Jim Foster Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 No shortage of wind in Vegas either. There was no wind the night Lynn and I came to fly with you guys in Vegas. Glad you had your Manta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 There was no wind the night Lynn and I came to fly with you guys in Vegas. Glad you had your Manta. You came to Las Vegas once and there was no wind? How did that work out for you Never said I had a Manta, but I am also glad I was doing something else that night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Amen to that Stan (Welcome to the forum!) part of the reason I took to flying kites in the first place! No shortage of wind in Vegas either. Nowadays, flying kites mainly, and some "indoor" model aircraft flying (micro planes, helicopters) for when I need my R/C fix For killer excitement go the other way, fly the "indoor" outdoor in light wind.... Or fly 1/3scale indoors Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 1/3 scale!!!!!! In another topic, I posted a pic of the Walkera micro-heli I fly. The pic shows a suspiciously (ahem!) missing/broken tail rotor.......... I can't imagine the sort of damage I could do to the inside of my home trying to fly a 1/3 scale indoors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 1/3 scale!!!!!! In another topic, I posted a pic of the Walkera micro-heli I fly. The pic shows a suspiciously (ahem!) missing/broken tail rotor.......... I can't imagine the sort of damage I could do to the inside of my home trying to fly a 1/3 scale indoors Nah, fly in someone else's home Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Flew the shockwave a bit today (got a decent wind for a little while).... Learned some basic things... 1) do not pull on lines.. (like dlk)... 2) keep sail loaded otherwise it wont turn.... 3) may have to "pump" or tug on lines to keep sail loaded 4) kite gets squirrelly when the sail unloads (stalled) 5) when stalls kite has a mind of its own... Just like my r/c airplanes... Moral of today's lesson DON"T STALL THE KITE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandflyer Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Not unless it's intentional and you got a recovery planned!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Got some more time with the Shockwave today.... It was a blast (oh no that is another rev. ) Only had the Walk Of Shame a couple of times and 1-2 "hard landings." Shockwave is definitely hard to fly in lighter/gusty winds, today was much better.. Now if I can only remember to count the number of spins clockwise while trying to maintain control..... Believe me I can't wait til I get some 15mph winds (ok I can wait need more 8-10 mph to work on control). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudnut Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 As a new shockwave person too, I am awaiting good winds. It is normally 15 knots plus in the afternoon here, but since I got the kite, the winds keep dying out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 Got some good wind (enough that I've already taken some OTC painkillers).... Again a really great time (ask me tomorrow 'cuz I know I will ache). I didn't have to move around much to keep the kite in the air. I did however move when it commanded me to move (read jerk me around). Learned some key things namely the importance of having to add brake (or move the top lines out) as there were times when I could not "get on the brakes quick enough" to stop or turn. Landed and adjusted the top lines out a knot, relaunch, much better in terms of manuverability. Flew to my hearts content (ok not really)... Later..... Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandflyer Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 You be getting the hang of it!! Nice thing is, as your skill gets greater, the less wind you can fly in!! Adjusting your leader knots will improve your control!!! Keep at it !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 Learned some key things namely the importance of having to add brake (or move the top lines out) as there were times when I could not "get on the brakes quick enough" to stop or turn. Landed and adjusted the top lines out a knot, relaunch, much better in terms of manuverability. Later..... Stan Hey Stan, Sounds like you are really picking up, on this thing...........Keep it up, it only gets better.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted November 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Now that I've reflected on yesterday's flying time (and no I didn't have to take anymore Ibuprofen today) I did not take the time to move the top lines out further so I am only making a guess at this point... If I had moved the top lines too far out, the kite would have gotten progressively harder to launch and eventually to the point that again there would not be enough brake (due to having to fly with the handle tops near if not completely in).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REVflyer Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Determine "how much brake" is correct by tuning from an inverted position. Start with the kite resting on it's leading edge, sitting on the ground. Now add "down" (shorter bottoms or lengthen the top leaders) until the kite will back-up while remaining in this orientation. That's how much DOWN is correct. Now you can add one knot of forward drive if you feel this is completely unfair to your developing skills. The sooner you become comfortable with all this down, the sooner you'll own your hover and not go surging-off with the slightest hint of a forward command. When in doubt, add DOWN first, . . . . you're tuning to get the sail square against the wind, not leaning either forward or backwards, but perfectly perpendicular. Leaning causes the wind to be dumped either off the trailing edge or off of the leading edge. There's only a slight difference between forward flight and full reverse in the control actions of the handles. It's counter-productive to pull the leading edge towards you, by adding lots of forward drive! Lighten your grip and relax yourself completely in the upper body. Some days there's just not going to be enough wind to make the speed series go (NOT worth the hassle of all your flight efforts). This is when the addiction really starts to kick-in. Suddenly you'll decide you need something different, more specialized equipment and the "arms race" is on once again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted November 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Ah... the arms race... MADD (mutual addiction and driven to devour the REV) Already picked out my next REV. Going to go much lighter in the wind range but not to the indoor/zen, a 1.5 B. BTW, it sounds like I still have way too much down as to get the kite to launch inverted I have to haul in on the bottoms (almost all the way). Next time out (assuming good wind), I going out further on the tops. Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 BTW, it sounds like I still have way too much down as to get the kite to launch inverted I have to haul in on the bottoms (almost all the way). Next time out (assuming good wind), I going out further on the tops. Stan Stan, Possibly you may have stated that wrong. Letting out on the tops, is the same as adding more brake, or maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying (that's possible, for sure). If you are having trouble launching from the inverted position, then you need, more brake, which you should get, by letting out the tops............. You know, we are making this sound a lot more complicated, than it really is. This isn't "rocket science", but close ! You really need to meet up with Lee & I, over in Louisburg. There is nothing like hands on help, and I think we can help to shorten up your learning curve.............next weekend looks good, especially Sunday (67F and better winds, hopefully) ps...........1.5 B is an excellent choice - Standard Sail, I'll assume ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Well my journey into the dark side is almost complete..... It will be complete in about 4 weeks when my kite is delivered..... Let you guys read between the lines as to what Rev takes 4 weeks to get here Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted December 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 The Brown Sleigh carrying my new B Series Pro just left..... Dang it, Lolly didn't pack the wind..... Question... Does drool stain the sail? pics to come later... I gotta work Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nckiter Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Stan, sounds like we need a lunch fly in Louisburg with Reefrunner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 We want pictures !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandflyer Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Keep the drool away from the sail!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REVflyer Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I just received my new pro replacement sails yesterday. They are so new and crispy, I'm almost embarrassed at the beating they will receive in my hands! New full sail and new mid-vent to replace the ones I've treated so poorly. My bride Barbara and Dantonio were both quite specific,... "those old ones gotta' go!" I've got 'em all rigged just as I want 'em and I can't hardly wait to thrash the stitches out of Bazzer's gorgeous craftsmanship. One's an SUL and it is a perfect set of conditions for testing right now, I might be feeling too poorly the rest of the afternoon and use some of the 800+ hrs of sick leave I've accrued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbro Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Hey Revflyer, I know a place "those old ones" would love to go! My house!!! Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 After the wife saw it... She now thinks it would look good hanging on the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sntlewis Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 And Now Pics..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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