Finally pulled the finger out o' my arse and took the Vortex 10m & the Zero7 bar out for my first attempt at flying an arc ...

Well. I followed the manual, made sure I got the lines in the right places, angle off the wind, inflate zipper shut blah blah.

Couldn't get it to launch. Had to haul in the center lines with one hand to get it into the air but wouldn't inflate. Then I spotted the deflate zipper ... oh that'll have to be shut I guess

That worked better, but I still had to pull the center lines until I could get the kite high enough in the air so I could pull in the trim strap. With that in all the way, the kite would fly much better but still needed the odd tweak to center lines to keep it in the air ...

... when I got home, I checked manuals and vids and guessed that I should have let out the center internal strap ... but would that make enough of a difference? Have I got the wrong bar for the kite or have I done something else wrong?

Yeah Launching with the zipper open sucks; we've all done it, I think.

Beyond that it all sounds right but I would start with the center strap all the way it from the get go.
How much wind we talking? Should be 10 or more mph for the 10m, I think
Was it properly pre-inflated once the zipper was closed?

With everything set, it should be: one tug on center lines, raising your hand up to level with your forehead while taking about 2-3 steps back. Then watch it launch and wait for it to go to the edge.

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Yeah Launching with the zipper open sucks; we've all done it, I think.

I recently did this, too... 15m phanny... ended up in the ocean, looking like a fool... HoustonAirHead came back and said.... "What are you doin in the water?"... Oi... Not a good first intro....

Sorry to hijack... The PL kites are high wind machines, they require a lot of wind to fly correctly... My 15m Phantom requires at least 11mph to fly the way I want it to... Havent found (or looked for) the bottom end on my V II 19... They also do better when in motion (board or buggy, or surf)... They are totally soft except for the spars, as you know,, and they just act differently.

as for the pumping... i have had to pump the power lines on every launch to get the kite to fill out... i had to pump my flysurfers in the same way, so i think is is normal for all foils

Yeah inflated fine once I closed the zip :D
There wasn't much wind, but I thought it would have been enough to get it in the air. Started waking up when I got it moving in figure 8's, for sure ...

The problem was I had to keep pulling on the lines just to keep it in the air, once I'd launched it - as soon as I let go of the center lines, it collapsed out of the sky. I pulled the trim all the way in and that got it working, but that can't be right, can it?
How long should the pig tails be?

yes that is all normal for that little wind with an ARC that size and esp. a Vortex (not a problem with the kite). Just wants more wind. Or you have to pull and pump and keep it flying fast. Or get just a tad more wind...

Look for 12 to 15 mph. My 10 scorp comes ALIVE in that wind. Get the right wind speed and all will be right with the world.

How long should the pig tails be? I remember one set having about a foot extension on them ... but can't remember if they were center or rear lines :D might pull it out in the yard today and have a look. The kite that is

... what's wrong with the Vortex, AC?

Yeah, the front line pigtails are about a foot and a half long ...!

according to the arc site, the pigtails on the 10m vortex should be 23 1/4 inches....

if you haven't looked this over already, i suggest it...

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/mx5alan/arcs/ARCsetup_FAQ.htm

Muh that must mean 'TE' or trailing edge huh :doh: so if my lines are the same length, then we're all good - I just need more wind huh :D Thanks for putting my mind at ease!

One more ... if the 10m Vortex has a projected area of about 7m then I really don't need my Blade III 6.6 do I?

light wind riding with ARC 8mph requires constant movement. on board,skates. once moving with apparent wind help things come together .

you can't stop ...peroid or the rig will stall out and drop.

gotta be super smooth on trans to maintain kite speed. good cross wind point of sail with constant feed of up wind tension on system and very agressive downwind flying to keep lines tight

at some points almost continuous loops downwind with eventual carving back upwind

it will work

but work is the main point

The Vortex felt more like an open-cell foil to me and once it was moving, I was instantly comfortable with it ... unlike the LEI and SLE's I've used ... Love the ARC! :D

i have flown a 8m sle in about 8-10mph on ATB with a few jumps. keeping it in the air is all in the piloting action. the effective window becomes quite small.

i have learned alot of great techinal flying in about 10-12mph on atb like kite loop trans air . enough air to feel out the timing and power through the landing.

in light air with an arc making the kite speed through the air with turns and redirects gives continuous power . it is much different than powered riding where the kite just disappears and its truly about "riding" and style flow.

light wind you really are a "kiter" that just happens to be moving around