Premier RAPTOR User manual

1004 Findlay Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662 USA
Toll Free: 1-888-416-0174
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.premierkites.com

Nose/Nose Piece
Sail
Lower Connector
Stando Holder
Stando
Tow Point Loop
Center ‘T’ Fitting
Tail
Bridle Out-Haul
Bottom Leg of Bridle
Top Connector Leading Edge
Top Leg
of Bridle
Wing Tip
Bungee
Bottom
Spreader
Congratulations on your purchase of the Raptor sport kite. The Raptor
is a high performance sport kite capable of ying in a wide wind range.
Sport kites launch, land and y dierently from single line kites. We
strongly suggest that you read the instructions enclosed and become
familiar with the assembly and control techniques of the Raptor.
Names of Parts
Warning - Safety First
Be sure to avoid ying near cars, people, power lines and airports.
Stunt kites can move at high speeds and are capable of inicting
damage on people and property. Both the kite and ying lines
represent potential hazards. The kite and line can hit or cut with high
force while moving at high speeds. Use your stunt kite with extreme
care. Flying safely is your sole responsibility.
1 2
Top Spreader
Center Spine

Assembly Instructions
Step 1:
Remove the kite out of the bag. Lay the kite out and extend the Sail.
In the Leading Edge is a Ferrule. Connect the Leading Edge Struts
on each side by sliding the Lower Leading Edge Rod into the Upper
Leading Edge Strut Ferrule.
Step 2:
Stretch the Bungee over the Wing-Tip arrow nock. Repeat on the other
side.
Step 3:
Stick the Lower Cross struts into the Center T-Fitting, making sure the
Bridle is not tangled around the struts.
Step 4:
Insert the Upper Cross Strut into the Top Connectors.
Step 5:
Insert Standos into Stando Holders. Make sure Stando Holders are
directly behind the Standos so the Standos are perpendicular to the
Lower Cross Strut. If the Standos look crooked to the Lower Cross
Strut, simply slide the Stando Holders along the Lower Cross Strut
until they look straight. Lift the assembled Raptor o the ground by
the kite’s Tow Points and make sure the bridle is not tangled or twisted
underneath a Cross Strut. The bridle attachment points should come
directly o the knots on the kite’s right and left Leading Edges and the
Center Spine.
1 2

Connecting Flight Lines
Your kite is now fully assembled and ready to y. All you need to do
is attach your ying lines. Attach ying lines using a larks head knot.
(See below.)
Your Raptor has a bridle
that is pre-set at the
factory and will never need
adjustment. To attach your
ying line, tie a simple over-
hand loop at the end of
each of your handles. With
the loop, make a simple
larks head knot as shown
in the diagram and pull it
tightly to jam on the tow
point End Knot. Repeat this
to the other side. You are
now ready to y.
Pre-Flight
Place your Raptor on the ground with the kite’s back against the
ground. After hooking your lines up to the bridle points, unroll the
lines all the way to the end. Hold the ying straps together and make
sure your lines are even. It is important that whenever you y your
kite that the two ying lines are exactly the same length. If your right
line is longer than your left line or visa versa, your kite will be hard to
control. Your lines come pre-tied at the factory to even lengths. If they
have stretched or are dierent lengths, simply shorten the longer line
to match the shorter line.
3 4
Connecting Flight Lines
Your kite is now fully assembled and ready to y. All you need to do is
attach your ying lines. Attach ying lines using a larks head knot. (See
below.)
Your Zoomer 2.0 has a bridle that
is pre-set at the factory and
will never need adjustment.
To attach your ying line tie a
simple over-hand loop at the
end of each of your handles.
With the loop, make a simple
larks head knot as shown in
the diagram and pull it tightly
to jam on the tow point End
Knot. Repeat this to the other
side. You are now ready to y.
Pre-Flight
Place your Zoomer 2.0 on the
ground with the kite’s back
against the ground. After
hooking your lines up to the
bridle points (see Connecting Flight Lines), unroll the lines all the way
to the end. Hold the ying handles together and make sure your lines
are even. It is important that whenever you y your kite that the two
ying lines are exactly the same length. If your right line is longer than
your left line or visa versa, your kite will be hard to control. Adjust line
lengths using the center knob on your ight handles so that the two
lines are even. If they have stretched or are dierent lengths, simply
shorten the longer line to match the shorter line.
Flying Line
Flying Line
Flying Line Loop and
Lark’s Head Knot
Lark’s Head Knot
(tightened on bridle)
Bridle
Tow Point
End Knot
Tow Point
End Knot
3

Learning to Fly
WIND
Step 1:
Lines must be out and adjusted to
equal lengths before launching.
Make sure the person holding
the kite is behind it and
pointing the nose skyward.
Keep your hands forward and
parallel just before launch
WIND
PULL
Step 2:
Wind must be at yers back.
To take o, tell your friend to
release the kite. At the same
time pull back on both lines
with equal tension to launch
the kite. Immediately return
both hands forward.
Solo Launching
With rst ights it is easiest to have a helper toss the kite into the air.
When ying alone stake your handles or straps to the ground with an
old screw driver or tent stake or anything that you can push into the
ground. With the lines completely unwound attach your kite. With the
lines anchored and under tension, the kite will stand on its wing tips.
Tilt the nose of the kite back 45 degrees so the kite doesn’t accidentally
self launch.
To launch the kite, pull both lines until the kite stands up straight.
Then pull back both lines with equal tension and the kite will launch
straight into the sky. Remember to return both hands forward.
3 4

Control
On your rst launch, keep your hands next to each other and let your
kite ascend as high as possible. If your kite wanders to one side, make
corrections by pulling on the opposite control handle. A stunt kite
turns towards the same direction it is pulled: Pull right - the kite
turns right, pull left the kite turns left. As a beginner, concentrate on
steering towards the sky and maintaining plenty of altitude before
doing complex stunts.
The most common problem a beginner has is over controlling their
kite. Only a few inches of pull is needed for maneuvering. If you
continue to pull to one side, your kite will make a loop. The further
you pull back the line, the tighter the loop will be. At any point in the
loop or turn, you can even out your hands and the kite will continue in
the direction the nose is pointing.
After doing loops, your control lines will be twisted. This may seem
troublesome, but don’t worry, you still have control of your kite. To
untwist, simply y loops in the opposite direction.
Pull Left:
Kite turns left
Pull Right:
Kite turns right
Hands Even:
Kite ies straight in
the same direction it
is pointing
5 6

Power Zone:
- Most speed
- Most pull
- Fastest response
- Easiest area to launch
Edge:
- Slower speed
- Less pull
- Slower response
- Easiest area to land
Maneuvering in the Wind Window
The Wind Window is an area of the sky where sport kites maneuver.
The Window is shaped like a half dome. The size of the Window
changes with the wind speed. Higher winds produce larger Windows.
Your kite will react dierently in various parts of the Window. The
Power Zone is where your kite will pull the most and have the most
speed. This is where you will have the most success launching your kite.
On the Edge the kite is angled away from the direct wind. This lowers
the speed and pull of the kite and makes landings easier. The extreme
edge is the point where the kite can not move forward anymore.
In lighter winds your kite becomes a victim of gravity and sinks to the
ground. In higher winds your kite can hover on the edge and retain its
position in the sky.
Landing
You will soon notice that as the kite ies to the edge of the Window, it
slows down and eventually stalls. Maneuver the kite to the outermost
edge about a foot o the ground and run toward the kite while
throwing your arms forward. Your lines will go slack and the kite will
gently land. For an advanced maneuver, try landing your kite on its
wing tips. When your kite is about a foot o the ground, rotate the
nose skyward and run forward, keeping your hands in front and the
line equal. The kite will lose wind and land on its wing tips. You are
now ready to relaunch.
EDGE
WIND
POWER
ZONE
EDGEEDGE
EDGE EDGE
Wind Window
5 6

Where to Fly
Find a ying eld that is large, at and wide open. Look for areas
where there are no large obstructions interrupting smooth owing
wind. Obstructions, such as trees or buildings, add turbulence and
reduce wind speed near ground levels. Determine the wind’s direction
by throwing grass or sand into the air. The direction of the wind will
determine where your ight area will be and where you will set up
the kite. Winds from 5-18 M.P.H. are ideal for learning how to y your
Raptor Sport Kite.
Beaufort Scale
Wind Speed Description Specications for use on Land
0-1 Calm Calm; smoke rises vertical.
1-3 Light Air Direction of wind shown by smoke drift,
but not by wind vanes.
4-7 Light Breeze Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary
vanes moved by wind.
8-12 Gentle Breeze Leaves and small twigs in constant
motion; wind extends light ag.
13-18 Moderate Breeze Raises dust and loose paper; small
branches are moved.
19-24 Fresh Breeze Small trees and leaves begin to sway;
crested wavelets form on inland waters.
25-31 Strong Breeze Large branches in motion; whistling
heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used
with diculty.
Note: Wind Conditions aloft may vary considerably from those found near ground level.
Optimum Wind Conditions for Raptor Kites
WIND�
(MPH)
01
CALM
2345678910111213141516171819202122232427282930
LIGHT AIRLIGHT BREEZE GENTLE BREEZE MODERATE BREEZE FRESH BREEZE STRONG BREEZE
25 26
RAPTOR SPORT KITES