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Loki Evolution K (Cunning Stunts)

A little elegance in this world gone mad

The Loki Evolution K is proof of the importance of materials in a kite. The new series evolved from the original Loki: fairly ordinary using basic materials. By adopting new materials (Icarex P 31 sail; a mix of carbon/Kevlar in lower spreaders and 6mm spiral wound carbon in the rest of the frame) the Evolution K is a completely different animal, aimed at freestyle flying.

DESIGN / CONSTRUCTION
The kite's design has stayed very much the same, with the distinctive swallowtail. The twin pointed tail and the area under the 'T' is curved, slightly reminiscent of the Tricktail. The area is tensioned by two stand-offs which attach to the spreader near the 'T'.

The kite is well made with simple nicely sewn glue/stitch seams. Dacron reinforcements are placed at the habitual strategic areas. It has Tradewinds leading edge connectors and a total of six standoffs giving the kite a complex trailing edge shape: the standoffs at the tail and centre sail are 2mm carbon and the wing tip pair are 2mm GRP. The sail looks fairly deep but it's the tail which accentuates the look and the actual depth is 22cm. The black and purple graphic looked a little austere when it came out of the bag but once seen against a blue sky it looked simple but classy. The kite came in a large, heavy spinnaker bag with a see-through pocket containing a set of pre-sleeved climax Dyneema lines (on 2 reels) a pair of straps and a ground stake. It's is also equipped with a trick line. Carbon/Kevlar has been used in damage-prone areas, the lower spreaders and lower leading edge spars. They are very strong and should a breakage occur the rods will break without shattering into shards. With the 20 metres of line provided, it's clear that the Loki is aimed at freestyle/tricks and that the weight of the kite (247g) will help in manoeuvres which require inertia.

FLIGHT TEST
The Loki Evolution K is a sort of 'cool' style freestyler, as o~ posed to the crazy style like a Psycho, for example. By cool, that is that it does its tricks in a slower more laid back style, with more inertia which makes them look more elegant than radical. After first five minutes it felt quite natural. The trick with the Loki is that you have to accompany the kite through the manoeuvres; timing of line pulls and releases is of high importance. Due to its turbo bridle, the Loki is a not wobbly from take-off and launches straight up. The kite is quiet except in a gust or violent acceleration. Its tricks are pleasant, all the basic tricks are achieved efficiently as are most of the more up to date ones. Some combinations are not so obvious because of the slowness of the kite. This makes the kite excel in flat spinny type moves. Axels are slow and flat - it can be hassled through a bit faster. Flat spins and 540s can be done inches off the ground. Be careful to keep control as the Loki sometimes wants to rotate its nose toward you. In a turtle as in a fade, it seems happy to sit for ages, certainly due to the shape of the sail with its pronounced curve from the tails. If you tangle a line you can usually recover by unhooking the line and fly off.

The tail's shape gives good stability on straight lines, and though it's not a 'precision monster, the Loki does acceptable snap turns. If not the snappiest, they were at least clean with little oversteer, the same was true after a spin.

CONCLUSION
The Loki Evolution K seemed to be bang up to date. It will do all the tricks and is easy enough for the flyer who has still to master the more complex moves. Its wind range is not excessive, but there are other Lokis for other winds. The Evolution K is a nice change from the stream of hyper-quick tricksters that have appeared in the last few months.