OK, now that I'm at a real computer I can provide a bit more info and some photos.
Spectra Sport had a successful Team kite in the Edge series in the early '90s. The Reactors evolved from the Edge line, but were quite a bit different. Team Tsunami won the World Cup with Reactors in '94.
As designed, Reactors are not well suited to slack line tricks or ground work. Team flying didn't yet incorporate tricks back then. The kites actually flick flack, fade, axel and 540 fairly well stock, but there are lots of line snagging problems due to the unusual variable standoffs (See the link to photos). The standoffs make for a stable and steady team kite, but are a pain for freestyle flying.
I refit my Reactors with conventional solid standoffs and while the kite loses a bit on flight characteristics crucial to team flying (speed control and stability in bumpy air) it is still a very sweet flying ballet kite. Very responsive for a big kite. Very precise. A lot of tricks are there if you like. I tend to take them for granted, but then I started flying Reactors in 1999. Other people who try my kites are a bit stymied. Not easy kites to trick by modern standards. They pitch easily forward and backward. Flick Flacks are cake. Fades are a little tricky to hold in bumpy wind, but that could be said for a lot of kites. Flat Axels and 540s are there. The kite rolls up fairly easily but doesn't like to fly or unroll, so I don't bother. Pretty hard to backspin. I've only ever gotten two rotations. It does roll out well enough for Jacobs Ladders and such. On its back it likes to exit Lazys somewhat sideways. If you try to pull up and out of a turtle with the nose away you will have a tough time.
Side slides are excellent as are stalls in general. Landings, especially spikes, are old skool easy. On the ground the winglets make tipwraps a chore. I've added a trick line from the tail to the standoffs to keep line and bridle wraps on the long keel to a minimum.
It's really a flyers kite. Super wide window, excellent wind range, stunning tight downward turns down on the deck. Snappy turns and easy to control arcs. I can see why one team seriously considered these over modern kites. They just fly great.
All the above pertains to the Pro version. Lighter and heavier versions are very similar but vary in trick capability.
The Pro, Lite and Nuke are the same size. Around 100" span
The Plus is BIG. Over 9' span, maybe close to 10. It was the traditional big UL team kite, like the TOTL Windrule.
The Microlite is a zero wind kite. Pretty rare. Darren Skinner told me about flying indoor team inside a stadium with 'em.
The stock Center T, LE and standoff fittings were starting to crumble on kites I bought new in '99. Thats after only 5 years in storage. I imagine any kites on the market today which were never upgraded to APAs will be coming apart.
A large number of new Reactors were sold at extreme bargain prices in '98/'99. No doubt many were purchased for the value of the Skyshark sticks.
I've had Pros in both Nylon and Poly. I like the nylon better, though it is a bit heavier. This may be due to the fact that I have the most hours on one particular nylon Pro and I'm just used to it. I'm currently flying a pretty Lite sail with the Pro's frame and fittings. It's lighter, and in some ways better, but not quite right. I may go back to my more mundane red Pro sail.
Reactor Lite
Reactor Plus
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SJdGhZwQ-zg/TpVBfa-khII/AAAAAAAADSU/ntiZ7BLRS_c/s400/IMG_0201.jpg")
More Reactor photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/113978608061732881578/Reactors#
