leebrianh - 17-5-2006 at 06:21 AM
Ok. so, I've got a new bullet 5.5 (so far I only had bullet 3.5) yesterday and was excited to go out to field. I was thinking bigger kite, more
power, better landboarding. It didn't quite work that way.
Wind was off and on (It is typical where I fly. I don't have wind speedometer so don't know exact speed yeterday) but strong enough to drag me on
grass but not strong enough to lift me. Basically I did the same thing I have been doing with Bullet 3.5. Put the kite up in the air, angle my board
45 degree down wind, and dive the kite to direction where I want to go.
With Bullet 3.5 that worked good so far. I was able to move the kite up and down, control speed and direction of the board.
Now, with Bullet 5.5, I move the kite to direction I want to go and the board starts moving but when I try to move the kite up or down, the kite turns
so slow, it collapses at the edge of the wind. I didn't try my 3.5 yesterday but I am thinking I would have been able to steer it up or down before
it reaches the edge and get me going.
Is it lack of my experience? Is it wind (too strong, too weak or too gusty)? or is it something with a bigger kite?
I wish I knew someone who can fly with me so I know if it is me or something else causing the problem.
As always, any comments would be appreciated. Thanks. -Brian
Tigger - 17-5-2006 at 09:30 AM
I believe the bullet is considered somewhat of a beginner kite, which basically means it doesn't fly well at or near the edge of the winds window.
The smaller one “3.5” is considerably easier to handle and needs less room to maneuver through the sky. Meaning it would naturally turn faster than
the larger brother. The same applies to aircraft; small planes can maneuver tighter turns than larger ones, regardless of the wind speed.
If you pay close attention you would find that both kites would fly to approximately the same place in the window and no further before gravity takes
over. On the other hand a kite designed for and used by an experience pilot such as "Yakuza" will fly well past the edge of the window.
That is a bit dangerous because as you very well may know; once you past the edge, it's pretty much down hill for the kite. The further it goes past
the edge, the faster it will come down, thus getting it back into the window power zone before gravity takes hold is very difficult; hence the word
“Experience” comes into play.
I would recommend that as a beginner and regardless of kite you own, you attempt to keep it approximately 45 to 60 degrees from center and 45 degrees
from the earth. As you gain experience and purchase kite with the ability to do so, you can go closer or expand your window to 90 degrees.
Pablo - 17-5-2006 at 08:17 PM
Couple of questions, with the 3.5m, you board ok, but do you stay upwind? With the 5.5, are you trying to stay up wind?
Reason I ask is that I've had this issue with buggys as well, usually there's an easy solution, I find that I was getting one good yank down wind on a
45deg angle as described, but then the bug would accelerate towards the kite, without enough line tension it'd be hard to steer the kite and next
thing you know it's falling out of the window. With smaller kites it's easier to redirect the kite by working it before it gets to the edge, with the
larger kites it's a little more critical.
I'd try edging harder upwind to get more line tension and see what happens. usually starting on a 45deg, but as soon as you get moving carve cross
wind, pick up speed, then start slowly edging upwind, if you find yourself slowing down, less upwind till you build speed again. Also in low winds
you'll want to start redirecting the 5.5 before it hits the edge to keep it more powered up.
Let us know how it goes.
leebrianh - 18-5-2006 at 07:14 AM
That's exaclty what was happening, Pablo.
With a small kite, I was able to steer it back and forth to get line tension back and get going but with Bullet 5.5, once I lose line tension, I lose
controll over the kite as well.
It's my first big kite so I guess I need more practice (good thing my kite is ok 
) I will try to go more upwind before I lose line tension next time.
Thanks for your help. - Brian
Pablo - 18-5-2006 at 05:30 PM
If you do have to pump the larger kite, be sure to start earlier than you were with the smaller one, it'll take some time in lower winds to come
round. But you can work them, just need to try and keep it back a little from the edge of the window.
It'll all come in time.