First post for me here (but I've done a lot of reading here and on other kite forum, and I promise I will try not to ask to many questions that have
been answered before )
I have a little kite experience, I own a Speedwing Super Pro and have a borrowed Bullet 1.5, I've already flown both on beaches with 6+ beaufort
winds.
Recently I bought a Nasawing NPW190 (2.8mē) for inland and beach use with gentler winds. I've only flown it once in very low winds just to get a feel
for it so it wouldn't overpower me, and was pleasantly surprised by its power.
As I will be using the Nasawing in medium winds up to 20 knots all by myself, I would like to know a way to land the kite on my own, thats both safe
for me and my kite.
I own a decent size corkscrew groundanchor and fly the nasawing in the 2-line configuration with 30m lines.
So, what is the safest way to keep the kite on the ground without assistance until I can cover the 30m to the kite?DAKITEZ - 31-1-2012 at 10:09 AM
Interesting I did not realize you could fly a nasa as a dual line config. I am by far not a nasa wing expert but there are a few others on here that
are. I am sure they will be along to help soon. My guess is if your flying it as a dual line you will have to land it as any dual line foil .... crash
it LOL. Seriously though take it to the edge of the window and crash it down leading edge first. The tricky part is to get to it before it flips over
and relaunches.bobalooie57 - 31-1-2012 at 10:33 AM
Though I've seen video's of flying the NASA wing on 2 lines, I've never tried it. If at all possible, I'd get 4 line/handle set-up. It will make
things so much easier. When feeling over powered, just pull on the brakes, and down the kite comes. Stake the brake loops, or wrap the brake lines
around the stake, and it stays put. Otherwise it's like Dino says, crash at the edge, maybe stake one strap down, take a couple steps and stake the
other down? Not sure if this will keep the kite down or not.cldrjones - 2-2-2012 at 04:07 AM
Thanks for the replies. For now I can try to use the lines from the Bullet 1.5 I've borrowed and connect them to the nasawing, the owner told me the
main lines can take 240kg so that shouldn't be a problem.
The nasawing can be changed from 2-line to 4-line configuration without any changes to the bridal. The main lines and the brake lines are connected to
each other via a 15cm long Y-shaped peace of line with a larks head knot, so just removing the Y-peace and connecting the main and brake lines should
take about a minute, assuming that with a Flexfoil Bullet the main lines and brake lines have about the same length.Bladerunner - 2-2-2012 at 06:42 AM
YES, to get the most out of your NPW go to 4 line configuration. Then backing down is easy.
With 2 liene are you on a bar ? I would suggest crashing at the edge then / or letting go of 1 line. Grabbing one line if on a bar.wheresthewind? - 2-2-2012 at 06:58 AM
def go with the 4 line option--much safer--ive flown my npw 12meter in pretty good wind and never had a problem with it......cldrjones - 2-2-2012 at 08:55 AM
@bladerunner: no, I don't have a bar, only simple generic handles for a 2-liner, or the 4-line handles from the BulletBladerunner - 2-2-2012 at 06:37 PM
2 line was no doubt a good way to get started on the NPW. Going 4 line is just a bit tricky. It is NOT the same control as your Bullet will be !
Your Bullet will fly on the front lines and you will use the bottom lines to back the kite down + add speed to turns. You don't NEED the bottom lines
in play to fly. Hold the handles with one finger above the top line and 3 below.
The NPW will NEED some brake tension to fly. As soon as you see signs of nose tuck you need to add a bit more brake. Hold your handles with all 4
fingers below the top lines with this kite.
The lines from your Bullet should work fine on the NPW.cldrjones - 3-2-2012 at 01:46 AM
When I got the Bullet the hand position you described, with one finger above the main lines and 3 below, was explained to me by its owner and I was
using that.
But i didn't know it was a different technique for the NPW, so that is valuable information that would have taken me some time and frustration to
figure out myself (if at all), so thanks for that!Bladerunner - 3-2-2012 at 06:42 AM
YES , They are different enough flying characteristics that it takes a bit different approach.
The difference is all about constant brake tension on the NPW . To tooo tricky. The nose tuck is your que to add a bit more brake. Turning etc. is the
same.Cerebite - 5-2-2012 at 07:47 PM
I will agree with what everyone has said, get her onto 4 lines.
I find that the NPWs fly in a very similar manner to Rev's in that they need constant brake tension whereas most [all?] foils spend a lot of time with
slack in the brake lines.
I like to think of it [the brake tension] as holding the sail/ wing/ kite into the wind very similar it seems to me to sheeting and trimming a
sailboat sail.
Because of this attention to brake tension they work very well in inland and gusty winds
Cheers and welcome to the addition.doneski - 6-2-2012 at 12:46 PM
Really safe way that prevents spins and tangles is to rest the kite against 3 foot high wooden stakes. I have a friend who always pounds 3 stakes
into the sand with the middle one slightly in front. To launch, pull the kite to you or step back. To land, bring the kite down in front of the
stakes and walks forward to rest the kite against the stakes.
This helps when you have to untangle bridles and line twists which always happen to me when its really gusty.cldrjones - 7-2-2012 at 06:29 AM
Thanks for the info!
The 3 foot stakes is a good idea!
As nothing has been said about kitekillers, I presume they work the same way on nasawings as with regular foils?wheresthewind? - 7-2-2012 at 12:50 PM
nasa wings are a good choice for a noob, they are slow, so even if a gust comes, youre probably not getting surprised......ive been dragged by my 12m,
by choice and i never felt out of control at all..... never seen a kite with more grunt either..... its big and slow and it looks hilarious in the
air, like a giant green and yellow blob.....DAKITEZ - 7-2-2012 at 01:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by cldrjones
Thanks for the info!
The 3 foot stakes is a good idea!
As nothing has been said about kitekillers, I presume they work the same way on nasawings as with regular foils?
Kite killers do not work on dual line configurations. The kite killer needs to attach to the trailing edge (brake line) but in dual line configuration
you do not have a break line to attach to.
Quad line is the only way to go if you want safety and controlled landing.cldrjones - 29-3-2012 at 08:05 AM
Update: I have been suffering from back pains preventing me to take my kites out for a walk. Tuesday we had 10 knots winds (and no more back pain), so
I took out the Nasawing, and tried it as a 4-liner.
At first it was a struggle to keep it airborne, but after about 15 minutes trial and error to get the line lengths right, it flew like a charm, so I
managed to pick the technique up pretty fast.
Before Tuesday I didn't really liked the Nasawing that much, but the 4-line configuration has changed that, you have so much more control. Now that
I've flown it 4-lines, the original 2-line configuration feels as elegant as trying to fly a grocery bag on a string like I did back when I was 5
Thanks for the advice guys, if you're ever in Belgium, I'll buy you a good quality Belgian beer, the kind we like so much that we don't even export it
bigE123 - 29-3-2012 at 12:59 PM
As you say NPWs are great fun and add an extra element to your flying. They will also fly backwards and upside down. The big plus is if you do get
over powered a bit of extra brake and all is sane agian. Don't be frightend to land it nose first as there is nothing to damage!! Hope the back
recovers soon.
Next you may venture to the darkside and start building!! Here are my latest builds a 10m HA and a 5m NPW21. Both have really good pull.
)
