hello,

firstly im new to power kiting and new to this forum, i have bought myself a 4m peter lynn hornet and took it out for a test flight the other day winds around 12mph gusts 19mph.....im 19 stone 4 lb.....so not very light lol

i have done alot of reading on power kites and they say alot of people dont respect mother nature and what these things can do!!

when i first took the kite for a flight it felt like it was testing me once in the power part of the window but never took me off the ground.

my question is the forecast is 15mph and gust of 24mph tomorrow would it be ok to take my kite flying and if so what tips have people got as i would like to have a fly.

thanks for replying

chris

4m is a lota kite for starting out...so respect it
I find hornets kinda docile but have a 3m and am 165#...no stones
I say fly at 15 for sure, 20??? Your call
Look over your shoulder don't let weather sneak up on you
And fly the kite don't let it fly you...smooth and easy w/ purpose at all times

I am only replying because I know you have already decided to go out and give it a go...

It will be the near 10 mph gust factor that could be a real problem for you. A sudden gust could place you onto your face and remake it... It's not so much being lifted straight up that I'd be worried about - which could result in your being dropped rather suddenly and maybe breaking an ankle or leg or something - but being pulled over. Wear a pair of jeans and sit down to start. Let the kite pull you around a bit till you get the winds figured out, and don't catch a heel and get pulled over. Let us know how you make out too.

You're no doubt going to hear this a variety of ways:
The number one thing to keep in mind is safety. Generally, 3m is the suggested size to start with, so be cautious with the 4m. The Hornet is a great kite to learn with, but it's still capable of producing a lot of power.
If you think the wind "might" be a little too much for you, your skills, or the kite: you're probably right.
Learn to control the kite in lighter winds; learn when to let go of the kite (that's what kite killers are for - you can loose them once you're comfortable with the kite in any condition).
And remember that it's always better to give up a session today so that you can fly again tomorrow, than to take a chance and not be able to fly for weeks/months.
Welcome to the party!

The rule is to size your kite for the gusts.
The winds you describe are exactly why I find 4m to be an odd size kite. Nicely powered at 15 but getting hit with a gust of 24 puts you way over safety limit. Especially when learning. Unfortunately you may need to " live to fly another day " when a 3m foil would be a reasonable kite in those winds.

The trick with pushing the limits is to keep the kite calm and close to the edges of the window. DON'T fly the kite aggressively into and through the power zone. Same with overhead. Don't let the kite sit there or start moving fast up there. Keeping the kite off to the side is safest. Learn how to " side launch " and do it if the wind is so strong you think you may be over powered. Keep the kite low on the edge at 1st while you decide if you made a bad choice. Only " hot launch " in winds you are sure are safe to do so!

The biggest mistake beginners make is thinking too much about sending the kite all over the place. You don't want to do that! You want to CONTROL the kite. Learn to keep it calm and to anticipate what you need to do next + execute it in time for the kite to react.

I'm with Brock on this one, a 10mph difference in wind speed, with a FB kite, and new to flying, let that day go by and live to fly another day.

The hornet in general is a great kite, with that being said, it will spank you just like any other kite in the wrong situation. One gust at the wrong time and you are definitely in for the wrong kind of excitement.

Fly safe and gear up!

my boy here is 270#'s...kinda think he'll be ok
dont fly w/ your arms fully extended..you want to keep them bent well at the elbow
like a foot off your big ole body...this will allow you to resist against the gust as they do get extended out
gust finishes up and you bring them back in...you got this!!!
this is all opinion....and legally i indemnify myself and must be held harmless
But have fun!!!

I'm 245 lbs and the second time I flew my first 3m Beamer in winds like that, I got Supermanned about 20 feet onto my chest. Bad decisions and experience go hand in hand but not always in the right order.