Stunning new Octopus kite

My 1,598th kite video. Ma Qinghua is one of my favourite kite designers, and was responsible for the Trilobite which, in the last six years, has become probably the most popular soft kite ever made. His Octopus is another, more recent, great kite, which I had resisted buying. Getting one as a birthday gift, however, let me see what I'd been missing - it's a great kite, and I'm very happy to have it. There are several sources of this, some of which are a bit dubious. To be sure of great service and the real thing, I suggest going here: www.aliexpress.com/item/40007... or email [e-mail] .

[@MichaelKSherman]

Looks great Jim. Have been watching these. You gave us a nice look.

[@JimNicholls]

My friend Rod bought a smaller one in orange and black which I showed a while ago (he's since bought two others!), but I was still surprised how stable this was and, of course, very impressive-looking, Michael.

[@reddotkites1081]

Hi Jim, this kite has been on my wishlist for so long. I love the mesmerizing tentacles and those sleepy eyes look funny! Thanks for sharing!

[@JimNicholls]

I hope you can get one soon, Sotero. I know you'd love it, and I wish I'd had one earlier.

[@deweygravesjr.122]

That is diffently a great birthday present. Nice video. Thanks Jim.

[@JimNicholls]

I was very happy with it, Dewey, as you can imagine.

[@redkitecrewJonny]

Great birthday present Jim. I have the very same one in orange and black and absolutely love it. Always draws a crowd. I have found it wants a reasonable blow about 12 mph and upwards. The sweet spot is about 16/17mph and then it flies superbly. I have a few videos of it flying on here.

[@JimNicholls]

Good to know you have one too, Jonny. I'm a bit late acquiring mine, and if it hadn't have been for the birthday I would have missed out on something good. The orange and black colours look good, as I've seen with my friend Rod's one, but I'm very happy with mine as well. You have a great place to fly.

[@mustafatopcu4336]

Another very well kite,octopus kite makes a nice show with a long arms. I have a 15 meters long and I can't get enough of watching.They had a good show in the air. Someone kitefliers add LED lights their Octopus kites for night flights,they are looking amazing on the sky it was a really nice display,thank you so much sharing with us

[@JimNicholls]

Sadly, we are not allowed to fly at night here, Mustafa, but those kites with LED lights look great.

[@fotonmom]

Thanks for sharing this , Jim! that’s a spectacular looking octopus. Really welll designed. Nice too- that it has much fewer lines.

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, the three-leg bridle makes life very much easier, Priscilla, but it's better than earlier octopus kites in all respects, I think.

[@CirrusRC]

Stunning Jim. Love the colours and clean design. Especially like the 3d suckers. Would like to see it flown next to the jellyfish. Certainly a nice birthday present - you must be chuffed.

[@JimNicholls]

I'm very pleased with it, David, for sure. I'll try to fly it with the Jellyfish sometime, but I think they will fly at different angles so it might not work too well.

[@jmm95076]

Hi Jim, I got the same kite, 20 M Purple and White, just last weekend. Its a phenomenal kite that is relatively easy to launch, very stable and with a surprisingly simple three-line bridle. I couldn't be more satisfied. Hope you're having as much fun as I am!

[@JimNicholls]

I've only had the one chance to fly it, Jose, as our winds have mostly been horrendous recently, but I was delighted with its appearance and performance. It would be hard to fault in any way, and I'm going to fly it often, when conditions permit. Good to know you're having fun with yours.

[@MrOldflyer]

Loved that one Jim!

[@JimNicholls]

It's a beauty, Nigel. I should have bought one for myself earlier, but now I've been given it I shall make good use of it whenever conditions are right.

[@tru2Seattle]

I like the way this kites tentacles flow, more natural than the standard large Octopus kites we all have like your rainbow kite in the video.This is just a better design, cleaner and way more natural looking. Happy birthday Jim! Keep your back to the wind.

[@JimNicholls]

It certainly looks great, much better in every way than the old-style octopus kites. And of course it's much better than the hugely expensive and not very good-looking Peter Lynn version which has dominated kite festivals for years but requires a lifter kite to keep it airborne.

[@MooCowBlueKites]

Wow what a wonderful birthday present. I like the look of the new one much better than the old style and the 3 Bridle connections is much better design. Happy Belated Birthday Jim!

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, Mark, this style of Octopus is definitely superior in all respects, I think, and the simple bridle is a great improvement.

[@TheRevFlyer]

Great looking kite loved the shadows on the beach of the tentacles, what a great present to receive, look forward to seeing fly in the future

[@JimNicholls]

It's great, and you'll see it again in the next day or two.

[@kiteflyingdownunder....car6272]

An excellent review of this excellent kite. Like the Trilobite I am sure the sales in this kite will take off. Unfortunately I may have to be patient and wait a while before getting one. Just maybe I can visit again and see yours in flight.

[@JimNicholls]

I hope we have a chance to fly together again soon, Carl. I think this Octopus deserves to become very popular, as it's certainly a beauty.

[@MrKite-it6gv]

Quite an eye catcher Jim!!

[@JimNicholls]

It's a brilliant kite, Michael, and I'm very happy to have it.

[@derricksrandomviews]

I think I like this one more than the Jellyfish the same size, for some reason. It must be the tentacles, fun to watch. Big kite though, even packed into its compression bag, won't fit in my motorhome storage bay (I am allowed only one compartment). Great birthday present, its a lovely thing to get a kite from your kids isn't it? I received one Premier Patriotic Delta with a spinner tail and two wind socks.

[@JimNicholls]

It's a pity you don't have room for it, Derrick, but nice that you got a new kite anyway.

[@albey1816]

Hi Jim - I have been waiting for this video ( This the video you shot last week? ) It is awesome and very stable. I can't wait till the winds are better so that we can fly our Octopuses together. Hope you had a great Birthday - And to get this Octopus from your Sons is especially good.

[@JimNicholls]

I hope we get a chance to fly the Octopuses together soon, Rod, but the weather is certainly very uncooperative these days.

[@Herr2Cents]

I just ordered one today!

[@JimNicholls]

I'm sure you'll love it, John - it's a great kite.

[@MarkAGroh]

What a beauty...I may have to add this to my collection and fly with the 49 foot rainbow. Love the 3 bridle design. Where is it made? Aren't birthdays filled with surprises. Very cool kite indeed.

[@JimNicholls]

It's a big advance on the older octopuses, Mark. I gave a link for it in the video description.

[@scibbluver]

great looking kite. I have mostly deltas and flo tails. there just so ez to fly I need to step my game up.

[@JimNicholls]

This is very easy too, Scott, and a lot more spectacular than most deltas and flowtails!

[@quad4single]

The color is good, and the bridle can be sled type. Suckers are also good. Great for jim's birthday gifts. I made a video for you.

[@JimNicholls]

I have just watched the video, and it was wonderful. Thank you! Maybe some others would like to watch it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWjQhXicoLyteM0

[@socomon69]

I like that the bridle is a lot more simple than the other octopus kites. Only 3 lines compares to 15? on the other ones.

[@JimNicholls]

Yes, that's a big point in its favour - no tangles with this one!

[@furiber4]

Thanks for sharing! I can stare at tentacles for hours....

[@JimNicholls]

They are mesmerising for sure.

[@mrlionel1965]

That’s one hell of a birthday present Jim, and I really like the white and purple color combo. I have been watching these also.i believe you featured a red and black one a while back? It looks to be a great design. There was one here at Kites Over Lake Michigan this year. They took it to the field where I fly at night. It was loaded with LEDs. It was very cool. It’s on my wish list!

[@socomon69]

I have the red and black one, it is a different design from this one. Much simpler bridle on this one.

[@JimNicholls]

The red and black one belonged to fellow-flyer Rod, who has since bought two more in a different colour scheme. The LED version is a lot more expensive, but I believe it looks spectacular, Ken, as you would have seen. Night flying is technically illegal here for some reason, although I have done it a couple of times long ago with some LED-equipped deltas.

[@JimNicholls]

@socomon69 The one I showed that Ken referred to was the same design as this, but a smaller size. It has the same three-piece bridle as this one.

[@socomon69]

@@JimNicholls ok. I must have missed that one. The only other one I saw was the one like my 23m.

[@JimNicholls]

@socomon69 See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXqbpIqDaalknrM .

[@socomon69]

Finally got to the beach to fly mine (black/green). The differences between the old one are pretty interesting. LOVE the simpler bridle. The kite launches much easier than the old one and seems to generally need less wind. The flip side is it pulls super hard - even in just 10 MPH of wind. I had 800 lb Dacron, which may have been overkill, but better too much than not enough. I couldnt see myself hand flying this one. All told though, I feel like it was a worthwhile upgrade.

[@JimNicholls]

I definitely think it's an improvement, but I wonder if something can be done to reduce the pull. I've flown mine with the zipper open, which helps a bit.

[@socomon69]

@@JimNicholls I confess I didn't notice a zipper. I'll have to look more carefully.

[@socomon69]

@@JimNicholls I just rechecked the head of mine and I'm not seeing a zipper. Where is the zipper on yours?

[@JimNicholls]

@@socomon69 It's on the back of the head, just above the eyes. But it's only on the bigger 18m/20m size. The 10m/12m one has no zipper, but doesn't pull too hard in my experience.

[@socomon69]

@@JimNicholls thank you. I will check again. I have the 18M.

[@raymonddimock6838]

Found site offering free shipping with slightly higher complete price in white purple 20m version, will be my first Octopus Soft Foil Kite, something to look forward too for flying Spring 2021. Since you have flown this beauty several times recently, any line recommendations, my guess would be 300lb. Dacron light wind 8 - 11mph to 500lb medium wind. 12 -15 mph .

[@JimNicholls]

I've only used 300lb line, Raymond, and wouldn't anticipate needing 500lb in any wind that I'm likely to fly it in. I hope you have a lot of fun with your kite when it arrives.

[@Herr2Cents]

I did the same thing. How is the quality of your kite?

[@annepeterwhitehead7409]

Wow Jim, it looks great. My favourite colour. Did it arrive in time for your birthday?

[@JimNicholls]

It did, fortunately. As you probably know, all post seems to be very slow these days, but we were lucky with this. It's a real beauty and flies brilliantly.

[@MrJooploderus]

Hello Jim. Looks great in the air. Now I like to buy one from this kite builder but must make a choice between the Trilobite 16 or this Octopus. pleas advice me for my first order. Thanks in advance.

[@JimNicholls]

That's a very difficult decision. Both are great kites, and if I had to give up one of them, I don't know which it would be. The Trilobite is a bit easier to handle, and a lot easier to pack away after flying. It also takes up a lot less space than the Octopus, so I guess those are quite big advantages, and probably I shall not fly the Octopus as much as I fly the Trilobite. So perhaps I'd say, buy the Trilobite 16 first, and later if you can afford it buy the Octopus also. I'm sure you'll be happy with either of them.

[@jooploderus2116]

@@JimNicholls thank you for your answer, I will buy the trilobite first and then whe see wich beauty comes next.

[@JimNicholls]

Have fun!

[@MrJooploderus]

Hello Jim. A day ago just fly this beauty first time. There is a briddel on top of the head. Is that for lowering him down?. Ore for a second line. Greetings. Jo.

[@JimNicholls]

It was put there in case you want to fly it as line laundry attached to a lifter kite. I can't think why anyone would want to do that. Some people cut the extra lines off, others just leave them hanging. I actually joined them with a length of line to the main bridle, because I thought it was the tidiest solution. I think it would have been best if they didn't fit the extra lines at all.

[@MrJooploderus]

@@JimNicholls thank's Jim. Need a big lifter for this one better fly it like it is. Will see if i remove them or let them be it don't bother me.

[@nmzwinemanzo4389]

I sall one at beach

[@hardhhaaprassiddham7930]

do you have a kite design like that? I want

[@JimNicholls]

Sorry, I don't, but you can buy the kite here: www.aliexpress.com/item/4000767878237.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.7e042e0eTd7J6q .

[@bangkakreatifchannel6025]

Where to buy octopus kite?

[@JimNicholls]

Here: www.aliexpress.com/item/4000767878237.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.640f2e0eXaU1WI .

[@ramug7973]

How do you make this

[@JimNicholls]

I have no idea. You would have to be quite clever.

[@Herr2Cents]

Ok, I bought 2. One from Monica,Orange and Black the other from another manufacturer. I'll compare them! I really need to stop collecting kites. ; )

[@JimNicholls]

They may be identical, but some bought elsewhere are definitely inferior, so I hope yours is a good one.

[@Herr2Cents]

@@JimNicholls Hi Jim, it looks great. It even has a zipper. I'm going to try and fly them tomorrow.

[@JimNicholls]

@@Herr2Cents I hope you have good winds and I'm sure you'll have fun.

[@Herr2Cents]

@@JimNicholls kzbin.info/www/bejne/en_JoKmhZ7qlrpY I had perfect wind yesterday. Thank you for your uploads. I learn from them. I used a 300lb line on a Windbreaker Kite Line Reel from ITW. Boy it pulls pretty good. I might tether it with higher winds. 13 to 14 mph was manageable. I uploaded a small clip.

[@JimNicholls]

@@Herr2Cents Thanks for the link, John. You will have a lot of fun with those Octopus kites.

[@PanyingPilot]

Less vitriol, a good thing.

[@JimNicholls]

Sorry, Glenn, I don't understand.

[@PanyingPilot]

PL got off lightly, yes?

[@JimNicholls]

I can't see anyone with any knowledge or sense preferring the PL one to this beauty, Glenn, particularly as this is a KITE, not line laundry, and doesn't cost a fortune. It speaks for itself, really.

[@PanyingPilot]

@@JimNicholls We agree my friend.