Today I had my best day in the buggy. I got to take the buggy to a local, privately owned airfield. The field has two runways, each approx. 2500' long, one asphalt, the other mowed and rolled grass. The asphalt runway heads SW-NE, the grass intersects heading NW-SE. When I arrived this am, winds were light (5-6 mph) and from the south. I knew I didn't have anything that would move me at that speed, so I decided to fly the NPW 4.8M static, and see if the wind picked up. Flanked to the south by a major roadway, many cars honked their horns, or slowed as they drove by to watch the NPW dance in the light wind. As time went by, the wind started to shift around to the west, and picked up to a steady 10 with gusts to 15+. This made the asphalt runway a broad reach, my fastest point of sail, so I took advantage! My fastest run of the day was 20.3 mph with the NPW. This was clocked on a modified Schwinn Bicycle Speedometer, ala A.Campbell's "A Little Bit of Better Buggy Basics" (Thanks Angus) This was the fastest run clocked, but possibly not my fastest, because I pinched the sensor wire in the headstock trying to throw off speed by slamming the wheel side to side! 20 MPH on asphalt with the butt only inches from the ground seems like a hundred! I actually on a couple of runs got up on two wheels! I also spent a good hour at the end of the runway, doing figure 8's on a halfwind course, using the 2M Beamer IV. All in all an excellent day!

That is great!!! Tt is the best feeling I know of!!!!

I went back to the airfield this am, here is a short video. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual...

Good Job Bob!

That place looks fun... but pretty far from us

It's a great spot, 2 crossing runways,(1 grass, 1 asphalt) each about 2500 feet, open approach in 3 directions (E,S,W), N winds are lumpiest, can kite in almost any winds, owner says anytime is o.k., just if I hear a plane, and it is circling, just clear the runway until it lands! How lucky am I? Well worth the trip for anyone within 3-4 hours! Where else can an inland kiter get a clear near 1/2 mile run?Bob

Private Airfield - I'm envious :smug:

Looking at your other vids, I see we're the same age and learning a few new, extreme sports! Maybe we could start a new topic section "MID-LIFE NOOBS!"

It figures that I waited until I'm at the age where I break a bit easier to start this stuff (thank goodness for extended COBRA benefits!).

Du-uuude ... I hate you make sure you buy the owner a case of something tasty! What a top man!
Here, if you want to use a public park during the 'open hours', you gotta make a booking at the city office and pay :puzzled: I can't believe it either but it's true!

Way to go Bob! Glad to see you rolling in that buggy. Hope to see you cruising down the beach next time the Wildwood Bash comes around!

Man, is that list getting longer???? Heh, Heh,Heh...B

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Originally posted by bobalooie57 Man, is that list getting longer???? Heh, Heh,Heh...B

That's the first thing I noticed in the for sale section viewing his ad for the Neo.


Let me know when you want to get rid of the 19M Venom II :singing:

Where are you located Bob? Would love to join you some time. :wee:

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Originally posted by Todd Quote: Originally posted by bobalooie57 Man, is that list getting longer???? Heh, Heh,Heh...B That's the first thing I noticed in the for sale section viewing his ad for the Neo.

My kite list? Yeah, I think I have a serious problem and need help, lol.

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Let me know when you want to get rid of the 19M Venom II :singing:

Funny you should say that Todd, cause i've been considering selling it to fund other stuff. I'll send you a U2U so as not to hijack Bob's thread.

kteguru, just googled your loc. about 333mi., 6.5 hr drive! I drove 450 to get to the Wildwood Bash, but there were lots of kiters there. And fresh coastal breezes! Your call, I can give advice as to what NOAA says for this area 3-4 days in advance, but unless you have a few days to camp out or get a room, inland winds can be finicky! Would love to try to get a group ride together somewhere, do you know any other kiters that might be interested? Might just have to wait for Wildwood Fall Session! Bob