Power Kite Forum

Newbie Question

Alchemy69 - 22-8-2012 at 06:39 AM

Hi Guys,

Great forum, lots of interesting things to read and distract myself from doing work :)

Having flown an HQ Yukon stunt kite for many years, i decided to take the plunge and try out power kiting, bought myself a cheap HQ Symphony 2.1m and absolutely love it. Took it out today in 15mph winds and it gave me a nice workout without being overpowering.

I have a couple of questions that I hoped someone could ask:

Firstly, when setting up the kite, I noticed a loop at the middle of the trailing edge (pictured below) and wonder what its purpose is?

Secondly, the stock straps are somewhat abrasive and after about and hour of flying my wrists became red raw. I am considering swapping them out for either padded straps or a 2-line control bar. At the moment I'm leaning towards the bar idea but would like some opinions. Looking at this bar: Peter Lynn 2 Line Control Bar


erratic winds - 22-8-2012 at 06:44 AM

You can attach a 3rd line to that to have the ability to re-launch the kite when it crashes leading edge up, and/or setup as a brake attached to a wrist-strap(kite killer), so you could let go of the bar and the kite would land itself.

that PL bar ready is set to up for a 3rd line to kite killer, it's a good purchase. Padded straps are also a good purchase.

I would imagine pretty quickly you might want to move to a 4 line kite for the increased control and re-launch, and there are plenty of good deals to be had in the sale section.

Welcome and I hope you have great winds!

Alchemy69 - 22-8-2012 at 06:52 AM

Ahh, I though it would be something like that. How exactly would I go about hooking it up and using it for relaunches. I do a lot of my flying solo so the ability to relaunch without walking over to reset would be very helpful.

Money is tight at the moment so wont be able to upgrade for a while. I am happy with this for now though, I do most of my kite flying to relax and de-stress and after the hour and a bit I spent this morning with it grinning like a lunatic...I think it's done its job :P

Bladerunner - 22-8-2012 at 06:53 AM

You can also tie on a tail . It tames the kite in stronger winds. Good for absolute beginers.

erratic winds - 22-8-2012 at 07:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
You can also tie on a tail . It tames the kite in stronger winds. Good for absolute beginers.


Also looks really cool when you put on a long tail and do loops & 8's. ;)

Alchemy69 - 22-8-2012 at 07:44 AM

Ha, I'll bear that in mind!

Im thinking the bar is a good choice but not sure how I would rig it to include a 3rd line?

pyro22487 - 22-8-2012 at 08:23 AM

Put a 3rd line a couple of feet longer than your 2 main lines on the loop and attach the other end to a kite killer. When the kite lands upside down give the line a slight pull, just enough to inflate the kite backwards and let it go back up into the air. Then once its high enough pull one side of the bar to turn he Kiev back up right.

You can also land the kite by simply pulling on this 3rd line and the kite should come strait down.

The 3rd line thing isn't something that I have actually done but this should be about right.

Alchemy69 - 22-8-2012 at 08:35 AM

Thankyou, that makes sense.

Should I be looking at a line of equal or greater strength than the main ones?

BeamerBob - 22-8-2012 at 08:55 AM

I had a symphony for years before getting into 4 line kites. I quickly upgraded to the padded straps. You can fly till your arms and shoulders can't stand it any longer. I've never flown one on a bar but that might be ok too.

erratic winds - 22-8-2012 at 09:32 AM

Alchemy- Equal strength. No need for extra strength.

DAKITEZ - 22-8-2012 at 09:59 AM

I am not familiar with this kite too much. Are you sure the 3rd line would work? I believe that is for a tail like BR stated. I think it is a good idea to try the 3rd line but I can not see it relaunching the kite. I see it acting more like a 5th line and reverse taco-ing the kite?

If you guys have successfully done this that is awesome and I would love to see your rig and a video in action. I might start selling this kite if thats a possibility.

soliver - 22-8-2012 at 10:07 AM

I agree with Dakitez and BR,... I have symphony 2.1 and am pretty sure this loop is only for an optional tail. It doesn't have a knot for a larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head to go over.

While the Symphony is a great FUN kite, you should try getting a 4 line 2m or 3m kite like an HQ beamer or PL hornet. The symphony has a little docile pull, but you will really feel the "power" in a 4 line kite

awindofchange - 22-8-2012 at 11:29 AM

Yes to the above two posts. That loop is there to attach a tail to should you desire. It is not setup for a 3rd line and will probably not work for relaunching the kite. To properly reverse launch the kite, you would need a bridle section that attached to several points along the trailing edge. Pulling on that one point could put too much stress on it and tear the line out of the kite, damaging the sail. Also, if you were to drop the straps or have a line break, the sudden stress on that single tow point when attached to a kite killer would surely damage or destroy the kite.

awindofchange - 22-8-2012 at 11:31 AM

As for straps, try a set of these padded straps. Cost is a little over $20 and it will make flying soooooo much nicer with nearly zero wrist pain.
http://www.awindofchange.com/product/peterlynnstraps.html

pongnut - 22-8-2012 at 08:49 PM

I started my addiction with the Symphony - those things are a blast! Totally agree on the straps - swap them out for padded, or put some work gloves on.

Just a little note about that 2.1 m size, the Symphony kites sizes are measured in width, which is a little different than how most of the kites here are listed. 99% of the time when a kite size is mentioned, they are referring to the flat surface area of the kite. So when someone describes a 3m kite, that means the kite has close to 3 square meters of surface area when layed out flat. The Symphony 2.1 has a surface area of about 1.6 square meters, so would be considered a 1.6m kite when comparing it to other kites.

kite on brother... :thumbup:

Alchemy69 - 23-8-2012 at 04:32 AM

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Shame about the lack of a third line, guess I'll have to improve my non-crashing skills :)

Still undecided between a bar/straps. I think when I upgrade eventually, I would prefer to use a bar so I guess it would make sense to get some practice with one on this kite.

Bladerunner - 23-8-2012 at 05:23 AM

What you pay for a new bar will buy you a better used kite. Keep an eye on the for sale section here .
You will grow out of that kite very fast !

Alchemy69 - 23-8-2012 at 05:24 AM

I cant imagine finding a decent used kite for £20 on here?

Bladerunner - 23-8-2012 at 05:30 AM

You won't find a new bar for that either ??:crazy:

Take my advice and stick a tale on it !

Alchemy69 - 23-8-2012 at 05:31 AM

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/peter-lynn-2-line-control-bar.h...

snowspider - 23-8-2012 at 06:22 AM

I have made control bars out of oak dowels for two of my early kites. For what little pull that kite has you can get a lot of use out of a dowel and eyes for very little money.

Bladerunner - 23-8-2012 at 02:59 PM

That is a screamin' good deal on a new bar!
I am not sure the exchange rate but here is one at $50
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=23062

My point was that throwing money into that kite isn't the best way to go if you are at all serious about the sport. If not, stick a tail on that one and enjoy!

soliver - 23-8-2012 at 06:16 PM

Hey Alchemy, enjoy that symphony for a while and then move to the next level and get a true 4 line traction or power kite,... trust me that there is a WORLD of difference.

Like I said, I have that same kite and I flew the heck out of it, then moved up to a true power kite and the difference is something you can only experience,... not to mention the control you can gain.

Have fun!

stetson05 - 23-8-2012 at 08:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DAKITEZ
I am not familiar with this kite too much. Are you sure the 3rd line would work? I believe that is for a tail like BR stated. I think it is a good idea to try the 3rd line but I can not see it relaunching the kite. I see it acting more like a 5th line and reverse taco-ing the kite?

If you guys have successfully done this that is awesome and I would love to see your rig and a video in action. I might start selling this kite if thats a possibility.


My symphony came with two spots on the trailing edge for tails. I used some decent kiteline and ran two lines to a central point, basically like a bridle. Then I ran one line down to the ozone bar that I upgraded to. The 3 line hooks to the bar and a kitekiller just the a imp trainer. The two lines work very well to reverse launch the kite. The one line might work but I would guess not as well as two do.

stetson05 - 23-8-2012 at 08:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by snowspider
I have made control bars out of oak dowels for two of my early kites. For what little pull that kite has you can get a lot of use out of a dowel and eyes for very little money.


I first adapted my symphony to a home made bar that was schedule 40 gray pipe and used parachute cord for leader line. It worked fine. I would not do this for a power kite. My symphony is more like a foil stunt kite.

zero gee - 23-8-2012 at 08:24 PM

My first kite was a ParaStunter (by Go Fly a Kite in 1999) and the kite came with each bridle moored (larksheaded) to that loop to keep them from tangling.

After a couple of weeks, I turned it into a 4 line by adding a loop on each half of the trailing edge and that worked fine. Then I refined it further by adding 2 more on each half with a simple 3 point bridle, that was even better.

Judging how well it worked as a 4-line with just 2 points, I suspect it may work well as a 3 line with just 1 point too. But, better with 3 points.

Or, you can put a tail on it.

djinnzfree - 26-8-2012 at 07:04 AM

The loop served to tips bridle points when your folding the foil. When it's brand new... that's how its fold by manufacture. Check there http://youtu.be/oqbIndTUpgs at 1:45 than 3:44.

:wink2: