Power Kite Forum

help. eclipse thruster owners

Houston AirHead - 1-12-2011 at 07:18 PM

I’ve acquired a 16 meter 2008 Eclipse Thruster. It’s a great kite; I’ve never flown a kite so fast in my life. I mean no joke it turns with the speed of an 11 or 12 meter LEI, super aggressive and explosive.

My question is that the Thruster does not like to re-launch/self-launch like most other SLE bridal hybrids (twist bar, tug on one steering line, flips and up she goes.)

{The thruster is a high aspect LEI}

The only way I’ve found to self launch is the anchor method. Has anyone else had success with the steering line pull method?

thanks

burritobandit - 1-12-2011 at 11:03 PM

What helped me when my older Waroos didn't want to relaunch due to their higher aspect ratio was pulling the opposite center line while pulling the outer steering/back line. What this does is coax the kite onto its side a little faster than normal. Note: I was doing this on a 2008 Best Bar that had OSR handles on the all 4 lines at the bar.

Depending on where it is in the window, it might give you a hotter launch than you want so be sure you steer it towards the closest edge of the window and sheet out so it's depowered as much as possible and gets there as quickly as possible.

manitoulinkiter1 - 20-12-2011 at 03:15 PM

Hey

How much wind were you flying in? I had a 10 meter and used to do the walk around and pull on a steering line and up it went. The sixteen might be a bit tougher because of the length though.
Good kites boost to the moon in the right wind.

Houston AirHead - 20-12-2011 at 05:18 PM

maybe 13mph, i havent had it out since due to the high winds.