Reverse or inverted take off/hover

[Lauranyyfan]

Here's one for you ....

When I try to reverse launch, it will take off, slowly and then the bottom falls forward. I somehow pull/do something ??? and she flips over and then I can raise her up normally. It kind of looks cool, but I don't want to do that. What am I doing wrong to sort of (I guess) lose the wind on the bottom?

Thanks, as always...

[sailor99]

By bottom of the kite do you mean the streight leading edge, which is at the bottom when inverted, or do you mean the two pointed trailing edges? Assuming the latter it sounds like you are over controlling the kite, trying too hard. This would mean you are applying too much brake, stalling the kite so it is slow, then bowtieing it. Try being more gentle and if you have adjustable leaders on your handles (and if you don't you should have)let the break lines out a knot.

[sailor99]

Oh and I forgot. As you give it a little reverse to take off, also gently and smoothly pull both hands towards your hips. This will just give the kite a little lift to help it get clear of the slow and turbulent ground wind.

If you find it wobbleing all over after you take off that is just that you are over controlling again. Go down to the ground and try again. And again. And again! Practice practice practice!

I think it was big bri who told me the key thing is to grip the handles gently. Be smooth. Let the kite fly itself.

[KiteLife]

Laura, remember, "less is more".

If the bottom tips are flipping over when you're reversing, it's a sure sign you're applying too much pressure to those lines in an attempt to gain lift...

Try using a little less pressure on the brake lines, and more pressure on all four lines to fill the sail and create lift.

[Stone in Shoe Bob]

I’m going to take some stick for this because it’s a habit I am desperately trying to acquire, good habits are as hard to acquire as bad ones are to loose. But if you take a step back as you launch, whatever the orientation or the kite, it will give a little extra lift and a much smoother better controlled ascent.

If you don’t believe me try it once with and once without you will be amazed at the difference.

[Lauranyyfan]

Laura, remember, "less is more".

If the bottom tips are flipping over when you're reversing, it's a sure sign you're applying too much pressure to those lines in an attempt to gain lift...

Try using a little less pressure on the brake lines, and more pressure on all four lines to fill the sail and create lift.

Hi guys...

You are so right (of course )... I was only pushing my thumbs forward near or past the bottom lines (leading edge) .... not realizing to pull back some for lift. I will keep you posted.

Thanks.

John, it was so cool yesterday, I actually let my arms just "hang" as I was flying back and forth...what a feeling!!!!

[Lauranyyfan]

I'm going to take some stick for this because it's a habit I am desperately trying to acquire, good habits are as hard to acquire as bad ones are to loose. But if you take a step back as you launch, whatever the orientation or the kite, it will give a little extra lift and a much smoother better controlled ascent.

If you don't believe me try it once with and once without you will be amazed at the difference.

Hi Bob...

Thanks, I will experiment... isn't that what learning is about?

[Lauranyyfan]

Laura, remember, "less is more".

If the bottom tips are flipping over when you're reversing, it's a sure sign you're applying too much pressure to those lines in an attempt to gain lift...

Try using a little less pressure on the brake lines, and more pressure on all four lines to fill the sail and create lift.

John,

For clarification on my part, please;

Is the leading edge always considered the top and the points the bottom, or when you're inverted are the names reversed? It makes sense that when you're inverted it is understood that you're upside down; so it would be confusing to have to change the top and bottom... I hope you get what I'm saying... :confused!: It is what it is, so please correct me, if needed.

[jay1957]

The leading Edge is always the top of the kite,

Hope that helps

[antman]

the kite flipping out like that means too much reverse is being added .. try slow gent movents .. .. guide the kite up as you get higher in the air .. once you get higher you can add less reverse and like john said use all 4 lines to fill the sail

[Lauranyyfan]

The leading Edge is always the top of the kite,

Hope that helps

Hi...

Thanks, that's what I thought if you could follow my "path"

[steveb]

Winds near the ground are typically lighter than winds higher up, so you don't need as much reverse once you get it off the ground.

The angle of your lines to the kite changes too, depending on where the kite is in the Window.

You need to change the angle of your wrists or elbows a bit as the kite gets higher, otherwise you'll have too much brake as the kite reaches the top.

[Baloo]

Don't worry too much about it. One Day you will find it sort of clicks into place and you do thes fine alterations automatically. You just won't have to think about it so much.

I am not fully out of the manual box to the automatic box yet. Of course there are some who fly like the Stig off the Top Gear TV program, short shifts, left foot brakes, traction control off, flappy paddle gearbox and full race mode.

[Jonesey]

Don't worry too much about it. One Day you will find it sort of clicks into place and you do thes fine alterations automatically. You just won't have to think about it so much.

I am not fully out of the manual box to the automatic box yet. Of course there are some who fly like the Stig off the Top Gear TV program, short shifts, left foot brakes, traction control off, flappy paddle gearbox and full race mode.

Not sure I have synchromesh on my gearbox should I be double d clutching??

[sailor99]

Of course there are some who fly like the Stig off the Top Gear TV program, short shifts, left foot brakes, traction control off, flappy paddle gearbox and full race mode.

There are some who say he is a kite flyer from Portland and that is as one with his tips, but we know him as the Stig.

_{(Sorry to our US and Australian buddies - you probably do not have a clue what we are on about!)}

[AldenMiller]

_{(Sorry to our US and Australian buddies - you probably do not have a clue what we are on about!)}

What? You think we don't have BBCA?

-Alden

[sailor99]

What? You think we don't have BBCA?

-Alden

Never had it in the hotels I have sayed in - must be because I am cheap and stay in flea pits!

[AldenMiller]

I think of that boy from Portland his buddy more like the Dukes of Hazzard.

John: "Hey Steve, let's go fly a kite."

Steve: "YeeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!"

-Alden

[KiteLife]

I need a button on my handles that does the Dukes of Hazzard horn...

That, and we need a nice Daisy Duke to look at. <grin>

[Lauranyyfan]

Hi Rev Peeps....

Just wanted to let you know that I finally was able to try your suggestions over the past week or so (I was on the "D.L." for a bit), IT WORKS!!! . Silly little thing... giving it a "little gas" instead of just thumbs forward and wa-la.... lift off!!! Now, to just fly inverted for an hour or so...chuckle, chuckle... someday, perhaps... practice, practice, practice...

Thank you.

[KiteLife]

:clap; :clap;

Killer, keep it up Laura!

[sailor99]

Great when it all clicks into place, isn't it Laura.

[AldenMiller]

The hover will happen.

It happened for me at Treasure Island. It was the couple days of flying and I realized without thinking about it I was flying upside down (and relatively stable).

Now every time I fly I find myself flipping the kite over and holding it in a hover for as long as I can.

Next get a power blast, they seem to like flying inverted more than upright!

-Alden

[sailor99]

Next get a power blast, they seem to like flying inverted more than upright!

Do you know alden, now I have got the hang of it I think the 1.5s are happier upside down too! So much so that I have designed a piece of applique I am considering at the moment to be the right way up when the kite is upside down!

[Lauranyyfan]

Great when it all clicks into place, isn't it Laura.

Hi.

It sure is. I'm able to take off inverted, finally... and then rotate it 180 degrees and fly forward...now I need to slow it down and make it a smoother transition...and it might look like John did it ...or not...wishful thinking . I'll keep you all posted.

[steveb]

Once you 'get it', the inverted hover is one of the most stable positions for a Rev.