Just in the process of uploading this video. It should be up in an hour or so.
S

Awesome lesson, Thanks

In light winds, I always turn the kite down at the edge of the window - just before I start to lose tension in the lines. This saves having to 'pull' the kite or step back when turning up. It also means you've got gravity working for you......

I find I end up having to walk windward more if I do downturns.
In low wind, do you ever do down wind walking races? You have to walk down wind while flying your kite without it crashing. First guy to the end of the field wins.
In Vancouver, we get pretty good at flying really low winds. We have them so much of the time.
S

p.s. (written on 25/2) I was flying today, in similar wind, to see why i find upturns work better in light wind. In really low wind I find I lose too much height doing a downturn. The kite can only travel down wind as fast as the wind is blowing. If I prolong the time I am getting gravity assist by flying the kite only slightly downward, the kite gets more down wind drift with less loss of height. So a quick down turn means I can not get the handles far enough away from me to regain height when I pull. With a quick pull of one arm span I can make my kite do an upturn and gain almost a kite span in the process. Then I can use the falling of the kite to get speed for the traverse of the window all the while letting the drift downwind. That allows for a big pull.
Downturns are great when there is wind and you have flown the kite too close to the edge of the window. You will be able to regain altitude when the kites back in power zone, but when the wind is so low there really isn't a power zone you are going to have work to gain that, at least, almost one kite span of altitude you lost in the down turn to make your next turn. If you don't, and you're in my park, your kite is probably dragging through dog carp.
Try it, see what you think. Maybe your kite doesn't respond the same way as mine does.

Good job, Sean. Very helpful, esp. with the synched cameras. I liked seeing the spectator stop to watch behind you. I have had similar reaction when flying the 7M NPW in no wind, they always want to know, "how are you flying that thing, there's no wind?" And I have to reply, "well, if you can keep the lines tight, these 'things' just want to fly!"

Bob, the guy on the bench was taking a smoke break from flying his indoor R/C helicopter, that should give you an idea of how little wind there was. thanks for the thumbs up guys.

S

Quote:

In low wind, do you ever do down wind walking races? You have to walk down wind while flying your kite without it crashing. First guy to the end of the field wins.

Now there's a good idea.... I hadn't thought of that. Might be able to throw in some 360's on the way......