Got my new Phantom (thanks Ricardo). My problem is I'm having trouble getting it inflated.
1st day it was 5-8 mph or so and it never made it. Figured the valves were likely not opening up so I bagged it for the day.
Went out the next day in 10-12 which should of been plenty, and I PLANNED on taking some anti-static fabric softener sheets, but forgot The kite just wouldn't fly. When I pulled the bar in the kite would drop, but if I let the bar out, it would clamshelling while in the air. I assume that this clamshelling was due to inadequate air pressure inside the kite.
Finally I took her down, unzipped and reached up in and got the valve straightened out and open. SUCCESS! Although the wind had dropped to below 10, it was flying.
Next time I will take some fabric softener sheets and work it over BEFORE hand.
MY QUESTION:: how do you get to the other two valves to treat them? Both of the zippers access only the center cell.

I think I've found the answer in a previous thread. I'll use the dryer sheet on the center valve, and spray some static cling spray in the other two. If that doesn't work, I'll try the messy talcum powder!

Is there not a vent passing through the profile somewhere? I can't just roll out a 35 foot kite to take a look but the air has to move from cell to cell to equalize pressure and fill the kite from the inflate zipper. Just speaking from memory and how it would have to be to inflate. :dunno:

Edit: There is a vent going from cell to cell but its covered in mesh to add rigidity to the profile.

put the leaf blower on it !

The vents from cell to cell is a large mesh section at the trailing edge. It is apart of the profile.

This also means that, when inflating, the trailing edge should be flat and not folded on itself, allowing the air to pass from cell to cell.

Beamer, Yes there are vents, but they at covered with mesh. I expect that maintanes / supports the cell.

Phreerider, If I have to I will, but I really don't want to carry around another piece of equipment. Besides, that brings up yet another project which I should get done anyhow), and that is fix the broken throttle cable on the blower!

I now have fabric softener sheets in my truck and am looking into anti-static spray. Some sprays have solvents in them and I don't want to dissolve the kite fabric. I may have to make my own out of fabric softener and water in a spray bottle...

We will give it a shot and go from there. One thing about me is I don't give up very easily....very stubborn!!

After your first session getting the static cling out of those vents, they should be ok for the sessions after that. whenever I got a new arc in the past i have had trouble with static cling on the first session. Try and pinch them open, use fabric softener sheets, or a fan from your house. Once they are open, they should stay open for your sessions from there on out.

I use a 12v PC muffin fan and 9v RC car battery from Radio Shack. Weighs less than one pound and takes up little room in the kite bag. Fills the kite solid in less time than it takes to set out your lines.

As was mentioned in another thread on the same topic, try some sort of foot powder to keep the vents static free.

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell I use a 12v PC muffin fan and 9v RC car battery from Radio Shack. Weighs less than one pound and takes up little room in the kite bag. Fills the kite solid in less time than it takes to set out your lines.

Dang, I like that! With the zipper in the middle of the Phanny it's kind of hard to get it pre-inflated. That should do the trick just dandy and I already have some PC case fans!!!

Just watch your fingers. I need to get a wire grill cover for the fan. Hard to get blood off of ripstop.

New kite, kite curse and my cousins like to sew kites flat.

I swear china factories have the most static and everything smells like moth balls.

I spray static guard in the vents and a little on the outside so when it clams it doesn't stick.

You should be okay to go after 2 sessions.

Enjoy!!!!

Now thats funny looking Angus but good idea...being a computer nerd myself I should have thought of that! :puzzled:

Thx for sharing

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Originally posted by Leojim Quote: Originally posted by acampbell I use a 12v PC muffin fan and 9v RC car battery from Radio Shack. Weighs less than one pound and takes up little room in the kite bag. Fills the kite solid in less time than it takes to set out your lines. Dang, I like that! With the zipper in the middle of the Phanny it's kind of hard to get it pre-inflated. That should do the trick just dandy and I already have some PC case fans!!!

Wow - So that 18 must have been in the production run before they put the zips in the end. My 9 has zips on either end and it fills up fast. Zips in the end would greatly improve the fill of an 18. Muffin fan may be the less costly route.

we got all the vents open today but still didn't fill very fast. It was pretty difficult to get it off the ground in fact wind about 8mph. I was wondering if it might be the lines used. He is using his charger line set and I wondered if the Y type setup is too restrictive for the kite

Quote:

Originally posted by AD72 Quote: Originally posted by Leojim Quote: Originally posted by acampbell I use a 12v PC muffin fan and 9v RC car battery from Radio Shack. Weighs less than one pound and takes up little room in the kite bag. Fills the kite solid in less time than it takes to set out your lines. Dang, I like that! With the zipper in the middle of the Phanny it's kind of hard to get it pre-inflated. That should do the trick just dandy and I already have some PC case fans!!! Wow - So that 18 must have been in the production run before they put the zips in the end. My 9 has zips on either end and it fills up fast. Zips in the end would greatly improve the fill of an 18. Muffin fan may be the less costly route.

AD I remember commenting about your end zips. I have an end zip in my 15 but fixmykite did that while they had it for a repair. Phantoms are typically with 1 center zip and yes it is less than optimal.

Quote:

Originally posted by Leojim Quote: Originally posted by acampbell I use a 12v PC muffin fan and 9v RC car battery from Radio Shack. Weighs less than one pound and takes up little room in the kite bag. Fills the kite solid in less time than it takes to set out your lines. Dang, I like that! With the zipper in the middle of the Phanny it's kind of hard to get it pre-inflated. That should do the trick just dandy and I already have some PC case fans!!!

Well here you go....the PC fan in the Phanny trick! Kind of slow, but gets the job done. Probably needs a better fan or power pack, cause it takes a bit longer than the time it takes to set out lines. BUT, it gets the job done!!

Got the 18m Phantom flying today!!!! Found out that it doesn't work well on the PL Navigator bar. With the power bridgle "V" way up the line it makes the Phanny want to clam shell. Really hard to get the kite up and flying. I borrowed an old bar from stetson05 with the lines splitting right at the depower strap and BINGO....up and flying in about a 7 mph. Kept on flying in 4-5 as long as I kept flying it. Up to now it was totally frustrating! A local chap has a couple of inflatos for sale with bars. Might just pick one up to have the bar if it works out. Otherwise, I'll be in the market for another bar.

Thanks for the heads up! Still waiting to get mine up. I had planned on going with the large 07 bar 1st . Now I am sure.
Can I assume you didn't have the extensions supplied with the Navi bar on? Med Navi' bar ? ( same as my set-up )

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Thanks for the heads up! Still waiting to get mine up. I had planned on going with the large 07 bar 1st . Now I am sure. Can I assume you didn't have the extensions supplied with the Navi bar on? Med Navi' bar ? ( same as my set-up )

Bladerunner,

Correct, medium bar (latest PL Navigator) set to 55 cm and no extensions. No doubt the extensions would help, but might not be enough to make the difference.

I flew an 18M Phantom for the first time today in low wind. I used a old computer fan duct taped to a 3" id plastic tube. I had the fan powered by an 18v black and decker battery. It worked the trick. Got the kite fully inflated so the lauch was easy. The 18 Phantom is very gust tolerant and extremely stable. I just let go of the bar and it hangs out at 12:00. It is also very easy to prevent a bow tie. Much easier than the 9. I just wish the SA19 was as well behaved and the 18 had the grunt of the SA.
I gave it a try land boarding for the first time. I got a few runs across wind before the wind died down. It seems like a good one to learn on when the wind is only around 12mph but with the inland gusts.