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CAPONE (Elliot)

Still fairly newly arrived at Elliot, Christoph Fokken (ex-HQ designer) has managed to bring out a surprising number of kites. (La Luna, Spike, Fox etc.). The Capone has been designed for the entry level flyer. It is a surprising kite which has all the ingredients to move on to a higher level of flying.

PRESENTATION
The design is very streamlined. A real arrowhead shape, sitting high on its wing tips. The nose angle is very sharp and the leading edges straight, the tail is relatively high with a high centre 'T'. There are four stand-offs in 2mm wound GRP giving the sail a depth of about 19cm. The leading edges are Dacron and nose of light webbing. The tail has a velcro fastener. The frame is 6mm carbon and fittings a mixture of HQ and APA. The Capone has no trick line. The wing tip tension is maintained with a sewn in cord rather than bungee which has little 'give'. The kite is well finished with double folded French seams.

FLIGHT TEST
First the Capone has an annoying tendency to wrap lines which is a shame when a trick line could have easily been fitted, allowing the kite to show its full potential. The Capone is very precise which is an asset for this type of kite: straight lines, angles, carved turns - everything is done exactly as instructed. At take-off it did need a second pump on the lines to get it up in the sky. As soon as you finish a spin, the kite will stop immediately and set off in the direction you want it to without a hint of oversteer. Its window is very big and the kite is stable and easy to land on the edges. When 'over controlled' the kite does not stall out, but if you overdo two successive controls, the kite will tend to wrap a line. The same is true during any attempt at a trick.

CRASH TEST
Despite its slimline look, the Capone stood up to the crash test. We hit the ground on many occasions, but the worst that happened was a little spar shifting. Even this didn't happen every time.

CONCLUSION
A trick line would transform this kite into one of the best tested. Ask for one to be fitted when you buying. Then it will be a silent kite with surprising precision, pleasing behaviour, which will do most tricks, for an attractive price. The work of a remarkable designer striving to reach the wider market.