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Felix

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Posts posted by Felix

  1. Hi all,

    Is the Rev main site and forum loading a little faster for you now?

    We did some pretty major upgrades to the server, hoping it's noticeable on your end.

    Looks a bit quicker here. I hope that the connection dropping has gone away as well!

    Felix

    • Like 1
  2. <snip>

    When you start flying together, there should be only one "captain of the ship", usually standing on the right.

    <snip>

    Hey Jim,

    You know full well that 'standing on the right as captain' is for many folks the wrong place to be! <grins>

    Felix

  3. We did the Rok and Rev tour with JMH in 1992 taking in Denver and then the AKA event at Lubbock. We had c1.5 meter Roks and flew them on spectra to reduce 'risk' but found that they really did need a more elastic line to absorb turbulence. We found that the altitude that they 'settled' at was also an issue and experimented with various line and bridle configurations.

    Somewhere I have some images from Lubbock.

    Felix

  4. Absolutely. Stock settings really make the kite want to fly forward all the time. When flying a kite with stock settings for any length of time now, my hands get really tired a lot quicker because I'm constantly pulling down on those break lines to keep the kite docile. SO much more comfortable with more break.

    More brake is 'where it is at' once the flier has mastered the basic control inputs.

    Gripping the handles at launch if there is lots of break set is the 'deal breaker' for getting beginners started.

    Holding the handles 'horizontally' rather than 'vertically' is another variation on this theme <grins>

    Felix

    • Like 1
  5. No idea ... I alway found that more down / reverse / forward / pick-your-term to be entirely confusing and useless to me as a beginner. Now that I feel I am a more acomplished pilot I still just see it as something that is overly confusing to people and I just stick to simple english terms.

    <snip>
    OK I'll not attempt to make any further interpretation. Felix
  6. A neutral kite in a strong wind may be a fully 'inflated' kite in a low wind.

    We know that un-controlled 'fast forwards' is not a good thing when the breeze is strong.

    At a recent light wind event I had to say to the flier who could not launch, 'apply some more brake'. It worked...

    Please pay very close attention and understand that 'your mileage may vary' YMMV.

    Thanks

    Felix

  7. I had no problem with setting-up. I wind onto the handles and use a stake under tension as the point away from unwinding. I set-up with the handles separated and far enough apart that all the problems go right to the stake. I flew without incident for quite some time. but every once in awhile the lines on each side would bind up. Darn things started to make me angry so i figured I check with the community on a solution.

    Thanks gang!

    I have often seen same side binding where the 'heavy wet lines' cross and then spin together. The water surface tension kicks in and the lines will not move along side each other. While 'in flight' it is impossible to resolve in light winds. In higher breezes a sharp pull will likely spread the lines and resolve the issue.

    • Like 1
  8. We have had this problem from time to time, usually in light rain or in fog conditions. If the lines are older, showing some wear, it is not uncommon. A few weeks ago there were four of us flying near San Diego in wet air. At one point several of us had that problem to the point that the kites were uncontrollable.

    I am sure that someone who knows the physics would be able to explain how much loading the water 'surface tension' can apply to very wet lines. I ran a set out two weekends ago, as I recall, on dew saturated grass. The usual pull against the ground anchor did not resolve the 'no actual twists' scenario. There we no actual twists when I finally manually seperated the lines just a complete loss of movement along the length of the line. The lines were not brand new but nor would I describe them as 'showing some wear'; that comes with ten year old lines <grins>

    In misty conditions with light wind I have often seen slack lines spin and bind. I guess it comes with UK weather conditions!

    Going into a wrap with other fliers can be the point at which the lines are pinched together and the problem arises especially if a large number of fliers are involved. Once the lines are locked getting the kites to the ground is basically the only solution and may be effected by the whole group moving/running downwind as quickly as possible.

    Felix

  9. <snip>

    I'll keep you posted once the wind allows me to fly out for the first time

    Hi Xavier,

    When you do get to fly for the first time when 'the wind allows' please be very careful to understand that although your flight may not be entirely successful it may be very important to remember every aspect of the experience.

    I remember my first attempts and they were not very successful but the experience will always stay with me as the first step to understanding 'how to fly the kite'!

    I had previously worked with single line fighter kites so was in some way prepared to deal with the four line kite...

    Felix

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