Hey Spencer. The other note I might make is that you're turning the kite at the very edge of the window as it's starting to run out of steam. Try
turning it in the middle of (or well before the edge of) the window while it's got some power - I think you'll find it's a little faster again. That
was very, very light wind you're turning the 7m in by the looks too!
Thanks for the comment John, I am actually pretty pleased with how my larger NS3's turn. My intent was to show that I believe that they have a good
quick turn rate on the standard bar that Steffen supplies. You are right that I was turning near the edge of the window and at first, yes the wind was
pretty light (thats about all we get around here this time of year), but when it kicked up a little, it was turning faster... Jason helped solve this
with a longer bar.
I'm SO ready for the wind to be worthwhile!... but you know as soon as fall hits and it starts to blow, 'm starting classes again,... but hey, LAST
semester.
5m - got it Sean. Thanks. I just ordered some 7m lines from Steffen. I want to try my Stars in large paved parking lots sitting in my buggy. Based on
your elegance on the long board I think could fumble through my sessions.
One last remark about the longer bar. What John said about keeping the sine more in the middle of the window is true, as we all know. Obviously,
that's especially true for Stars. That's the money spot. Stars have a smaller window as compared to foils, so I want to maximize the smaller sweet
spot. In the lower wind, I was able to make my sine much smaller, faster, and tighter. Of course, this may all go out the window once in motion with a
buggy, but all points says the 65cm bar will be more efficient with the larger sized Stars at the lower wind range. God Speed
Cross Kites Sonic 3, 5m
Ozone Flow 2, 3, 4, 5m
Ace II 4, 5m
NAPKA-US24
4, 5, 6m ATB landsurfer. Custom longboard deck
Buggy: VTT Black Widow v2.0
Dang, I'm trying so darn hard to fly my NS3s! Got the 8.5m up in the air again today, took two slow laps on a field with my bug and put it away.
Once again my 12m P2 saved my session. This summer wind stuff bites. I think if it ever blows steadily over 10 knots before Fall around here I'm
going to sport a chubby! I've got a 10m NS3 on order, maybe that will save me!
I ordered through Steffen after checking first with Mike. Seems his deal is still getting the final touches worked out. I'm sure we can look forward
to doing business directly with Mike soon.
You know what they say around here: "Bring home a six-pack for the wives."
Sorry my friends, but im a remote employee for a NY-based company.
Hey, back to Born stuff - in my (very) limited experience buggying with my NS3s I seem to be noticing that working the kite by sine waving it seems to
do less to boost power than other kites I've flown. As noted before, folks don't seem to get a boost from down turning with these beauties either.
Have folks noticed this or am I just lacking enough time in the saddle to notice the benefit of working the kite for a power boost?
lacking time in the saddle. They definitely give me a big boost when sine waving. So much so that I usually get drug sideways a touch. Probably
just trying to work very light wind.
I was hoping that was the case Sean. Winds are supposed to pick up quite a bit today (15-16 mph on forecast which is high for us in the summer).
Looking out the window I can see it has already started! Got to earn my keep through probably early afternoon and then off I'll go! Hope to get some
sining in today!
We get the classic "janky" winds around here, part of what makes flying DP so good. It does seem to be blowing pretty hard today. I'm planning to
try three kites today assuming things hold up as they look to be. NS3 4.0, NS3 8.5, and my 4.0 Hornet. The last time I tried to buggy with my Hornet
I was so green at buggying that it just didn't go well, but that was "pilot error" not the fault of that fine little kite. That gaping hole in the
middle of my FB quiver will start to get filled with the 7m Long Star!
Fellow Star enthusiasts - Wind was howling today! I clocked it over 15 knots steady with gust probably double that. Major league janky conditions.
I took some time over lunch to buggy with my smaller NS3s. After some experimentation with my 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0s in the air, I settled with the 4.0.
Overpowered with the gusts, but enough grunt for the steady underlying wind.
Man, did the 2.5 and 3.2 (and to a lesser extent, 4.0) move FAST! I've gotten so used to low-wind Peak 2 12m flying that today's session seemed like
warp drive!
One problem I was having (likely pilot error) is the chicken loop would come off of the spreader hook during the lulls and then I'd have to bare the
weight of the kite on my arms during the gusts if I didn't fumble it back onto the hook in time. That was a workout!!! :o
I suspect I was involuntarily pulling on the bar during steering so it would pop off when the force slackened. I'd gotten used to that with my DP bar
on the P2. The chicken loop did not fall off as much when I was very deliberate about keeping a very light touch.
When I got home I fashioned a, err, donkey dick (hey, I didn't come up with that name!) out of a piece of semi-flexible tubing. I forced a
doubled-over length of small rope I had laying about through the tube so a loop stuck out of one end. I used that loop to tie a larkshead knot around
the chicken loop and then tightened everything up at the other end of the tube by tying a square knot with the loose ends, ending with a simple
overhand knot on each end just to keep the rope from fraying. It was a cotton rope; had it been what I would have rather had (nylon) I would have
skipped the overhand knots and just burnt the ends closed with a lighter.
Anyway, I haven't field tested it but it seems to work at my kitchen table exactly as I intended it to, so I'm pretty psyched! Here are some pictures
of my (crude) handiwork.
Observant ones among you will proudly see that I also correctly attached my leash hook inside my spreader. Extra bonus!
I used to accidentally unhook on a regular basis. I added a plastic cable tie to my spreader bar hook to act as the donkey - works a treat. No more
surprise unhooks.
Pretty nifty Steve! I've also unhooked a lot by accident in lighter winds. Not such an issue with moderate winds. That's another reason I want to use
my AQR because the loop cant come out unless I get ejected, or manually open the snatch block.
Nice mod though
Cant wait to fly these Stars and Peaks at JIBE next year. Yes.... that event you ARE coming to! :D :D :D
Cross Kites Sonic 3, 5m
Ozone Flow 2, 3, 4, 5m
Ace II 4, 5m
NAPKA-US24
4, 5, 6m ATB landsurfer. Custom longboard deck
Buggy: VTT Black Widow v2.0
Glad folks like my little after-market treatment. At 5:24 of the Long Star video now on YouTube you can see that Steffen's new DP bar has a donkey...
I may have to slide it around a little bit to get its effective length right. I suspect it that it will have to be pretty close to the bottom of the
loop to stay in place (at least with the length I had) since the whole chicken loop seems to get pretty pulled out under tension.
Jason - your set up is definitely the bomb! We're just little squirrels out here trying to get a nut so I fashioned this little number up. I notice
that I too was dropping my chicken loop in low winds. Doing that was more of a mild frustration than anything else. Doing so today had an 800 lb
guerrilla penalty! :o
John - undoubtedly your solution works a charm too!
Spencer (and anybody else) - if you are going to do something along these lines please note which side of the loop I put the donkey on. It is
purposely on the OTHER side than the quick release. I figured if I need to pull the rip cord that I didn't want this extra set up jamming up the
works as the chicken loop tried to pull free through the hook.
![[*]](images/perspective/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
