Jump to content

REVflyer

Forum Member
  • Posts

    1,432
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    79

Posts posted by REVflyer

  1. If the kite came with two different diameter tubes, remove the larger ones immediately. Ultra light tubes are plenty tough enough to learn on. The single most important step is to insure your handles align PERFECTLY when all four lines are affixed to a well place stake or fence post. Do not attach to the kite until this step is taken, tested, approved. Oh sure, they are close.... Only off a little, You don't want to mess with lines, sleeving or leaders, you just want to fly. Align perfect makes neutral, otherwise the car pulls right even when you want to go straight

    Relax your body, (big breaths in thru the nose out thru the mouth). The kite is controlled by tiny movements, less is more!

    My first lesson if we were together would be the cartwheel. In the beginning an improper landing will be leading edge down. You roll the kite over by tip standing first, not dragging the leading edge diagonally across the soil. You are getting comfortable inverted, slow graceful control, relax, breath, enjoy!

    • Like 3
  2. Wayne,

    we affixed these lights with rubber bands & blue painter's tape, so it's not going to be tough to adapt as necessary for specific applications. The sticks merely amplified the effects be separating the two surfaces significantly. Your way will work, it will just shine the light parallel with the sail as opposed to AT it from directly overhead, perpendicular.

    Hi Rob,

    As for mounting on a B2, I'd probably only hang one on each wing, less weight combined with less surface area to be illuminated. Man that thing wiggling all around will stop traffic for sure on pitch black night. You should probably pre-advise the local press, so they don't report strange UFO sightings in the newspaper the next morning!

    These lights shine thru all sail colors but the more "white" in your sail the better the effect will be for two-sided viewing, obviously a Shook mesh looks incredible as the light moves thru the holes (at least from your perspective as the pilot) as well as the illuminating the fabric strips on both sides.

    I have a few kites that are predominately white too, so WSIKF will get my best efforts. Fedex just advised that my 4 dozen lights are coming and almost everyone of my kites has sissy sticks, so at the very least borrow from me and lets RIDE after dark together!

  3. ok my buddy Terry has released the critical information on a great light, appropriate for kite flying. Extremely light weight and bright as heck, it even changes colors automatically!

    We slapped 2 on each wing, affixed to the top end of the magic sticks so the kite would be backlit. These rigs are so light weight you didn't need to worry about the ability to stay airborne anymore. You don't even need to take 'em off during the daylight hours (but I would anyway) We flailed and impacted mother earth, all without dislodging 'em. Replaceable batteries, darn reasonably priced too

    http://www.100candles.com/i-6049/RGB-Color-Changing-Floral-Lights

    • Like 4
  4. Gulp....

    I've gone from my Diamond frame SUL straight to a Mid on more than a couple of times. It handles 10mph+ quite easily.

    Note: I have sticks and a frenchie on it though.

    Ha!, worse yet for me SparkieRob,... I'll use my zen until others are on Mid-vents (yes w/Diamond, sissies and French) All powered up and instantly responsive, leaps like a cheetah that's how I want it.

    I'm glad you're enjoying the rig (modified as I would prefer it be flown and we've never met), other side of the earth and all is mere inconvenience. Makes a world of difference on the size of the window and the allowable safe wind range.

    Latest mod is to mount LED flashers on the magic sticks to back-lit the kite. Get a tiny unit with multiple colors and see what you think. We were blown away in Wildwood

    • Like 2
  5. These Diamond rods have endured severe abuse from me, all banged around on the ground and spanked hard in the air,.... and yes I've broken a few, but only thru pilot judgement errors!

    ~ snapped one in my hand when the wind flipped kite over,

    ~ another on a shovel sticking up, doing a throw

    ~ on a steel hand-rail bouncing too aggressively

    In my opinion only two sticks are necessary for my 1.5 kites, green Race and the new Diamonds, usage depending on the desire to frame flexible or stiff

    your mileage may very!

    If we all ask nicely,....

    betcha' travel frame formatted Diamond tubes would be available (then you only break 1/6th of the leading edge at a time, HA!)

    • Like 2
  6. I also enjoyed myself pretty much the entire time, decent wind, crowds and great friends, (both old & new). We shared the wind and a few laughs along the way. Dennis and Lisa wailed on me, in the only event I cared about (MMB). Forgot I even registered for the indoor event and took 2nd place there behind Jeff King. Test flew a new indoor/outdoor prototype Ben was referring to as the "Helium". It's was everything we hoped for, no need to reprogram your brain, (just like switching golf clubs). It was a new material for the fabric (translucent white, nearly transparent) but can still be sewn and new frame, but used the 1.5 sized platform and a bridle, so it felt right immediately.

    Mostly, I was just impressed with how well some folks can fly two revs at once. Watching 6 kites and three pilots is an amazing demonstration of quad-lined mastery!

    We made some more flailers, visiting from up north in Canada. One gentlemen even approached me for a specific lesson on the flick-flak. He only knew how to fly all smooth and graceful (his exact words, honest!), but wanted to add a couple of tricks to his quiver. F-Fing is like walking the kite, once you are shown the technique and understand what action is necessary, you don't even need a verbal explanation if language barriers exist. A "falling leaf" is just an overdone Flick-flak, adding a quick step forward PLUS the flick-flak action, timed in unison.

    Slapped a set of lights together that knocked my socks off too! One of the room-mates (Terry Rankin) had little LEDs that flashed on in 4 colors. Replaceable batteries, a very small package, but best of all, two parallel ridges spaced close together on the bottom. We used painters tape to affix onto the magic sticks, so the kite would have an elevated pulsing, backlighting source. Two units were mounted on each wing, assuming if it was too heavy we could half the weight on-site. Our primary concern was that the weight is mounted out at the end of the tube (by the end-cap), almost 16 inches from the kite/frame structure itself. How is that going to impact flight dynamics?

    Well, it was present and feel-able, but not very influential. MAN-oh-man was it powerful in the night-sky visually. The lights stick up like bug's eyes, even when the kite is rolled into the string and laying flat on the ground! The whole sail is lit, back and front, there are powerful colored pulses shining thru. The darn thing looked amazing even sitting stationary, I couldn't get enough of it and I'm ordering a gross of 'em (4 per kite drives that number down quickly.) This rig is so light weight that I installed them the last night well before dark and just proceeded along with the group unencumbered! WE slammed the kite around and nothing quit blinking or fell off in 3 separate sessions.

    Scott Weider once again inspires me to try new things. Next I'm to stake the kite down at the handles and roll the kite into the string, (twice) and then rotate the kite 180 degrees so the leading edge is now facing away from the handles. You want to make sure the flying lines fall inside of the training wheel stand-offs when rolling it too,...... that's why you walked down and set it up yourself! A big aggressive launch sequence and add some step(s) backward, it unrolls as a 720. I think I understand the action, but I'll probably try just one wrap first. Like everything else, it will look U-G-L-Y for quite awhile until perfected, but I can see adding this to my routine, since you set-it in advance.

    See ya'll next year, for another stomp in the Woods.

    • Like 3
  7. for you Dr. Hot Tricks,

    you can borrow my old one, it's still got life leftover to be squeezed out,

    I should probably keep the frame & sissy sticks though, otherwise it might look like I was sponsoring you (LOL!)

    it's long-time, one way loan, enjoy and see ya in the woods

    you may have to teach me how to fade a sacrificial dualie as compensation

    • Like 1
  8. are they defective, after all that no-thumbs (Dennis styled training) being instilled upon 'em?

    I never owned a BLUE kite, maybe that's the missing component to beat you just one time sir?

    I'd only be interested in the full sail real cheap, (no frame or bridle necessary) somehow, I burn thru those models faster than the other sail configurations

    See ya' soon and good luck, I'll get the luggage (AGAIN!)

    -plm

    • Like 1
  9. For me, I can't justify anything that's a higher wind range than a full vent pro or shook 100%,.... neither of which have many hours on them, despite years of ownership. Rigged, framed up properly, right line-set selected these kites are good to gusts of 35 mph.

    B2 full sail ~ rigged out can take pretty big wind and still be fun, but most of the time it's SULs, no-wind and indoor style kites in my community. Dave Ashworth for example, carries 17 indoor worthy home-builts, most are quads, totally unfair to other kites, effortless. New pilots are always sent to him, so they too can experience the difference between stock vs. crafted for one very specific environment by a master.

    Most people would never need this level of addiction to no-wind equipment. The same can be said for the other extreme. How many folks are willing to buy a kite for 400 bucks that they might use once every 3 years when the wind is blowing over porta-potties? Is it worth the time to develop that kite and layout the manufacturing patterns when only 50 or 100 units can be expected as a market? Do you honestly think that those few buyers would be willing to incur all the set-up, tooling, and development/testing labor costs, split equally into their kite's sale price?

    There's a larger market share in low wind, everyone experiences it unless you fly coastal exclusively and get up after breakfast is no longer served! I still crave it there, so early mornings are "my time" at the beach. Want to hang light-sets? Again, that is much easier to fly with on a lower wind kite (than you would expect). Better overpowered than under I say, you can always land or move off to the side, at least flight is possible!

    How many of us want a kite that barely lifts off at 28 and works comfortably well in 50 mph also?

    • Like 1
  10. the other thing that's really fun in huge wind is a stack of minis!

    I have sets for lower winds (42 inch leading edge ~ SS spine 2-P, no-sew construction). If you wanted to fly 12-pack (or to fly them in bigger wind), you insert a separate point 125 carbon tube INSIDE the 2-P leading edge for the first 3 kites in the stack

    and

    for when the coast guard won't leave harbor (36 inch leading edge ~ point 157 tube), minimum 25 mph steady, minimum. These kites go at warp speed, flown on only the thickness of your thumbs, a two handed command will send 24 wraps in a heartbeat! I've had 'em out in 55 mph wind, barring in mind you need tight fitting goggles and sand blast-proof garments, or to hide behind some type of structure.

    These kites are best flown on the TC Ultra handles because of the holes. You can stake down and set-up with the angle predefined exactly.

    Dugard made the micro-minis & Ames made the minis, both are two tons of fun in a small package, but be warned they are the final exam of your PhD in quads. First rule, FLY the back kite. Second rule is to stop holding your breath and relax, 3rd, limit stationary hover and backing up or they will begin an oscillation vortex which leads to the creation of a black hole!

  11. You're adding weight and yet the kite "feels" lighter on the lines?

    Sounds like your skills are improving as well, lots of hours in short order are to be commended.

    Great practice session is inverted from the ground to the top of the window and back down again, same speed and laser straight

    Now do it again but up-right this time, and at the very end (almost ground level) before landing

    powerfully flick both thumbs forward & add an aggressive step forward (in unison) The kite will wind up flat on the ground, leading edge facing you and the flying lines wrapped all the way around the kite.

    Step backwards and "snap" both handles towards your shoulders with thumbs-up positioning to un-roll and relaunch

    The trick is easier from in the middle of the wind window and with a wrap in the lines (brings them together and centers)

    With practice it is four beats of music, almost land and hover(1), snap to rolled-up(2), snap back to upright(3) relaunch(4)

    You don't have to do anything fancy or run around to make this work for you Bob. SPANK it!

  12. busted one part of the 6 piece travel Diamond frame leading edge showing off this past weekend in ocean city. Was doing a few throw and catches, found a shovel stuck into the sand, nice & straight up! Well the throw was magnificent, my body placement relative to the shovel handle positioning was NOT! Flew laser straight and folded like an elbow on impact, right around that darn handle. Everyone laughed, but I was kind of pissed about my gross error in judgement.

    That was a necessary reminder

    that every occupied stroller is

    not a target for my entertainment

    I had some extra pieces, so just slapped in a new 1/6 length replacement and was back in the air again.

    Diamonds are a great stick, if you can get passed their price of admission. I love 'em in a 40% Shook & my SUL pro.

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...