Power Kite Forum

Failed landing

arkay - 6-6-2010 at 12:58 AM

So there I was ready to solo land my v19 in 18-20... no biggie, just pop the primary saftey! Except that damn leashless system somehow got wrapped around the bar some. Who else has kite looped a v19 in 20? Was fun for about two seconds until I sanded my leg :) Nah, it was still fun. But then I unhooked and let go... there were a few people downwind but they saw a beast headed at them so they parted. Some guy was trying to help out by running after my bar, as I was yelling at him not to grab it! didn't want him launched... the kite set down over a wood fence at the dunes and draped a bit ontop of a blackberry patch. Initial pressure test came back good :D

That was sure an interesting experience to say the least. Had I been thinking more clearly I should have just grabbed the opposite landing loop and ran backwards. I'll save that for next time. But I'm slightly annoyed that the primary leash got tangled when it was clear before I popped. Not sure I like the leashless system all that much. Probably a fluke, but it wouldn't happen with a 5th/green line.

So my lessons from this weekend
#1 don't trust the primary :D
#2 don't get a twinskin wet _and_ sandy (doubles the weight of the kite!)

After this ordeal, I took out the v2 13 and had a blast. Weirdness at the end of my run... I was cruising up the beach for about 2 miles at about 20mph and then made a turn back down south and the kite just collapsed out of the sky. Turns out I was running on my own aparent wind from down the beach where the wind had been blowing about 15! When I turned I lost enough speed and didn't realize the wind was only now blowing about 7. Neat trick! :wee:

Kamikuza - 6-6-2010 at 03:23 AM

What bar? The Zero7 has confounded me a few times too ... once it's all sorted though, it's nice. I think I'd like the Navigator better though - much cleaner, especially with the depower line down the inside of the CL.

My new technique is to power up with the trim strap, send the kite out to the left hand side (Zero7 leash side) of the wind window and tip near the ground then sheet in hard and hold it there for as far as it'll go back downwind - then pop the safety. Kite just flags right down and if you can secure the line with the leash on it, you're done :)

pokitetrash - 6-6-2010 at 08:07 AM

I've had my Zero 7 foul on me a few times creating a monster. No fun a t all while I'm trying to learn Arc 101. I'm gonna try your trick Kami. Phree showed me some good landing skills at JIBE but I haven't flown it since then. So that's why I'll tell my wife, "no Baby, I wish I COULD mow the yard today BUT I really need to practice landing the Phantom 15 to make sure I'm safe..."

It's a scary thing to watch the kite whip around in successive loops after the bar fouls and wonder "...is this the spin that will toss me like a tea bag?"

PHREERIDER - 7-6-2010 at 05:12 AM

i always run suicide, and have to change to the flag line . so things are untwisted and ready to go . the navigator has the center safety and is easier still have to untwist though. the bar end pulls are their as well. 19m in 20mph and a surprise loop, bet that made your day.

acampbell - 7-6-2010 at 05:28 AM

I've had the Velcro on the OS handles not release in light winds when going to dump the kite. Then the Velcro finally tore off when dumping it in higher winds. I run without it now- a bit of a hassle when managing lines prior to launch or when winding lines after. But no hassle when dropping the kite - ever.

Kamikuza - 7-6-2010 at 05:27 PM

Yeah Angus is right - same has happened to me and now I got one OS handle without velcro on ... not a huge hassle now I'm used to it.

Someone (Cabrinha?) is doing a center line safety that goes through the depower "line" and pops out the top - clean! If it is Cab, that'll suck cos I hate their safety hat thing :lol: