I'll get over it..... I will start off by saying today was an insanely windy day here in Wichita Ks. SSE 22 gusting to 30 with occasional gust to 35 sometimes. So I went out flying to day since I coordinated for a kite fly with others around. Most ppl canceled cause it was too windy. Not for me and one other person.

So we get out there and we are flying around and I am breaking in my new buggy build which I was impressed with. You all are right without the seat belt the side load from the kite pulling would have picked me right up. but it worked like a charm. I am flying my 2.0 Blade II flexifoil with no probs. Then I let the other guy who is there with me fly and the top right line shears off the knot on the handle along with ripping out two brake line attachments. Granted I wasnt upset cause theses things happen just sucks.

So then he wants to break out the 5.5 bullet and I told him I really dont think its a good idea since my 2.0 was doing fine until it was broken but he insisted. So we get the 5.5 setup and launch it. This thing was a beast and will say it scared me a bit. 6"3 235lbs and the kite at the top of the window picking me up 2-3ft no prob. granted I use to have the 8.5m Blade and loved it I kinda knew what I was getting my self into. Anyways I flew the kite without getting hurt and managed to hand it off to my fellow kiter. He acted like he knew what he was doing and the fact he was about 50lbs heavier than I, I figured he'd have no problems.

Two seconds later the kite lufts falls just about abover 45 degree angle to the ground and screams towards the zeneth and there he goes about 7ft in the air and gets dumped.

this is the part I am wanting to get to. I decide later on today that I would see what my 8.0m Neo 2 would do with the depower and wind range. The winds died down a bit but not much. I had a lot of problems the kite tootsie rolled which ticked me off, then some onlooker decided he wanted to come help but the kite decided it wanted to relaunch after I am yelling at him to stay back. As the kite relaunches I get pulled up into the air hovering just a foot or two above but for what seemed like every bit of 50 ft if not more. Then the guy is like where can I get one as I am trying to get the kite down the pulleys didnt seem like they were working and the brake lines werent doing much with that wind.

After all is said and done I was more scared of the 5.5 than the 8.0 Neo. But was more ticked off with the luffing, tootsie roll and unpredicatbliity of the Neo..... I really want this kite and want to keep it but I am having a hard time learning how to fly it. Granted I think it was a bit too windy today.....

What is a tootsie roll ? What do you mean about the brake lines not working ? how did you steer it? 22 - 30 shouldn't be too much for an 8m ?

You know when ever the kite luffs and the outside edges or one roll towards center btw the lines and makes a twist.

Man, I feel ya. I have been waiting all day to fly kites. Should be a great day. winds are supposed to be 16mph and I want to fly the Neo 11m. The wind is about 16 gusting to about 25 which is the top range of the kite. What kills me is that if the kite wasn't overflying zenith it was luffing back into the power zone or lifting me of the ground completely depowered. I actually got some pretty cool jumps right infront of some kids and they thought it was great. The main problem is I spent most of the time with the kite on the ground because of the lumpy, unpredictable wind and untangling lines. :flaming:

Oh, I forgot, for about 15 min the wind dropped to about 2mph and switched directions:flaming:

When the depower kites work they are like magic and that is why I love it.

Quote:

Originally posted by ICTKITEFLYER You know when ever the kite luffs and the outside edges or one roll towards center btw the lines and makes a twist.

sounds like you are describing what most of us call a bow-tie. I can only see the neo doing this if it was not fully inflated yet. When the neo is completely inflated it is near impossible to get it to bowtie. The pressure in the kite should keep it stiff so the edges will not fold in and it can not bowtie. Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are describing? Or maybe you have the winds that I had yesterday. They were horrible. very punchy, strong gusts .... then a lull ... then slam gusty again

Do you guys live in the mountains too.

What you are describing is a normal occurance , just have to handle it or not fly.

There is an answer to your problems . . . come over to the D'arc side! I was in the same winds as DAKITEZ yesterday - 14 to 15mph constant gusting up to 25 and then 30 later in the day. I was flying a 12m phantom and getting some pretty harsh treatment as far as power surges, but the kite never got out of hand. Later, in the stronger winds, I launched my 8m venom and had a great time with it. AD72 was flying his 9m phantom in the stronger winds and kicking my but all over the field. ARC's aren't perfect but they can turn a crappy gusty day into something useable.

Those things have zippers that need closed.
Sounds like you forgot to close the zipper?

A Neo shouldn't bow tie that easy properly inflated? That explains a lot of your problem ?

The Neo I flew had huge internal preassure once properly inflated !

I am 99.9% sure that the zipper was shut. I am going to take it out again today and check it out again. The winds arent quite as bad as yesterday.

good luck !

You have a good kite there. Don't give up!

Thanks I won't the one thing I really like about it is the power is smooth when it's there.