Zenith Delta Pilot's Guide
Zenith Delta Pilot's Guide
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Welcome, and congratulations on your selection of a new Zenith Delta - we hope you'll love it as much as we do! In this guide we've put together all the info, tips, and tricks you'll need to get the most out of your new kite: From assembly and launching instructions to maintenance and customer support, we've got you covered! Read through to get the full story on your new kite, or use the table of contents to jump straight to a specific topic.
Not finding the answers you need? Contact our team at info@prismkites.com and we'll get back to you ASAP. We look forward to making your flight a success!
Smooth winds,
The Prism Team
Safety Information
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 to for the line to cut you seriously. Always hold the line by the winder.
Parts Overview
Parts Overview
Front
Front
1 - Leading Edge Rod
2 - Spine Rod
3 - Keel & Line Attachment Point
4 - Spine Cap
5 - Tail Attachment Loop
Back
Back
6 - Spreader Rod
7 - Spreader Ferrule
8 - Spreader Loop
9 - Leading Edge Fitting
10 - Snap-on Tail Attachment Point
Assembly
Assembly
Unfold the sail and lay the kite out flat, printed side up. Join the leading edge rod sections by sliding them together at the silver connectors (ferrules).
Connect the two sections of the spine rod at the ferrule (hidden inside the spine sleeve).
Stretch the spine cap over the exposed end of the spine to hold it in place.
Connect the two halves of the spreader rod at the ferrule. Flip the kite over and pass the spreader through the loop on the back. Hold the rod near its end and push the spreader all the way into both leading edge fittings.
Attaching Tails
Attaching Tails
Snap-on Tails
Snap-on Tails
Snap-on tails can be attached to the kite at each of the wingtips, adding extra stability in gusty wind. Press the snap from the tail over the snap on the back of the sail until you hear it click into place.
Clip-on Tails
Clip-on Tails
Additional tails that come with an attachment clip can be attached to your Zenith by hooking them through the black loop located at the base of the kite's spine.
Loop-through Tails
Loop-through Tails
Tails without clips can be attached by passing the tail's loop through the attachment point at the base of the spine, and then feeding the tail through the loop to secure.
Managing Your Flying Line
Managing Your Flying Line
About Your Flying Line
About Your Flying Line
IMPORTANT: The flying line that comes with your kite requires proper care and handling to ensure its longevity. Used correctly your line 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 line 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 Line
The included line is sufficiently strong to support your kite when flown within the advertised wind range (5-25 mph), but if those speeds are exceeded your line 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 when flying to avoid getting stuck, and if you experience an unplanned landing, check to be sure your line isn't caught on anything before re-launching.
Lastly, keep a safe distance from other kites when flying. Lines made from different materials can damage 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 - the flying line should always be either completely stored on the included winder, or it should be making a straight line from the winder to the kite. Avoid dragging your flying line on the ground, spooling it into a pile at your feet, or taking 'shortcuts' when winding it up at the end of your flight, otherwise you're likely to end up with a tangled mess as your reward.
Useful Knots
Useful Knots
Double Overhand Loop
Used to finish the end of your flying line.
Blood Knot
Can be used to join two pieces of line if your flying line breaks.
Lark's Head Knot
Can be used to connect your flying line to the line attachment point on your kite if the clip goes missing.
Choosing a Flying Location
Choosing a Flying Location
Choose your flying spot carefully to avoid turbulent wind. Like whitewater in a river, wind that flows past obstacles like trees, buildings and hills becomes gusty and choppy and can make launching your kite and keeping it in the air difficult or even impossible.
The best place to fly is an open beach or field with wind blowing in from off the water. If you have such a place available, it's worth the extra travel time to get there because you'll have a much easier time launching and flying your kite. If you have to fly inland, look for wide open fields with no trees, buildings, or hills for at least a quarter mile upwind.
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.
Launching
Launching
For your first flight, we suggest flying on a day when the wind is between 8 and 12 mph. Flying with the included wingtip tails attached to your kite will give it extra stability, making it easier to launch your kite if you are flying in a space with slightly choppy or turbulent wind. Once you're ready for take-off, try one of the launch methods below to get flying:
Long Line Launch
(Best for beginners and light or turbulent winds)Long Line Launch
Have a helper walk the kite downwind 20 to 30 paces while you let out the line. With the nose pointed upward, pull in some line to launch and the kite will climb into the sky. If you don’t have a helper, prop the kite pointed up against a log, a stump, or some handy object and pull it into the air from 75-100 feet upwind.
In light winds the kite may be reluctant to climb. Pull in line to help drive it upward, then let line out whenever you feel wind pressure on the sail. Often the wind is stronger and steadier higher up, so if you can coax it higher above the ground there may be enough wind to fly.
Solo Launch
(Easiest in moderate to strong winds)Solo Launch
Stand with your back to the wind and hold the kite with nose pointed up until it catches enough wind to go aloft. Let out line slowly as the kite goes higher, and pull in a little if the wind slacks off. As the kite gains altitude you’ll be able to let line out more quickly. The kite may be a bit squirrelly when it’s close to you but will get more stable as you let out line.
Retrieving Your Kite
Retrieving Your Kite
In light or moderate breezes, simply wind in your line a little at a time to retrieve your kite. You might need to pause occasionally if pulling line in causes the kite to climb or loop.
In stronger winds or with a harder pulling kite, it's better to “walk the kite down" before winding the line back onto the winder. The Zenith Delta comes with a carabiner attached to the bag that you can use to make this easier. Just have a friend hold your winder or tie it off to an anchor, then hook the carabiner over the line and walk toward the kite, holding onto the bag until you’ve brought the kite safely back to earth.
Packing Your Kite Away
Packing Your Kite Away
When you're done flying for the day, you'll want to pack your kite back into the included bag to keep it safe and ensure you don't lose any parts while it's stored away. Here's how we recommend packing your kite:
Remove the spreader, and lay the kite flat on its back (printed side up). Disconnect the leading edge rod sections and fold the wings in half, bringing the wingtips up to the nose of the kite.
Remove the spine cap from the base of the spine and separate the spine rod sections. Fold the spine in half, bringing the base of the spine up to the nose of the kite.
Bring both folded leading edges rods the center of the kite, and grip them together in one hand along with the folded spine. You should be holding all the rods as a bundle in one hand, with the sail fabric hanging below.
Roll the loose fabric up until it is neatly gathered against the bundled rods. Tuck the folded spreader into the sail and secure with the included velcro kite wrap.
Slide the packed kite back into the bag, and attach the winder with the elastic band near the bag's opening.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
If you're having trouble with your kite's flight performance, check below for answers to the most common problems that come up. Not seeing your issue listed below? Reach out to our support team at info@prismkites.com and we'll be happy to help you get it sorted out so you can get back in the air.
Kite is weaving back and forth, looping, or is having trouble staying airborne
Kite is weaving back and forth, looping, or is having trouble staying airborne
Obstacles disturbing the wind, creating turbulence
If your kite is not flying smoothly, the first thing to consider is the possibility of upwind objects (buildings, trees, etc) creating turbulence. As wind flows over and past obstructions it starts to churn and tumble over itself, similar to whitewater in a rock-filled river. If the wind becomes too turbulent, your kite will have a difficult time staying in place, and may even crash. Adding tails can increase your kite's stability, and letting out more line can help your kite rise above turbulence close to the ground, but if you continue to have trouble you may want to try flying in another area with fewer obstructions upwind.
Too much wind
Every kite has a wind range that describes the upper and lower limits of how much wind it can handle. When flown in more wind than the kite is designed for, the sail may have trouble allowing the wind to flow across and off of it evenly, causing the kite to fly erratically. Wind speed readings offered by weather apps and local news reports are often generalized for a large geographical area, so be aware that the conditions where you are flying may be quite different from those reported. If you are using a portable wind meter or visual indicators to determine the windspeed yourself, consider that the wind speed is often faster up in the air than what can be measured at ground level - when ground level wind speeds are near the top of the suggested wind range for your kite, there is a strong possibility that it will be overpowered by stronger winds once it reaches altitude.
Unsecured Spreader
Make sure that the spreader passes through the loop on the back of the kite. This helps the kite to maintain its shape in stronger winds, and your kite may not fly steady if this is overlooked during assembly.
Kite is turning to one side repeatedly
Kite is turning to one side repeatedly
Broken parts
A broken rod along one of the leading edges of your kite can cause the kite to flex unevenly as the wind pushes against it in flight, causing it to loop or turn consistently in one direction. Check that all parts are intact and free of splits by gently flexing each piece and checking for differences in stiffness, or grating sounds that would suggest a split rod. You can also remove the rods to visually inspect them for damage. If needed, replacement parts are available online at prismkites.com. See the following section of this guide for a direct link to parts for your kite.
Loose leading edge stoppers
Just below the leading edge fittings on your kite (where the spreader connects to the frame), there are black stoppers glued in place to keep the fittings in position and prevent them from sliding further down the rod. Check that both stoppers are secure and have not slid out of place. If one is positioned lower than the other, the kite will likely be locked in a shape that will cause it to turn to one side. A loose stopper can be re-secured with a small drop of superglue if needed - just be sure to match the position of the stopper on the opposite side of the kite before gluing in place.
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance
Maintenance
The materials in your kite are durable and designed for a long life with minimal maintenance. Here are 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
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 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
Support
Our Warranty
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!
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!
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