Kite Observations from Newbie

Oh ,yeah it'll get more pull try15mph winds and report back

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Originally posted by WELDNGOD Oh ,yeah it'll get more pull try15mph winds and report back

Yeah, I'm anxious....cautiously, for those higher winds. The Beamer sure does loop and turn sharp....that part's nice.

Lobo :singing:

Thanks! I need to get a helmet. I got the knee and elbow pads, but you usually don't get knocked out by hitting yer knee real hard.....'course you might want somebody to knock ya out!! Those knee-bones can hurt! :o

Yeah, the gusts are the thing here. Even yesterday, it would go from 1 mph to a gust of, probably, 12 mph. The gust might not last more than 5 seconds. Frustrating winds sometimes.....but, at least it's wind!!

Lobo :singing:

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Originally posted by kitemaker4 Hey Lobo I watched your vid and you were doing great. Just remember to move your hands down the handles some to apply more break when the wind is stronger. Susan (npw goddess)

Great hint, Susan! Thanks!! That sorta stuff I just won't get out here on my own.....it's 2nd nature to you folks, I'm sure. I'll remember (now) when the wind is stronger to move down a little.

Newbie needs, and appreciates, all the help he can get.

Thanks!!!

Lobo :singing:

video looks good .. It sure doesn't look like you have only been flying a week. Just wait till you get theat beamer spinning on its wingtip

Love your avatar! If I could do that It would be considered a 4ft jump without leaving the ground at that age. And yea wait til you get a little more wind with the Beamer you will love it!

Yeah, dlish...I got it out last evening for about 20 minutes. Hardly enough wind to fly it, but I got it in the air some. I just had to keep it moving constantly to keep it up there. And you're absolutely right.....that sucker, with power and brake input, will turn on a dime, won't it?!?!

Thanks for getting it to me. It looks great! Can't wait to get it out again and start really getting used to it. I can fly again Thursday afternoon....forcast for 19 mph winds!! I'll be careful, that's for sure, till I get used to it. With those kite killers, I just don't mind at all to let 'er go.

Lobo :singing:

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Originally posted by Sthrasher38 Love your avatar! If I could do that It would be considered a 4ft jump without leaving the ground at that age. And yea wait til you get a little more wind with the Beamer you will love it!

Yeah....if somethin' ever happens to my wife.....I might have to look that lady up?!?!?? :wow:

Lobo :singing:

Ha! That's amazing! She does look a lot like the same lady. I bet she flies power kites to keep in shape, you reckon???

Lobo :singing:

A line set on each ankle and there ya go a good 5m.

Well...finally....I got to fly the Beamer in about 8 to 20 mph winds today! Now, that made a difference!!


The following is mainly for the other newbies out there who have also gotten the Beamer III 3m:
In my first post in this thread, I mention that I had to pull the handle back further to turn than I did with the NPW.....mabye twice as much. And I was also pulling a little brake to get 'er to turn. Well, with enough wind to really fly the Beamer 3m, it ain't so! It didn't take near the distance to make 'er turn. I found that as the wind picked up, I actually was able to fly, and turn, better, and with less movement, by moving my hands down the handle's a little, which I reckon added a slight amount of brake, and when I turned the kite, it helped to emphasize the brake and make a nice quick, sharp turn. Whew! Now that's a heck of a long, gramatically incorrect sentence. That don't matter, if you got the message.

I'm sure the vets here should say something about this, if needed, since I'm out here learning on my own by trail and error, and by nook or crook (is that right?). So....vets, please chime in.

I flew till I was totally exhausted. You think, "I need to quit this, I'm getting toooooo tired. Well, maybe a few more zips and turns and zeniths....and, well, heck....it's 20 minutes later...again!"

Fun! Fun! Fun! And, oh yes.....this if FUN!!!!

Lobo :singing:

I'm happy you finally got to feel a kite fly as it should

Get a harness :!: It will allow you to hook in and rest without having to drop the kite. Increasing your fly time 10 fold. At 1st you will want to unhook while actually fying and trying new things but soon you will enjoy remaining hooked in while scudding and riding. Then you can go all day !
Walking back upwind hooked in is much easier. as well.


Try to keep your motions small !!!!! Beginers always overdo everything . If it's not going right odds are you are overdoing the motion or doing it too jerky.
When reverse launching do it with a very gentle touch. Sort of fluff the kite until it takes shape and then just slightly apply brakes and the kite will lift. Too much brake or too jerky and it will not work. When Flying concentrate on getting the kite nice and stable above your head work at just making SMALL controled figure 8 while AVOIDING the power zone. Diving the through the power zone and flying it too fast create power that just yards you around and you aren't getting too far too fast. When the kite starts flyng too fast tap the brakes LIGHTLY to slow it down and then settle it down at the edge. When you really feel IN CONTROL of the kite then start dipping it a little into the power zone and work on flying it back out in a controled manor. Enjoy the power but try and harness it rather than have it in control of you and the kite . You'll progress faster that way !
When the wind is strong enough to sit at the edge of the window work it slowly from above your head down and up the left and right. Try and hold the kite at the edge. This is how you will have someone assist you landing and launching the kite in big winds. ( If you ever get any friends :wink2: urr kiting Buddies at least :wink2: )

In lower winds try kite loops. They are just sharp turn that you commit to and keep holding on to until the kite is fully around and flying back up again. Stop turning too soon and you hit the dirt.

Great info, snowbird. I appreciate it.

I've been doing loops...some on the wingtip, and some longer to get near the ground and follow it accross the wind window. And....I've "hit the dirt" a few times! Ha! When the wind picks up...I usually stay mostly clear of the power zone. And, like you suggest...I fly the kite from one edge of the window, up and over to the other edge. It's realy a fun kite to fly, and to try to back it down and land it right where I want it, without it rolling over on the way down...or collapsing.

I've been dipping in and out of the power zone...and doing figure 8's in and out of it...when the wind is not too strong. Occasionally, I would have to go a runnin'! :P I have done practice of controling direction and figure 8's overhead near the zenith also.

I like the harness idea!! Gotta look into that. I just still feel I would like the quick release (and pulley) I've seen set up on some online. I understand most folks don't use that?? :puzzled::puzzled:

I've reversed launched a number of times, but, your right, I get too "jerky" trying to get it to launch that way. I'll be more patient now, and move slow.

Such great and helpful advice, snowbird. Thanks so much for taking the time to type it all up for me.!!! You da man!!!

Lobo :singing:

I have put the safety release discribed best in NPW's DIY god thread on my strops . Still judging them but I like them so far.

The reason few people use them is that it is easy to push out and not really as big an issue as it appears.

The real problem comes in when using kite killers and a strop. The chance of letting go and thinking you are going to killers but not pushing out of the spreader 1st is there for beginers. :wow:

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Originally posted by Dax Cool Lobo! I can't wait to get some good wind to really put my 3m Beamer through its paces.

Dax....you're gonna really enjoy it! The winds are high here today....hopefully where you are also. Just be careful...if you use the kite killers...there's not much to worry about that I've seen yet. Just don't forget to let go....ha!

And, pace yourself....take some breaks so you won't be so sore the next day. Now, listen to me....I'm almost 60....you may be 20!!! Ha! I only think old anymore...ha!

Lobo :singing:

Got the Beamer 3m out again today on the way home from work for about an hour of goooooood exercise!! Winds from 8-12mph with gusts about 17 on the ground at the field I was at. I think it was a fair bit stronger up at the zenith a few times.....whew!

Did a lot of working the perimeter of the power zone, and dipping into it when the winds slowed a bit. Got slightly lifted only once....not trying to. Never did let go....didn't need to. Scudded a little once in a while. Slowly learning and enjoying. Moved the kite from the zenith out a notch and stopped it....out another notch, and stopped.....over and over to almost down to the ground.....and then back up and over to the other side. I can see how that's a good practice exercise for learning control.

Thanks for all the advice and online instructions!

Lobo :singing:

Just keep practicing with your kite till you can control it without thinking about. Then practice some more. If your thinking about getting a buggy then you can start practicing some power strokes.

Yeah....I love to practice. Loads of fun, even if my hands hurt...I still hang in there for awhile. I will eventually look into a harness. I've read a little on them, but don't really know what to get.

Weldngod.....you know I'm a newbie!!! I haven't even thought that far ahead. I've not tried to fly it backwards, except on reverse takeoffs....and that only long enough to get it in the air, turn it, and head off forward. Not sure how I could "hold" it in one spot in the power window. That's sorta "happened", and it gets a "hold" on ME....and off I go until I get it out of the window!!!! :o And, I don't even know what "walking the ladder" is. Educate me, please. I'll take all the advice and instrution you'll send my way, and give it try!

Lobo :singing: