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Jam Session Millenium (HQ Kites)

 

Ready for another 2000 years of history

Jam Session Millenium (HQ Kites)

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

 

Kite Passion Magazine

This review was taken from
Kite Passion Magazine - Apr/May 99

 

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first lesson

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buggy pics
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