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Author: Subject: Help with tuning?
uncle_d
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[*] posted on 15-7-2012 at 01:01 AM
Help with tuning?


Hi All,
I'm 3 months into kiting. Learned with a 4 line NewTech 4.7m fixed bridle, with a bar, and a two line Delta. Have added a 2m, 4 line with handles for teaching friends, and just purchased a 9m Latitude de-powerable. I'm a careful guy, and this kite scares me. I want to set it up at minimum power as I get to know it better, and am confused on trim theory based on what I'm reading at 'kiteboardevolution.com', and here in the newbie Q&A topic.
On my fixed bridle, if i shorten the top lines, it gains power, flies in lower wind. High winds, i shorten the brakes, and lengthen the top lines. I know this works.
Is the same true of my bowkite? If so, I would leave the front lines as long as possible (depower strap and pigtails), and bring the back lines up closer to the bar, until it won't launch, and then let them out one knot at a time, to find it's minimum power, and then mess with the depower straps from there?
Theory says, leading edge further away creates more 'lift'.
Is that the same as power in the wind window? This seems to contradict what my fixed bridle does.
Thanks in advance for any insight.
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acampbell
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[*] posted on 15-7-2012 at 07:16 AM


I am glad the kite scares you a bit; that will help keep you safe.

A 4.7 m Fixed bridle (FB) is a good background for your first de-power as long as you have some good experience with it in a variety of winds. Then the de-power kite will be a bit less intimidating.

I do not know the NewTech kites well but here is what I bet is going on: The kite is likely 2 line biased and flies well on the front 2- lines, so loosening the brakes will speed it up. Tightening the brakes too much will choke the kite a bit, muting the lift and holding it back rather than increasing lift or power.

[Soliloquy: Some FB kites, especially buggy engines and certain related race kites will benefit from the right amount of brake tension and actually cause a surge in power, but that is another thread ]

Now your de-power is a different animal. You have a pulley system in the bridle that allows the entire kite to rotate and change the angle of attack, rather than just deflecting the trailing edge. Thus when you pull back on the bar (rear lines), the kite increases angle of attack and powers up, and when you sheet out and let the kite rotate forward and lower the angle of attack, you reduce lift and power, right? Well...

There is a phenomenon with de-power and newbies that messes up a lot of riders' heads. De-power kites need to be in constant motion (in a buggy, on a board or skis, whatever) in order to behave as advertised. But newbies wisely start flying de-power static and therein lies the rub. When you fly static, the kite is not in motion long as it passes briefly through the window to the other edge. Thus you will see behavior much like your FB NewTech. Pull on the bar and the kite chokes and stalls instead of powering up. Let the bar out and maybe trim in the center lines (for full de-power, right?) and the kite speeds up and actually generates quite a lot more power! Backwards!

When you and the kite get in motion, you will see the kite behaving as you would expect (or have read), and then you will learn to trim the kite for the conditions and the power that you want or need. Treat the center strap as your transmission (stick shift) and the bar as your throttle. If you start out with the center strap too far out (low gear) you will stall the kite (engine) when you hit the throttle (pulling the bar). Start with your center strap pulled in (low gear) and tool around.



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uncle_d
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[*] posted on 16-7-2012 at 01:34 PM


Thanks Angus!
the new tech is definitely two line biased. I've had it out in the lightest breeze, and up to 20+mph. I'll trim the top lines in on the latitude and give it a go. I sat on the beach of our local reservoir waiting for wind for a few hours, and when it picked up enough to launch, it was picking up fast. On second launch, i had to pull the QR, cause it was too much for me. Knowing that bringing in the front lines will lower its power gives me a great place to start safe.
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shortlineflyer
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[*] posted on 16-7-2012 at 02:38 PM


acampbell that is the best explation of depower and what happens in different settings that I have ever heard. that helps me quite a bit to understand mine.



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