

CONTROLLING THE KITE IN EXTREME

SITUATIONS

Dangerous situations should always be avoided.

However, if you find yourself in an extreme

situation, stay calm and don’t panic.

FLYING THE KITE AT THE ZENITH

Kitech kites are at their most stable position at the

zenith (above your head)! At the same time, you

also risk the most of being lifted when your kite

flies at the zenith. If you experience gusty

conditions try keeping the kite depowered by

pulling the clam cleat and maintaining the kite to

one side (at an angle of approximately 45 degrees).

YOUR KITE OVERFLIES

If your kite over-flies (e.g. in gusty conditions), it is

possible to get it back by either powering up or

steering it to the side. Pulling the thick (red)

lines/backlines may stop the kite from front

stalling. Your Kitech kite is very stable, so this

should rarely happen.

HARD IMPACT WITH YOUR KITE

Hitting ground or water with your kite at high

speed may burst it. Kitech kites have pressure

relief valves that make them lighter and more

durable than other kite systems on the market.

WATER RELAUNCH

The Kitech homepage www.KitechKites.com

contains videos with further techniques for

relaunching the kites. The site also offers tips on

how to trim and adjust your kite. If your Kitech

kite lands in the water, it should remain inflated

long enough to enable you to relaunch it.

TRAILING EDGE DOWN

If the kite is down with its trailing edge facing the

water, simply pull the front lines and it will launch

by itself.

LEADING EDGE DOWN

The red side of the bar should still be on your left

hand-side! By pulling in the leader lines the kite

can be launched backwards. Pull in both leader

lines (red) towards you until the kite lifts

backwards in the air a little. Let go of one of the

leader lines while keeping the other lightly pulled,

this will cause the kite to begin to roll. When it

turned upwards, let go of the second leader line,

grab the bar and steer the kite. In low winds, pull

the back lines very far.

UNABLE TO RELAUNCH

If you find yourself in a situation where you are

unable to relaunch and you are drifting away from

We strongly recommend that you practice

emergency techniques such as using the CLS

in order to automate the procedure even

blindfolded. This way you will react faster

and be able to remain in control of the kite

in an emergency situation.

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shore release your kite and swim back to the

shore. Once safe, you can focus on getting a boat

and save your kite.

LANDING

AT THE EDGE OF THE WIND WINDOW

Normally kites should be caught by an assistant at

the edge of the wind window, especially in strong

winds and when there is little room downwind. Fly

the kite to the edge of the wind window slightly

above the ground and let a competent helper

catch it. The assistant should approach the kite

from upwind, grab the lower wingtip and pull it

towards him. Once grabbed, walk towards the

assistant to relieve the tension from the lines, but

leave some tension in the upper line to help the

assistant in letting the wingtip blow out downwind.

The assistant should lay the kite on its upper sail

and weigh it down at the wingtip on the leading

edge (with sand for example). Once the kite is

secured, it should be ready for a quick unassisted

relaunch.

DOWNWIND LANDING WITH THE CLS

ACTIVATED

The Kite can be landed downwind by activating the

CLS. Ensure that the landing spot is large enough,

make sure that the CLS line runs free and that your

safety leash is attached correctly. Unhook and let

go off the bar (in an emergency pull the quick

release handle on the chicken loop).

Once the kite has landed, secure the safety leash

to a pole, anchor, rock, etc and only then secure

your kite.

DOWNWIND LANDING IN LOW WINDS

Your kite may be equipped with a braking line

assembled between the two leader line plastic

balls. Pull the line and your kite will back-stall and

drop to the ground. If you do this carefully it is

possible to keep the kite stretched out. Once the

kite lands on the trailing edge secure the braking

line and secure the kite.

SECURING THE KITE ON THE GROUND

The best way to secure a kite after landing on the

ground is to lay it lengthwise into the wind, fold

the upwind tip over and load it with sand, a bag or

snow. From this position the kite can easily be

relaunched.

PACKING AND STORING YOUR KITE

Weigh down the upwind wingtip with something

heavy (e.g. sand or snow) and open the Velcro

deflation vent/vents located on the middle of the

trailing edge.

Keep all the lines together and wrap them around

the bar in a figure-eight pattern from below on

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both sides. Secure the lines with a knot when you

reach the pulleys.

Take the downwind tip and place it on top of the

weighed-down tip. Put all the lines inside the kite

and place the bar on top of the two wingtips. Start

rolling the kite all the way around the bar.

Simply roll the kite over the bar as shown in the

images, then fold the two tips over against the

middle and secure the kite with the supplied strap

and put it in the bag. Always remember to dry the

kite when you get home!

KITE CARE

Kitech kites are extremely resistant to UV,

saltwater, and tears. To get the longest life out of

your kite, here are a few things that you should

know.

SALT WATER

Kitech kites have been thoroughly saltwater-

tested. However, they should still be rinsed out

with fresh water from time to and allowed to dry.

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SAND

Sand grains are relatively rounded and not very

abrasive to your kite. Cut glass and other sharp or

objects can however cause severe damage to your

kite. Sand that enters the kite will work its way to

the wingtips, and will be automatically drained.

UV RAYS

Even though the fabric has been optimized for UV

resistance, we advise not to expose the kite to

unnecessary UVm light. Over time the fabric color

may change due to UV radiation and other effects

such as material degradation might occur.

MOISTURE

If storing your kite in a humid and warm

environment, mildew may develop. This will not

damage the fabric but leaves dark marks. Storing

the kite in a dry place should prevent mildew

growth.

CLEANING

Clean the kite only with fresh water. All use of

chemical products should be avoided.

PART WEAR

Kitech only chooses material with the highest

quality standards. Check your kite for signs of

wear and tear. Kitech recommends that you to

thoroughly check the kite every 50 flying hours.

CHICKEN LOOP

The chicken loop transfers most of the force from

your kite. The contact surface between the tube

and the hook is exposed to wear and tear.

FLYING LINES

Cuts in the flying lines can result in extensively

reduced ultimate load. Skis with sharp edges can

damage your lines! Handle the flying lines with

care and check them regularly for damage. If

damaged, should replace them with new lines.

DEPOWER LINE

The bar continually moves when kiting. When the

depower line gets worn, it should be replaced. A

replacement depower line is included with your

kite.

PULLEYS

The lines which run over the pulleys or the pulleys

themselves can get worn out. Both should be

replaced. Some replacement parts are included in

the repair bag, or you may order additional

replacement parts from your Kitech dealer.

REPAIRING YOUR KITE

Make sure that the damaged area is clean and dry.

Temporary repairs can be done using a self-

adhesive textile repair tape. Stick the right amount

of self-adhesive tape to the inside of the kite and

add more tape on the outside for extra strength..

A regular security check will ensure a safe,

smooth and enjoyable use of your kite!

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KITECH 6-MONTH LIMITED

WARRANTY

Kitech will repair a damaged kite at no charge

during the first 6 months from the date of

purchase. Commercial use, such as a kite school or

rental, as well as damage caused deliberately or by

negligence (e.g. crashing into obstacles, etc.) is not

covered by this warranty.

The violation of the terms and conditions of the

warranty will result in loss of the warranty

claim.

In the event of damage, you should first contact

your local dealer or kitechkites.com. The kite

should be sent back for repairs clean, dry and sand-

free.

Now go fly your kite!

Revision 4, June 2014