home
welcome
kite reviews
kiting terminology
coping with wind
Beaufort wind scale
kiting dangers
UK kite stores
US kite stores
UK Festivals
kite fest photos
design & plans
Buggying
how to buggy
buggy: first lesson
buggy tricks guide
buggy photos
tandem buggying
kite buggy e-list
Power Kiting
kite jumping
kite surfing
kite skiing
Flexifoils
stacking Flexis
Flexi launching
spar maintenance
Misc
kiting links
KiteAstrophy
kite fest photos
the kite bag
sky surfer
sanibel 18
holder 14
aquaria
guitars
about me
|
Jam Session
Millenium (HQ Kites)
Ready for another 2000 years of history
The original Jam Session was
designed by Christoph Fokken and Dodd Gross and proved one of the very first accessible
freestylers on the market. Christoph Fokken has taken his scalpel to the old Jam to
prepare it for the new Millennium, and the result is a serious transformation.
Specifications |
Model
Make
Wingspan
Height
Frame
Sail
Bridle
Wind Range
Rec. Lines
Price |
Jam
Session Millennium
HQ Kites
204 cm
112cm
6mm Avia Soort .230, HQ connectors
16 panel Ventex
Turbo, sleeved Dyneema
5 to 25+mph
100 to 150lb Dyneema (2501b above 25mph)75 to 125ft
Around £85 |
DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION
The Jam Session is plum in the
frame of the current market, confirming good tricks/precision versatility with clean
freestyle predominance. It's of the squat genre of kite, with a substantial enough sail
surface. l6Ventex panels are glued then sewn with three-point zigzag stitching; leading
edges are straight-stitched. Dacron reinforces all the usual sensitive area The nose,
protected with webbing, seems indestructible. One of the Millennium's new features is that
the two part leading edge, which enables the kite to be folded and packed away more
easily. The billow is created by 2 x 3 standoffs in 2mm carbon rod. Its originality? The
trick line, held by a 60cm piece of elastic is fixed to the exterior, to the lower
spreader/leading edge connectors. It's not so interesting apart from preventing the (long)
turbo bridle from getting caught up on the back and tail. An interesting improvement was
noted in the HQ connectors, mainly on the connector piece between the sail stand-offs that
holds the four exterior stand-offs, that's incorporated into the sail. Finally a leech
line makes the Jam Millennium virtually silent, completing an impeccably made and finished
outfit.
FLIGHT TEST
The Millennium can take off in a modest wind (2mph) despite its slight heavy weight
(300g). Its wind range is interesting as it retains its trick ability and precision in
about 25mph and, with the stand-off brakes supplied with the kite and a standard brake
line, it can certainly fly in more than that. It's a more precise kite than its previous
version, the Jam Millennium cuts clean angles, makes large loops and very tight continuous
loops without destabilizing or over-steering on exit, and anywhere in the window. This
window is big enough for creative maneuvers, although not the largest on the market. The
kite has great presence m the sky thanks to the surface of its sail and its depth, above
all in winds above 9mph. In the freestyle department, the Jam Millennium becomes much
cleaner and more stable than the 'short' Jam. It carries out everything in the current
inventory without difficulty, from a basic axel to a pancake, taking in a torpedo or a 540.
Axels are slow enough, on the inertia created by its weight that leaves enough freedom
to move from this figure into another. It's not necessary to whip it too much into these
moves. The Jam's new stability is appreciable, notably in the tricks that are executed on
the axis (fade, pancake, etc.). Finally, and despite a huge ability for fast, hard
acceleration, the Jam Millennium flies generally to a slower, but not wheezy, rhythm.
CONCLUSION
The Jam Millennium will allow beginners to practice precision, while tasting the pleasures
of freestyle. Experienced pilots can exercise the science of the flying ability with a
free rein, from precision to extreme freestyle, without getting tired out after ten
minutes. Due to this versatility, which sums it up the best, the Jam Millennium is truly
ready to broach the third millennium of kite flying.
Good
Points |
Bad
Points |
Versatility
Construction
|
Still Looking |
Verdict |
|
Accessibility
Reliability
Design
Quality/Price ratio
Performance
Packaging |
3/5
3/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
3/5 |
|