Got a new kite last week, and the weather turned for the worst in Dallas - 4th snow when usually we got one or none. So, I was getting a little impatient... scouted some locations while waiting for better weather. Finally found a field with plenty of room, but it's got huge patches of brambles here and there.

This is my first quad-line, and I couldn't talk anybody else into this foolishness, so I was setting up alone. I had read the manual several days earlier, but it now seemed really foggy. Wasn't I supposed to bring some weights or something?

I did manage to get all the lines setup, tho I couldn't remember exactly how the larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head was supposed to go, so I rolled my own. First try, I had the brake lines crossed. That was trip #1 back to the kite. Trip #2 was to untangle it after the wind changed directions for a sec. Trip #3 was to redo one of my "larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s heads" that came loose.

I cannot remember what trips 4, 5, and 6 were for, but somewhere in there, I discovered that my hoodie was just about good enough to hold the edge of the kite down.

I did finally manage to launch the kite. At this point, I should mention that as I walked past a marina, I could hear the wind whistling loudly through the mast riggings. You're probably thinking now that this is a posthumous post, but the little field I found was somewhat sheltered by trees and a hill, so the wind was less than half what was raging over the water.

Anyway, kite launched, RIPPED right through the power zone, and gave me my first taste of what I now know as scudding. Those few minutes of flying were worth the 10 or so trips to launch!!

I crashed and burned shortly after. The rest of the afternoon was more of the same - about 10 trips for every launch. I did learn a lot, so re-reading the manual later made much more of an impression. I've also since read traction kiting 101 and 102 and learned to tie a gen-u-ine larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head as well as a figure-eight.

Next time, I'm bringing more water to drink, plenty of sunscreen, and some weights.

A few questions, if you're still awake... twice I kept the kite going through the power zone, then straight up, then right past me where it hovered briefly then crumpled into a not-so-aerodynamic ball and fell. What causes this?

Second, and much more annoying, most of my flights ended when the kite abruptly did a 360 then plummeted. WHUMP! A couple of times, I briefly kept it going, once even upside down, but they all ended pretty quickly. What causes these sudden 360s? Is it a combination of not sensing what the kite is doing and then overcorrecting when I figure it out too late?

Finally, can anybody recommend good kiting places in or around Dallas, particularly where it's practical to scud?

Thanks!

Hey Lukeg,

I'm in the Dallas area. there is a group of us that get together at least monthly and fly. Feel free to contact me at Mike@BigMikeKites.com

If you would like, I can add you to my newsletter where I announce locations to meet, etc.

Quote:

Originally posted by lukeg A few questions, if you're still awake... twice I kept the kite going through the power zone, then straight up, then right past me where it hovered briefly then crumpled into a not-so-aerodynamic ball and fell. What causes this?

If you look at the wind window diagram from Traction Kiting 101 tutorial at CWS



At zenith the kite is at the edge of the power zone. If the momentum of its trip through the power zone pushes it past that, then it loses power and falls out of the sky. A light tap on the brakes will drop it backwards into the power zone where it can stay aloft.

Quote:

Originally posted by lukeg Second, and much more annoying, most of my flights ended when the kite abruptly did a 360 then plummeted. WHUMP! A couple of times, I briefly kept it going, once even upside down, but they all ended pretty quickly. What causes these sudden 360s? Is it a combination of not sensing what the kite is doing and then overcorrecting when I figure it out too late?

You kite is being caught in the jet wash of secret experimental planes flying low on their way to the secret underground hangers below the Grand Prarie Naval Air Station. Their stealth systems make them hard to see. :o

Ooops... missed a dosage.

I expect a more reasonable explanation of what is happened is that your kite is being caught up in some "dirty"/turbulent air caused by the proximity of the trees and hills.

When wind encounters an obstruction, things on the lee side get placed in a "shadow" of turbulent air. How far that "shadow" extends is determined by the height of the obstruction and the strength of the wind.



More time on the handles will get you better at reacting to the turbulence, but sometimes, you're just going to crash and burn (especially if there is a open pit BBQ house nearby ).

ATB,
Sam

If the "360's" you mentioned had a pinwheel effect, it was probably a result of too much brake input on one side. Make sure your brake lines are even (actually, make sure all your lines are even) and keep the brakes slack until you are ready to use them. Once you get more experience under your belt you'll learn the in and outs of brake control and how to use it to your advantage.

Thanks for the tips! Saturday weather looks good for another go where I'll be. With two people this time, there should be a lot more flying and a lot less walking...

Big Mike will get you sorted, but in the mean time...

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/LarksHeadTutorial.html

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/101FirstFlight4LineHandles....

Hope it helps. Have fun and be safe

Welcome to the family

Forget the weights, you need a ground stake ... I use a platic T-section camping stake for grass and soft sand etc or a metal spike for hard surfaces. Jam it in the ground, the put the handles over it so the head of the stake is "pulling the brakes" and then - hopefully - the kite will sit on the ground and you can piddle around getting sorted or have a drink ...

In my "... overpowered?" thread there's video of what I'm talking about ...

I will be at one of two places Sunday afternoon to fly.

Plano Sr. High School or RL Turner High School in Bedford.

I'm sitting out there while my son has kicking lessons (he kicks for Celina) and I am always flying kites.

Get with me Saturday and I'll know where I will be. I'll give you all the pointers you want and let you fly whatever I have with me as well. Its always fun to swap kites for a few sessions.

Took it out again yesterday - much better!! I did "cheat" on the first launch and use some soft scuba weights, but after that, just used the stake-and-inflate method. Played with the brake lines a lot, recovered from several pinwheels while still in the air, was able to reverse launch a few that crashed, then untwist them. Basically, a lot more flying, a lot less walking.

So, many thanks for all the advice!

Mike, I'll be in Austin this weekend and prob not back until later Sunday afternoon. I'll check with you Saturday, see what time you're flying.

Thanks!

It is set: Sunday 2p-4p Plano Sr. High