Power Kite Forum

Newb Help

Force - 1-7-2017 at 10:40 AM

Last week took out a new PL Hornet 2M and Twister 4m. First time. They took right off and it was just a matter of me learning how they handled.
This weekend I took out just the Hornet 2M. Winds pretty much the same speed and direction. I set up the Hornet and it started billowing on the ground like she wanted to take off. When I did my Pop with the lines she would raise in the air about 5 to 7 feet and just fold. No matter what I did.
Any ideas on what I am doing wrong? Good thing that these kites are expensive. Gives you that extra delay before you do something mighty, mighty stupid.

Mark:puzzled::puzzled:

Bladerunner - 1-7-2017 at 12:05 PM

If the kite has enough wind and won't fly to the windows edge chances are your back lines are too tight for some reason.

You may have been holding the handles wrong this time or connected the back lines closer to the handles.

Your kite should fly on front lines only until you introduce back lines.

Hospital bills are more expensive than kites. Be careful with that 4m Twister!!!!

Randy - 2-7-2017 at 05:25 AM

Is it possible you have reversed the brake and power lines? (Got them upside down?) - I've done that. Or perhaps you have a tangle in your bridles.

Recap and clarification

skimtwashington - 2-7-2017 at 08:50 AM


1.) Did you leave all the lines attached when you put away your kite?

2.)Did you check to see if all bridal lines of kite were not tangled/ snagged on any of it's own lines/knots, or on the fly lines attachment/knot when you had trouble launching?

3.) Did you check to see if all four fly lines are same exact length- within about an inch.. (if top fly lines may have stretched after your 1st session)?

I assume you are flying off handles(and not a control bar)... and you hold the handles with brake lines attached to bottom of handles....

Randy - 2-7-2017 at 11:11 AM

Here is one thing I do when I run into the problem of a kite just doesn't want to fly. Wait till there is enough wind then take the kite by the power lines and let it fill with air. It should fly overhead. You will now be a lot closer to it - see if anything looks wrong by comparing both sides. You can also try it with all four lines by holding the brake and power lines together. You will likely have to hold the brake line so it is a bit slack. I usually hold them with my thumb and index finger and use my pinkie to tweak the brake line. (Another variation on this is to just fly the kite off the handles but no lines.) If there is some serious tangle, or whatever it should be a lot easier to spot.

Once you find that you can fly the kite add the flying lines making sure they are attached correctly, and as skimwashington say all the same length. If it flew once it will almost certainly fly again, (unless there is a tear, blown cell or something due to a crash,)


Force - 4-7-2017 at 06:29 AM

Thanks for all of the help. Taking her back out today. Winds are a little stronger as well.

Mark