titanflyer - 12-12-2011 at 10:57 AM
Hi there, this is my first post here after reading for quite a while.
I bought a Flexifoil Sting 3.3m about 1.5 years ago as a way to get additional ripstop kicks when I was getting into Powered Paragliding. The kite
never made it out of the packaging for all this time as I just never found the time and had NO IDEA how much fun it was.
I went out twice this weekend, but honestly the winds on the first day, in addition to my lack of knowledge and spending the first hour untangling
lines, was a disappointment. I went back out yesterday and the winds were about 7-10mph and it was AWESOME...I loved it.
The problem I am having is that most days the wind is 5mph or there abouts where I live in South Charlotte NC. I am probably putting the cart before
the horse, which I do quite often, but is there any chance I would be ok with say a 5m wing? I want to be able to go out in that 5mph day and still
fly, but not get dragged all over the place or worse get hurt.
I noticed in most of the similar threads, people asked about how big the pilot was, so I will add that I am 6'2" and 260lbs, and have plenty of low
wind experience with kiting big a$$ 33m paraglider wings ( different animal altogether), but I only say it since I feel it would take a lot to drag me
around, but that again may be inexperience talking).
Anybody in and around the Charlotte area on this forum?
Any suggestions on what a good low wind (5-7mph) wing would be? I realize people ask this alot, but I felt like maybe I asked a bit of a different
question. I would eventually like to have a high wind, low wind, and all around wing. I have no intention of getting into buggy or board sailing as I
don't know of anywhere with that kind of space around here except the beaches which are a LONG ways away from me to get to often. I have no problem
spending the cash, but don't want to waste it on something if I don't have to.
Thanks,
James
PHREERIDER - 13-12-2011 at 09:43 AM
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/midatlanticWeek.php?pag...
this will help with watching the wind.
at your size a 5m would not be a problem. like a PL reactor (II) 5-6m is gonna be nice.
definitely need a good open spot away from trees and buildings.
a nice hill top abandon airfield would be premium, but a turf farm is more likely.
good luck
BeamerBob - 13-12-2011 at 01:03 PM
Yes, in those winds and your mass you can handle a 5-6m kite no problem. As Phree said a Reactor II would be fun or an HQ Toxic among others. If you
want the kite to lift you a bit you could go with a PL Twister as well. This size kite will be a bit slower turning than your 3.3m, but will provide
some pull in those lower winds. In 5mph with a 5m kite, you will have to give it a tug to launch and keep it moving to fly it but it will still be
fun and safe as well.
titanflyer - 13-12-2011 at 05:41 PM
Thanks guys... @BeamerBob : I like the way you say Fat.. Mass... very PC.
I am looking at info on all of the kites you guys have suggested. A few people have suggested I should stay with something like the Beamer V in 5M
size due to lack of skills, but I will probably end up with something like the Reactor II.
I will say that for some reason I am drawn to kites made by some of the Paraglider Wing manufacturers like Ozone and U-Turn.... especially U-Turn.
Anyone flown a U-Turn?
James
BeamerBob - 13-12-2011 at 05:54 PM
See, I don't know that you're fat, just how heavy you are. You could be a lean mean kiting machine. Ozone and Uturn make good stuff for sure, but I
can't give you first hand experience on them. You surely have enough experience to fly the recommended kites especially in the low winds you are
talking about. Now if it blows 20 mph, you will be in for a different ride for sure. Just use good judgement and listen to that little
voice......................... You do hear the little voice right? 
:D
titanflyer - 13-12-2011 at 06:05 PM
Yep, but mostly my little voice is saying... I told you not to do that...
I don't have a lot of experience with flying this direction.. and in this format.. in fact I can tell you that its possibly a hindrance. I am used to
switches like this though, like when I moved from general aviation to delta wing handgliders.. forward on the stick was now up. Caused quite a few
full on pucker moments during training.
Thanks again for the advice and I will let you know how it goes.
pyro22487 - 13-12-2011 at 07:00 PM
if you do like ozne i recommend flows and john will recommend methods. for static i think a flow would be better but a 5m flow you can buggy in 10 to
15 mph winds i hear the method is about the same but better upwind travel. man im going to have to get one for my own experiance.
jimbocz - 14-12-2011 at 07:01 AM
About U-turn kites, they are mostly high aspect ratio race kites that will be pretty unstable for you inland. If you want a kite made by a paraglider
brand, stick with Ozone for now.
I grew up in Charlotte but live in London now. I still have to drive 2 hours to the beach though.
Don't forget that it's not the size of the kite that's right or wrong, it's the size of the kite FOR THE WIND. If there is nothing but low wind in
Charlotte, a 5 or 6 meter kite might be just fine for you to learn on. My second kite was a 7 meter Buster, and it was fine as long as I only flew it
in low wind.
titanflyer - 14-12-2011 at 08:27 AM
Thanks guys, at least I feel more comfortable getting into a slightly bigger kite for low wind days (3-8mph??). I still have the 3.3 meter Flexifoil
Sting that I can take out in a little more wind, but even that I would keep to under 15 mph. I was using it in 10-15 gusting the other day and it was
a handful, so I would never dream of using a bigger kite for those conditions. I just want to be able to go over the soccer complex down the road and
fly during lunch, but most days its a 5mph or less wind here, it would be nice to have a slightly better low wind kite.
The more I watch videos and read on here, the more I am intrigued by the buggy or possibly the landboard. I have owned a flexifoil buggy in the past
(for Powered Paragliding base) and really loved how rugged it was. I will first have to get some better kite skills, then find a location around
Charlotte that would offer enough room for those activities.
@jimbocz - Did you ever find anywhere in Charlotte during your time here that offered enough room to zoom around on a land board or buggy?
jimbocz - 15-12-2011 at 07:10 AM
Sorry bud, I haven't lived in Charlotte for 25 years and I wasn't thinking of kites back then.
You know, you don't really need that much room for a small buggy or especially a board. Any flying site needs clear space from trees and other things
that can cause turbulence for the wind, but the actual amount of space you need for moving is smaller than you might think.
The Outer Banks would of course be great for you, but I guess Myrtle beach is a lot closer. 4 hours?
My local inland field is 30 minutes away, my local beach is 2 hours. My favorite beach in France is 3 hours, my favorite beach in Wales is 4.