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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