Peter25 - 8-6-2012 at 10:15 AM
Okay I have experimented with different tuning methods for my 13 meter scorpion (PL Twinskin) I am wanting to use this kite for kite jumping, land
boarding, and buggying however no matter what I do the kite sits at 12 and even tries to over fly me.
I fly that kite normally around 10-15mph and normally the kite power adjuster strap is all the way out the arc system brake lines are set furthest
away from the kite and all kite straps are loose. Sometimes I will tighten the kite straps halfway and the arc system will go to knot the second
furthest knot from the kite.
Regardless I never have enough power to do anything or the kite collapses on me. I want to know how to achieve enough power to where I can land board
and or get airborne. what are some good configurations for different wind speeds?
Please help me!
markite - 8-6-2012 at 12:10 PM
When the Scorpions came out we had to add a small extension for the back lines otherwise the kites would be too brake heavy and wouldn't launch -
sounds like you are set up okay if the kite is flying and going to the zenith. You would know if your back lines were too tight that it wouldn't climb
well.
Next when you launch the kite and it's inflated it will go to the zenith and if it's a steady wind and certain breezes that kite will even go past
12:00 and behind so you need to be able to pull in on the bar to give the rear lines a bit of tension to keep it in check once in a while. I'd rather
have that nice clean wind when it goes to the zenith and maybe even past overhead, it's much better than gusty swirling wind that has the kite
bobbling all over the place.
For that rear line tension you will adjust your power strap - launching the Scorpion most of the time you don't want to be totally depowered otherwise
when it's not fully inflated it will climb too fast and collapse the soft leading edge into a bow tie. Keeping a little power on that strap allows you
to have the bar out to let it climb but pull in the bar with just enough rear line tension to stop the fast climb and keep the kite stable until it
fully inflates.
When the kite is inflated and at the zenith and you are just about ready to go I then would let out the strap or set the amount of power on the bar. I
fly the kite around a little and add power and pull in the bar to see if the kite will slow down or stop. Depending on the wind strength is how I set
the power. I generally want the kite to slow right down when I pull in the bar fully but not quite a dead stop and not stalling and backing down. In
light wind it's important to develop kite speed because that goes hand in hand with power so i don't want the the kite stopping when doing any power
stroke so I might not have the power set quite as much. In higher winds you can adjust the strap with more power because it will still maintain some
forward movement with higher winds at a setting that would stall it in light winds. So if you are flying the kite and pull the bar all the way in
(with the strap set out for max power) does the kites slow down or are your rear lines still a little loose? This would likely mean you need adjusting
on the lines or perhaps if there is an extension on the bridle it may be attached at too long of a setting.
So if you get the kite flying as fast as you can then pull in the bar you should get a power surge - you won't really get a power surge if the kite is
standing still or flying in very light wind. If the kite is flying fine and you feel the power difference next is the internal straps - The Scorpions
could take some adjustment to suit personal preference - I set mine tighter at times and looser sometimes in higher gusty winds or if I want it to sit
a little further ahead. You can certainly play with tightening the wingtip buckles and you will find there is a point when they might be too tight if
the kite is backing down or stalling - then they will be too tight for the wind you are flying in or could also mean at that point you need to depower
the kite a little to ease off on your rear line tension.
okay that's a starting point for you - but main thing is get the kite flying, throw it around really push the speed before trying to pull in the bar
to get power - don't choke it.
Where are you flying - might be some people in your area to meet up and have a quick review?
Bladerunner - 9-6-2012 at 09:51 AM
What Mark says +
Isn't 10 - 15 a bit light on the wind for a 13m Scorp' ? I have only ever had a qiuck shot at a 16 scorp in that wind and it was just getting into
it's zone ? My 15m Syn and Charger are also just getting powered in that wind .
Peter25 - 12-6-2012 at 01:02 PM
It is a little light but I'm still getting used to land boarding with that kite. Typically i normally have it powered up all the way. What's weird is
sometimes I can really get moving in those winds and other times I can't do anything. Unless its gusting from aloft I have no idea how it could be
doing that.