Set up time:

Set up time is pretty fast. But in these low winds when you will use the MastAir 16, preinflation is a must and does not take very long. An assistant is an advantage, but it is also possible to preinflate the kite by yourself.

Stability:

The kite is very stable and you don't need to take precautions to prevent overflying, only in very gusty conditions, the kite can overfly and you should move the kite when it is above you.

Depower:

The depower system is the same like on the other flysurfer kites. The bar stays in the position where you put it without any force. Tube kiters need short time to get used to the system, because you actively need to push the bar to depower with that system.

For kite launching you have to use the depower position so that the kite launches, otherwise it will stay on the ground. Also depower the kite when it tends to fly backwards. Another point where people that are not used to the Flysurfer system need to think different. Pulling the bar to power up like on inflatables will cause the kite to fly backwards from a certain point in the wind window to the ground.

Wind range:

The kite flies in appr. 5 knots and you will have fun in 7-8 knots going upwind (160-180cm Twintips). A big board can help to get the very low end of the kite. I could not test the upper wind limit. Flysurfer says that the upper wind limit is around 13-15 knots depending on the experience and weigth of the kiter.

Jumping:

Jumping is possible with the kite in low wind with long hangtime.

Waterrelaunchability:

Waterrelaunching is very good for such a big kite. Very easy when you can stand in the water. On the very low end of the kite, waterrelaunching in deep water could be a problem. Wait for gust and you can launch the kite. If you are used to tube kites, practice the waterrelaunch in shallow water to get used to the system.

If the kite is on the leading edge on the water you can turn the kite around pretty easily. Compared to a tube kite in that size, the waterrelaunch of the MastAir 16 is definitely way better and much, much faster.

Handling such a big kite:

Compared to its size, the kite is pretty easy to handle and pretty fast. Saying that I mean compared to big kites, it is of course not as fast as an AirBlast 6.3 ;).But you would be surprised how agile such a big kite can be.

Safety Features:

Very good! Just drop the bar and the kite lands downwind from you without any power in launching position.

Conclussion / Overall Impression:

The MastAir 16 is a great kite for the extreme low wind kiting. This kite really impressed me. We already heard some good reports about the kite. Unfortunately the price for the big beast is high: 3.190,- DM (1.631,02 Euro) complete package or appr. 1.500 USD. If you live in an area where you have many low wind days, get this one for sure... if only you could afford it.

MastAir 16 picture Gallery

Paul from Austria has a different meaning of the kite that he mentioned in the comments. I guess the depower system maybe did not work for him so well was a problem with the line setup at the kite that prevented a noticable depower:

I have already flown the Mastair 16 on our inland Lake (Lake Neusiedl) and it did not work very well for my bodyweight (74kg) in our not 100% stable winds (+/- 10 km/h are quite common). The wind was changing from 2 to 3 bf and in the lulls the kite nearly fell from the sky (I had to move it to keep it flying) and in the 3 bf "gusts" (barely noticable) I was lifted (even stationary).
My impression is that the usable window of operation is extremely small compared to Size 20 sleds (e.g. 15.5 projected Liquid force 4-line) which sheet out way better.

The Kite steers extremely well and with low force for its size (compared to sleds), but the depower funktion was next to nonexsiting (even in full depower the stationary pull did not change much)

Conclusions:

- Kite for superstable winds from 2 to 2,5 bf (for my Bodyweight)
- Could be a great lightwind kite (3-4bf) for really heavy riders
- Stationary Depower was barely noticable
- The kite is so big, that even with the safety activated it pulls considerable (would say around 6sqm still effective area) so if the wind picks up more than 1 bf (over 4 bf) I am in really serios trouble (remember I weight 74 kg) and get dragged

I would say its a 3-4 bf Cruising kite for normal winds and very heavy riders (100kg+) OR a lightwind kite (2-3 bf) for superstable winds (thermal winds, tradewinds) for riders from 70 to 80 kg.

The big tubekite (15.5 projected liquid force 4-lined) I can directly compare it to had a minimal higher low end, a much easier handling (nearly autostable like a PL ARC), slower steering, and way more top end (4-5 BF on a wakeboard, a friend with 80 kg rode the LF in 5 bf on a 151 picklefork)
I had confidence in going out with the tubekite and was really nervous with the Mastair 16 because the range between underpower and massive overpower was so small (almost like a switch) which did not contribute to a save feeling exspecially when near shore.

I am an experienced foilflyer and fly Quadrifoils and Arcs as my normal kites, so I am normally not the biggest fan of inflatebles, but this time the sled clearly wins.

Regards, and Greetings

Paul

Addition:

I am talking about the Base Windspeed as noticed by a Windmeter on a 8 m pole. The highest readings were on the edge from 3 to 4 bf, gusts on the kite could have been higher. due to the fact that nobody uses windmeters on 30m high poles this is a good basis for comparison. As Stated I am normally a Fan of Ramair kites, But the flysurfer 16 was simply too effcient for our relatively unstable windconditions - It translated every change in windspeed in emidiate lift - that and the insufficient stationary depower was what i didn't like about it. The Lowwind capabilities of the flysurfer 16 (at least the one I could test) are not that good becuase the kite is very heavy due to the extremely solid construction - maybe too solid for a lightwind kite. I could not observe that the flysurfer 16 stayed in the air longer than a 15.5 projected liquid force kite, they had around the same point when they started to stall and you had to move them. The Flysurfer was more sensible to overshooting in the gusts than the big inflatable.

My Favorite in gusty light winds is an ARC Stack - flies autostable and filters out the gusts.

Paul