Did you know, that you can fly your (smaller) arc kites on Handles ?

I tried it today, and it works fantasticly. first i set the VPC to lowest bar pressure on my 7 sqm Scorpion. no problem in pulling the rear lines for steering and powering up. second set vpc to max. turns a lot faster, but also more pressure to put on backlines with handles. in my windconditions (8-12 knots) i had no problem to create enough pressure with my wrists.

especially the launch felt easier with handles ! i had somehow more control over the process. easier.

here a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GU15wvmShU
(its short, because i forgot my sd card, so limited internal storage ran out quickly)

and pictures: http://picasaweb.google.de/FrankFuldner/AngermundeKiten











anyone tried that, too ?

:wow: Never seen this before, interesting.

so the auto-zenith works on handles??? should do, just slack the back lines and wait for the kite to do its thing...

anyone know what handles those are btw? they look ideal for fine-tuning hand position to take some of the strain off the wrists... I can see this working really well with a strop!

i'm gonna have to give this a try when i get back to HK in a month's time...

thanks for sharing!

Cool. I flew an old VioKite depower foil on handles and it worked. I'll have to try it on my Guerilla 2 9m and Hi-Arc 6m. Don't see why it wouldn't work there fine, especially with long handles.

You get the ability to change the location of the center of pressure due to changing pull on the front lines as well, so it's not just rear line control. Bet it's a good arm workout without a strop!

krumly

Quote:

Originally posted by furbowski anyone know what handles those are btw? they look ideal for fine-tuning hand position to take some of the strain off the wrists... I can see this working really well with a strop!

HQ Ultras I believe.

thx maven that was fast!

Have to agree with Maven. They've got the correct shape for the ultras.

interesting idea, herc.....i've often wondered about it......i'd like to try it with the strop.......

Surprising result - I thought it'd be tough hauling on the brake lines ...

Static only? Did you try this moving? Otherwise its just a slarc!.............aj

Ok, I'll bite......."slarc"?:puzzled:

single line arc... right?

Quote:

Originally posted by f0rgiv3n single line arc... right?

LOL...

supported leading edge?

'Single line arc' is correct. If you have your arc parked at zenith hands off the bar, no rear line tension, it's the same thing.

krumly

single line arc? one line = no control over kite? :puzzled:

Yeah, single line arcs are just single line kites. Like any single line kite. It's purpose isn't for traction kiting but various other applications in development. Kite height records, etc.. If I can ever find time, I want to make a transitioning single line arc for launching and landing to 4 line control when it in the air. Maybe after winter event season is over I can get back to it. Krumly has to be one of the most researched slarc guys out there.

But an ARC on handles is cool too. Beauty of Arcs, lots of room to playing around with them due to their simplicity.

yes, these are the fine HQ ultra quad handles! they are really good!

@ action jackson: yes only static, because not enough wind to get me going on my board..
i hope some of you will soon try to fly their arcs in a buggy with handles ! so we have evidence it really works, not only doing some static standing looping etc.

Sorry for the hijack:

Hey Aaron, I was out [trying] to launch the F-Arc 12m's and Hi-Arc 6 m's a couple days ago in moderate, gusty winds. Not modified - just wanted to fly 4-line so I could snap some pics to see shape so I can lay out the single line bridles (scaling off views from pics). Hi aspect + narrow tips + insufficient fill + no helper + packed, slippery surface = total launch cluster. I should have gone to the Guerilla 1 13's and bet it would have worked much better. Just ordered a Coleman battery QuickPump for $21 to get solid pre-inflation and will have at it again.

Unhijack: Wonder if handles would give better options for solo launch, since you can control the front lines independently? BTW, I think the single line launch to 4 line control is a great goal to aim for.

krumly

yeah.. the first time I was launching with the Navigator bar I reach up for the downwind front line and realized there wasn't the Y at hand level. I had to use my brain.. Tough teaching an old dog new tricks.

I think flying an arc on handles is cool, simply because you can, but I don't think I'd ever fly my arcs on handles just because I love the depower and bar aspect. Try it on that Hi-arc. I'd like to try flying that sometime. I've only had my F-arc in the air once and it was scary. I used a blower to plump it as well before launch. Gusty winds and it didn't like it. That kite is so skinny. I think it's like 4 feet wide and 12M long. I've got a 16M F-arc too. That one will probably kill me. Hopefully someday we can get together and fly old arcs on handles, single lines, and whatever else we can come up with.

Single line launch, I think it would be so cool. Then you could just inflate, throw those little Hi-arcs in the air and reel it up into the air. Engage 4 line, cruise! Just need to find lots of free time somewhere..

I did try it as it was actually a feature on the original S-Arc and in it's manual. S-Arc on bar or handles.

It didn't make sense to me. Why would you fly a depower kite on handles except for the novelty. You can not trim the kite on the fly and you lose a huge amount of the depower range. Probably one of the reasons why this option disappeared from the manual.

^^^ I got you... but I want to see for myself...

@zero gee: of course, IF you HAVE a bar, it makes not much sense, except for a better workout of your upper body musculature ;-) (and easier launch)

but i am trying to sell my scorpion 7 sqm kite only in a german forum, and some of the guys wanted to have it ready to fly. so i said you can fly it on handles. but they didnt believe me. so i demonstrated it.

and i often hear that buggy user dont like a bar, because thats not really handy in there. they prefer handles - so they can use handles.
i claim that you can use - with long enough handles - the whole (de)power range of a smaller arc. you just need to hook in your handles to your harness.

Quote:

Originally posted by herc you can use - with long enough handles - the whole (de)power range of a smaller arc. you just need to hook in your handles to your harness.

that's actually what I was curious about....

:wink2:

Makes sense. Long handles give you equivalent range to the rear lines as a long throw depower line on a bar. If your handles are hooked to a strop, when you let go it's letting the kite fly only off the front lines, which we know arcs do just fine. The absence of a trim strap? Could be like having the adjustable brakeline cleats on PKD handles.

Like Furbowski, I hear ZG on the bar, but gotta try the handles - tomorrow!

krumly

put a trim strap on each handle pulling on the brake line, trim them while the kite's at zenith.. and the handles are right next to other which is an advantage while doing the trim change.

be a lot easier if you could do it at the back of each handle (the side of them facing you, the power leader on the other side) near the top or at the crook... that way you wouldn't have to shift the hands on the handles so much while trimming...

Also I know I hardly ever touch the backs of my handles if I'm at all powered up on a strop. I'm not gripping with with my thumbs at all, but pulling with my fingers like the bottom hand on a kayak paddle, so the palms of each hand is in line with my forearms and don't touch the handles at all. Also my thumbs are really just resting on the backs of the handles. No reason why there couldn't be a little recess / groove in there running up from the bottom and the brakes, with a trim strap running up there? I only grip the handles (using theumb

I'm sure there could be some way to make a trigger on it so you could push with your thumbs and dump all the trim you might have pulled in if the winds pick up.

I've never liked bars much, FB for sure, depower (all four or five hours of flight time so far) same same so far.

Trim on handles could work... I'm sure of it. Worth doing? The toeside problem?

no it wouldn't be the same depower dynamic as a bar.

and yep you would still need a proper wind...

hmmmmmm.

:puzzled:

furbowski: just try it out with your smallest arc kite. it is lots of fun! i liked the feeling flying my arc with handles. somehow cool !
and maybe take some pictures / videos?

here, my 10 sqm synergy launched and flown with handles:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpxcv6Ms3Hc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1b7bYxH2Gc

Have you flown them on handles in powered conditions?

from my video description:

Quote:

Launching and flying a peter lynn synergy arc kite with handles. wind was 8 knots. tried it just for fun. launching is much easier than with a bar. but its harder to turn and power up. you simply cannot apply enough force to the backlines with your wrists. at 1:42 you can see that i am actually using handles. also see the video part 2. if you have a low wind day, its quite fun to play around with your arc kite on handles. no need for a a harness. .. on windier days, i suggest to simply use your bar.

so no - i would NOT suggest this in stronger winds !