Dan Leigh delta kites from Into The Wind - are they the best you can buy?

[@andrewdavies8794]

I've got an original Dan Leigh Delta Conyne, made by the man himself in his kitchen, over 10 years ago.. Great kite. Glad to hear that he's still knocking them out.

[@JimNicholls]

He's been making kites for 50 years, but I think he's slowed down a lot now and apparently had some health issues, so anyone wanting a hand-made kite such as yours might now be out of luck. You'll have to take good care of yours, Andrew!

[@roadwarrior1981]

Got them all except for the Little Bear. The XFS definitely gives the most spirited experience. Floats easily on top of the wind and just keeps climbing, good for 12-20 mph. One of my all-around favorites. The Trooper is a beast, the thing will laugh at 24mph+ winds and does the best in higher winds, but amazingly it doesn't pull hard. It's actually pretty fun when you push it hard in the big winds. The Whirlwind comes out when there is barely any wind but you still want to go fly. Stick some 50lb dacron on it and it will climb nicely with 6-8mph wind.

[@JimNicholls]

I don't have any of them now, having passed them on to people more enthused with DL deltas than I am.

[@fotonmom]

Thanks Jim..I think we had a conversation about these in the past as being rather unstable. But I am glad you took the time to show them, anyway. And I agree the last was the nicest looking of the bunch..:)

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, Priscilla, definitely more unstable than many other deltas I've flown. I guess they are finely tuned for the conditions each one is supposed to fly in, and very sensitive to any deviation from that. I liked the XFS both for the appearance and the fact that it flew more stably, more like a "normal" delta in fact.

[@fotonmom]

@@JimNicholls Yes...always good to have an expert point of view, Jim. I hope all is well and you are getting ready for the winter season..:)

[@JimNicholls]

@@fotonmom Nothing but wet weather here for the last ten days and more to come, I think. Not much flying likely to happen for a while.

[@deweygravesjr.122]

Very nice video Jim! Nice music too. Great looking Deltas. Thanks Jim!

[@JimNicholls]

Glad you liked it, Dewey.

[@furiber4]

Your videos always highlight my day. Thanks!

[@JimNicholls]

That's great to hear - thank you!

[@scotteaton4868]

Owned this kite. Its twitchy as heck and wants smooth lakeshore winds or its all over the sky. Clipped wing deltas are very efficient and respond to small changes in air currents. This allows high AoA but makes them fussy about wind quality. I have ITWs Alpine DC. The Dan Leigh kite has slightly better low wind performance by a hair, but the big DC is 100x more stable and has no issues with inland wind.

[@JimNicholls]

Agreed. I sold all my Dan Leigh kites.

[@richarddarlington1139]

2:10 It seems to me, when viewing them from behind, the kite could use more billow in the sails to create a dihedral effect, increasing stability. Just a personal observation, mind you. I could be wrong.

[@JimNicholls]

Dan Leigh is said to be the leading delta designer, but I wasn't particularly impressed, as I mentioned. I have deltas that I much prefer, and the DL ones have now all gone from my collection.

[@timsolomon8352]

Dan Leigh created delta kites more for light wind, while he made some for strong wind as well. I was able to figure out his mathematics on creating them and built a few about 15 years ago, bc I normally fly in light wind. Amazing designs.. less drag and more lift was his thing.

[@TheRevFlyer]

nice looking kites and thank you once again for an expert and honest review of a kite

[@JimNicholls]

I'm no expert - I still don't understand why /how kites fly, but I have had lots of experience!

[@MrKite-it6gv]

A nice video to start the day thanks Jim. The XFS certainly looks the part!

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, Michael, I liked that kite but I think for normal flying and most fliers it's too expensive. It's perfect for the real delta enthusiast who can appreciate such a kite.

[@kiteflyingdownunder....car6272]

A rare sight to see all your past collection of Dan Leigh deltas in one video. I found an early 1990 Into The Wind advert for his "Widespan" delta ,described as "remarkably well made" $55 US . Still some of the best deltas made but I have never purchased one yet?

[@JimNicholls]

More detective work from Inspector Gillard! I don't think you'll ever buy a Dan Leigh delta, Carl, because there are better ways to spend your money unless you are a real Leigh fan.

[@MrDogstarr]

Luckily enough I have a delta made by Dan Leigh, not cheap but a quality hand made flyer that just wants to go up and up!

[@JimNicholls]

They are certainly a specialist item, but I think the average flier (like me) wouldn't appreciate the value in them and would be better off with a cheaper kite. I have a friend with two of these kites, and like you he loves to fly high, so they are the perfect choice.

[@sp1ral__]

Hi jim is it possibly for you to tell me what you use to hold all of that string/rope like that circular thing because i just ordered a dragon kite and i want to make it soar in the sky very high in the sky and i was thinking about getting one but i dont know what it is called. Thank you for all of this amazing content :)

[@JimNicholls]

Most people call them hoop spools, but they have other names too. See www.pictureprettykites.com/kites-line-winders/ .

[@MER1CA_1st]

XFS is the one to get, do you have a link for best pricing? Thank you in advance

[@JimNicholls]

Very few people seem to sell them other than Into the Wind, who make them.

[@roadwarrior1981]

For the high price, do any of these come with carbon spars or spreader?

[@JimNicholls]

Check them out on the Into The Wind site for the specifications. I don't have these kites anymore, but I think most of the spars are carbon.

[@derricksrandomviews]

I think it is hard to beat ITW's Levitation Deltas. I have a 7ft and 9ft one. Now.

[@JimNicholls]

They are great, Derrick, and offer better value than the Dan Leigh ones, but there are people who would not fly a delta unless it was made or at least designed by Mr Leigh.

[@raymonddimock6838]

Nice talk presenting ITW DAN LEIGH Delta Kites, Purchased my first Power Sled, the Mango 36 by Premier. Jim will this sled handle all 3 - ITW Squid line laundry pieces or would you go for a Premier Power Sled 81 Sky Hook. I appreciate your Wisdom from years of experience enjoying the sport of Lighthouse Keepers. Ahoy! (:^{D

[@JimNicholls]

Raymond, the sled will easily handle the three items. I use it for lots of much bigger line laundry, and given enough breeze it will lift almost anything you want. I sold my 81 sled as it's only safe to use in light winds and can be dangerous if the wind suddenly increases.

[@meiumi9456]

Can you fly your big fish again, it's such a charming kite I love to see ha, and every time I see your little reels I can't imagine that's what you use to fly that giant fish.

[@JimNicholls]

It's winter here, Meiumi, we've had wet weather for the past ten days and more to come, and the few fine days we have the wind is often unsuitable. However, I do have hopes of flying the Mega fish before too long, after which I might decide to sell it, together with a few more kites, as I have to slim down my collection.

[@meiumi9456]

@@JimNicholls If you are going to sell some of your kites I would love to peruse your collection and potentially give one a good home where it can continue flying.

[@JimNicholls]

Postage is the big problem, Meiumi. It's very expensive to send packages from New Zealand to the USA, so really only worthwhile for more expensive items and ones that aren't available new any more.

[@meiumi9456]

@@JimNicholls Ah, well, if there is anything of the sort that you would like to see rehomed I wouldn't mind talking shipping prices if there were estimates.

[@JimNicholls]

I'll keep that in mind.

[@dattran386]

like from vietnam

[@JimNicholls]

Thank you! I hope all's well with you.

[@dattran386]

@@JimNichollsty. you too men

[@stevenrheeter6005]

As far as i remember these models don't have tail attachment points...ugh... which makes them kinda boring.

[@JimNicholls]

Dan Leigh doesn't believe in tails, apparently, or thinks his designs are too good to need them. I sold my DL kites long ago.

[@stevenrheeter6005]

​@Jim Nicholls am I wrong that DL mostly makes kites for training hawks? Maybe that's why he doesn't like/need tails.???