Hi all, just had my first outing with a depower in the bug.

After just using FBs for so long, I found it a bit of a handful at times when wind kicked.

Is there any written tutorials anywhere, as I am only kiter in these parts.

Any help appreciated

Glen I don't know of any written tutorials anywhere. It's just another aspect of flying in a bug. There is a bit of a learning curve, meaning finding the sweet spot for each kite/location/wind condition. What was sweet yesterday will be doggy tomorrow.

Just take time getting use to it. Big power difference I have found between fb and depower. They say 1.5m up to 3m difference between fb and depower.

What you give up in power you make up in fine tuning on the fly and the cruise ability of the bar.

All you need now is that cup holder mounted on your buggy!

Were you flying the 5m Apex, Glen?? Will be a little slower to react than the fixed bridles. Bar out to get the kite up to speed, once up to speed, you can pull the bar in a bit for some power when needed. I also pull the bar fully in when turning then let it straight back out again once the kite is going in the new direction. (If I leave the bar out, the turns are a little too slow for my liking).

I'm pretty comfy in the bug from 12 knots to 20 knots with the 5m and it's the first kite I'll pull out if it's gusty. Very stable, relaxing to fly - won't be the fastest on the beach, but you'll be the most relaxed!

I'll usually trim the depower strap so that once up to speed, I have the bar half pulled in....maybe a little more. That leaves me a little room to compensate for gusts and keeps the bar at a comfortable reach while cruising.

Won't take you long to get used to it.

If it was the PL Guerilla - it may be a little different, I have never flown an arc.

Think about your depower as being like a fixed bridle. You fly on the front lines through your harness without the bar pulled in. You are actually doing brake turns when turning the bar and adding both brakes when pulling the bar in.

Don't be slamming the bar in and out. It is like flopping from hard brake to the top of the handles and back. Just like with handles , smooth moves with purpose are much more effective. The kite will be a bit slower to react so added patients is needed at 1st .

Just like on handles flying on the front lines launches the kite and speeds it to the edge of the window. Once you are launched and flying on front lines ( through your harness ) Pull the bar in a bit and add " brake " to slow the kite + avoid overshooting the window. I like to stand beside a student who is flying FB hooked in with the depower and show them how they take the power on the front lines and slow + turn the kite with the back exactly like the depower is doing. Helps to get it in your head.

Start with the kite about 85% depowered. Once it is launched and resting at the edge of the window. Pull in you bar the kite should stall a bit but hopefully not back down. If so you have the right size kite. Trim out to about 50% and try again. Hopefully still doesn't back down.

If you haven't gotten used to flying your depower with a harness taking the power it may take some getting used to. You are about to understand what people mean by" bar pressure " . You are going to feel like your kite doesn't have ANY ! It is ALL about flying off of your harness now ! You are only using your bar to turn the kite and to slow it. At least until you are in motion and cruising.

To get flying. Tug the front lines. Kite should lift. Fly the the edge by taking the power through the harness. Add bar pressure SMOOTHLY as the kite approaches the edge to slow the kite + to increase the " brake turn " effect as you turn the kite.

To get moving. Same buggy motions. Kite at zenith bar about 50 / 50 . Trim 50 / 50 ( in good wind ) . Rock kite by simple bar tip. Dive kite with stronger bar tip and dive kite into power zone. Let bar out slightly to speed up kite and take power through harness. As you approach the edge SMOOTHLY pull in a bit to aid in turning kite. Not TOO much or you will stall the kite ! KEEP TENSION ON THE FRONT LINES ( your harness ) . Sometimes that means reaching out and tugging the front lines launch style. Sine kite to build power same as FB. While in motion you will see what the term " depower " is all about. As the kite approaches the edge of the window and you are cruising pulling in the bar now changes the AOA you will feel the inreased bar pressure and abilaty to ede against it to build speed. You may want to readjust trim strap to match motion.

This is all written over morning coffee so ......

Written over morning coffee or not, that, BR, is possibly the best written description of using a de-power as I have ever read! :bigok:

Well said blade. Now are you giving seminars at SOBB?

Seriously, nice job.

thanks blade well said

Quote:

Originally posted by csa_deadon Well said blade. Now are you giving seminars at SOBB? Seriously, nice job.

There ya go, no good deed goes unpunished... just kiddin' guys.

Nice piece Blade, that put a lot of things I've been doing in perspective, especially slammin' "brake lines" and inducing too much back stall.

this thread should be in with the sticky ones

WOW, here I was searching for Info on how to fly Depower and my buddy BR has this great thread up..

Here's a bump to the top for a great write-up!:bigok:

+1+1+1 for sticky