Do you depower kids have any static flying vids?

My lack of space has prevented me from buying a depower as most say there more at home on the move, with a bug or board and with a little more wind.

But who can fly a kite and not always want a depower sail?

Another thing I've heard is that they are prone to damage during the launch. Arc's I would guess.

So, I was thinking maybe somebody just flys their depower static all the time and could offer some video's and advice whether the price would be worth it.

These are my first attemps at flying a 15m Synergy

i fly 'em static when there's not enough wind to ride... you can do jumps and stuff too, but i think if static is your only game, FBs will be a better fit... hard to do rev tricks with a depower... idk, i think if i was only static / jumping i'd just roll FBs (blades/twisters/crossfires) and two line stunters and revs :dunno:

can ya barrow one and try it at your spot?

Yeah de-powers need to be in motion in order to realize their full benefit, and flying static, that only happens for moments at a time as it cruises through the window. So you can do some jumps and stuff but that might get old soon. Put it this way: If adding de-power gives you a transmission and throttle, then flying it static is like driving around the parking lot in 1st gear.

^^ lol angus, i've had a lot of fun doing that tho



(not me, lol)

If flying static is your game then save your money. I wouldn't even take a depower out of the bag if I wasn't going to ride with it. I like the analogy that Angus offered up.

From my experience, LEIs are much more fun to fly static than foils are.

*open palm to forehead*

Can't borrow one in this neck of the woods. Wouldn't if I could. I'd have to much respect for a kite like that and would be scared to death that I would mess it up.

angus, parking lot in first gear! ROFL. That would be a bummer in time.

You all are saying the same thing so I'll try and pass on it for now.
But man it looks like fun, just pull in the bar and catch some air. Leave it out and no worries.

I probably should try some different FB kites. But when I find that perfect field, somethings gona change. Until then a bit more expereance might be in order.

Hardrock, you are just up the road a piece. Pop down to JIBE in May and you will be able to try so much gear. We can get you in motion in a bug, too!

Yea I'll keep watch for the dates on JIBE. Might can work something out. Thanks

I tend to agree that a fixed bridle will be a good choice if all you do is fly static.
I fully understand where Power is coming from however. For him ( and I ) the focus is on jumping. I MUCH prefer static jumping with my arcs to my fixed bridles. Just flying the arc , looping and stuff isn't the biggest thrill.
The fine control offered up on the fixed bridles makes just flying more fun and interesting. Of course you can still jump with them as well. I haven't flown a Crossfire but agree the Twisters and Blades are a good choice. I also find the reflex is a fun static kite.

Borrow + fly like you stole everything you can get your hands on anytime you can!

I've flown my arcs static to try them out ... great fun scudding and jumping but I wouldn't want to do it all the time. Buy a Rev, dude - you'll enjoy that static a whole lot more

Don't think arcs are any more susceptible to damage on launch than others kites, surely? Self-launch and -land looks a lot easy on them any way ...

I think any kite is just as much fun to fly static as it is using it to pull yourself on a board, buggy, or whatever. I like to fly static with my Ozone Access XT 8m to loosen up and stretch before I jump on my landboard. Flying static with a depower is very fun in my opinion. The point with power kiting is just to get out and have fun flying any way you can.

best way to start for sure

Thanks again guys. You make a good point powerkiter. Just get out and have fun any way you can.

You just can't know the depower exists and not want it. But its a lot of cash.

I'll probably just keep it in mind for a bit. Like the buggy, I couldn't live without it, now I don't use it, LOL But I will.

Laters,

Let me offer my 2¢. I'd say that a small depower might be fun to fly static. For me the depowers tend to be quite large and as a result they don't have nearly as robust the control that a FB has. I get way better scuds on my FBs because I can crank them around on a dime and lock into the powerzone compared to the depowers which just yank as the kite flows through the power across the window.

Of course I'm only assuming that a small depower would be more responsive - no question it'd still be nowhere near as responsive as the FBs.

Any pointers in proper use of a depower, have a buggy and use FBs also own a depower only flown it static, would like to know some more before i get into the buggy with it.

Need to know when to sheet in and when not to.

Big topic but I'll take swipe at it.

Flying static you won't get the full benefit or effect of the depower rig, but it's a place to start.

When launching, esp in light winds, I will start with the center strap in and in this case you may need to sheet in when you get near the zenith to slow the kite and keep it from overflying. Sheet too much and you might stall it. In this way, a depower can seem "bass ackwards" when flying static. Sometimes you will have to sheet out (depower) to get the kite sped up and flying at all, while trying to power up by sheeting in will in fact choke, stall and kill the kite. Your center strap is the gearbox, and the bar is your throttle; put the strap too far out when going slow and hitting the "gas" will stall it.

You will also want to sheet in when turning to get the brake on that side of the kite to bite and help the turn, sheet out coming out of the turn to restore the speed you just killed.

Once in motion, things start behaving as advertised. Pulling the bar in (sheeting in) will generate a surge in power. If doing so chokes the kite instead, drop a gear and [edit]pull the center strap in[/edit]. I fly with the center strap in more than out since I am in the buggy and prefer kite speed over lift. You will want the center strap in for sure for upwind work, and loosened out for downwind.

I like to adjust my rig so that when on a beam reach (across the wind), pulling the bar in will break the back wheels out (skid downwind) just as the bar pressure gets hard. A local instructor once explained that if your arms get tired, you are doing something wrong. Much of your flying should be able to be done with your finger tips.

Sheet out to lay off the power and/ or eat a gust. In a gust turning downwind helps to, just like turning up will help tighten loose lines in a lull.


Experiment with this and you will sort it out. Have fun.

Thank you info greatly recieved

Just read that very good description from Angus!

I was flying my Apex II 5m for the 2nd time yesterday in very light winds and I remembered this thread so I grabbed the GoPro and stuck it on my head (on the wrong setting...oops, hence the black bars and borders on the vid!)

Flying depowers static is ok. More fun down the beach with a bit of wind allowing me to scud and do some little jumps. I don't scud in the paddock because the surface is too inconsistent. (broken ankle territory). Fixed bridles are definitely more fun to fly static. Depowers reign supreme on the beach especially when the wind changes a bit and you can sheet in or out to compensate. Hmmmm...having said that, I have had some tremendously fun sessions with my 3m Flow down the beach....

So, this is what static flying a depower is like from my perspective:

You could always pick a depower kite up cheap and see if you like it, ive got an 03 9.5 Frenzy, it cost me 50 quid RTF. They go for really cheap, still great kites aswell, especially for a first depower.

Quote:

[quote=jack1988]2003 9.5 Frenzy, it cost me 50 quid RTF

ah man, I need a deal that good on a kite that size for my dad.

sent you a u2u hardrock

Hey, Thanks for the video John.

That was nice. Everybodys got to learn how to fly those kites at some point. I know I would enjoy just what you were doing.

There have been some great responses and knowledgeable opinions from everybody.

I'm still in deep thought about it. I know I'll pick one up some day, just when and what will be the question.