Manufacture: Air Affairs
Name: Sutton Flow Form 16
Price: $89.00 (FWW club member price)
Description: The Flow Form is variation of a airfoil design.
Skill Level: Suited for older teenagers and adults with
                    some kite experience.

Test Results

We flew/tested the Sutton Flow Form 16 in wind speeds from about 6 to 7 MPH without a drogue and about 10 to 12 MPH with a drogue .  In this range the kite flew well. Note: A small drogue is recommended/needed for wind speeds greater than 10 MPH to improve flight stability (as well as visual appeal). The enclosed instructions do not state the recommended wind range for this kite. We estimate the recommended/realistic and
safe wind range to be about 6 to 17 MPH.  FYI: Around 18 MPH sand starts to move/blow across the beach where we test our kites.

Kite Contents: Sutton Flow Form 16 kite, clear plastic carry bag, ripstop nylon storage bag.

The dimensions of the kite are 3.5 feet wide x 4.5 feet high. 16 square feet.

The kite requires no modifications to the bridle.  It is a fixed bridle.  Assembly is quick and easy.  Just attach your flying line  to the steel ring which holds the heavy duty bridle. 125 lb test line is recommended.

The sail is made of ripstop nylon.  The sail and 3 keels are hemmed for durability.

The moderate sail area of this kite lends itself best for visual appeal at a height up to about 200 feet.

This kite provides fairly strong lift/pull at winds speeds greater than 10 MPH, thus it is suitable for attaching a meduim windsock or other similar sized line laundry to the flying line. There are 2 tail attachments on the bottom sail. The enclosed instructions describe in detail how to create a Y shaped line to tie to the tail attachments when using a drogue.

NOTES to Air Affairs: There are 3 bridles lines with 6 ends. Our ends were not burned to prevent fraying.  Consider burning the ends during the assembly process.  The enclosed square shaped ripstop storage bag was too small, nor did it include a cord lock to keep the bag closed.  A much larger bag and cord lock are recommended. The enclosed instructions do not state the recommended wind range for the kite.  Update the instructions with this information.

It is a safe kite to fly for older teenager and adult kite fliers (in the recommended wind range) with some kite experience since it uses no rods to form the shape of the kite. It is classified as a soft kite.
 
Summary: At a club member price of $89.00, the Sutton Flow Form 16 is a good value.  If you want/need more lift/pull than the Flow Form 16, then try the Flow Form 30.
 
The Flow Form comes in various color designs.