Hi. I was wondering if it's possible to use some form of harness and a power kite to keep you off the ground. Is this possible? Has anyone tried it before? I'm not really a fan of the paragliders, as for they seem to collapse and I'm just looking for low flying type stuff. I was thinking I could find a harness, maybe a paragliding harness, and untie the long kite line that would be used for traditional power kiting. Then I could tie the kite directly to the harness and use it as if it were a little paraglider. I'd also like to use it for a normal power kite to tow me around on a little buggy I made, although I've seen plenty of youtube videos on that. Anyways, what size power kite would be used for this, and what harness? I know this isn't very common, and I am well aware of the dangers of flight.

Long story short..........this is a bad idea. If you'd like to get involved with sustained flight go in the direction of getting lessons in paragliding. Although there are plenty of video of kiters flying through the air it isn't something that you just go buy a kite and put it in the air and begin flying through the sky. Additionally, kites collapse plenty so its not any safer.

I'm sure others will chime in but what your suggesting is a bad idea on way too many levels.

Yeah. I understand that. Im a hang glider pilot right now, use to fly and build RC airplanes, and I have a little 2M Symphony power kite that I'm fairly good with flying, so it's not like I'm a begginer with flight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxUT3pwc_n4&feature=relat...

This is kind of what I'm looking for. That kite is massive though, 22m..

Obviously, it's doable, he's doing it. But don't you think for one minute that he just started doing it! He must, 1. have a lot of flight time on that kite(and it's not one you would start off with)2. Have perfect conditions where he is located, and 3. be willing to accept whatever happens if something goes wrong(in which case, I hope he would decide not to post a video of it)

This comes up from time to time and we have to talk people down from this idea. The guy in the video is working ridge lift. This is simply a stunt. Yeah the stunt can be duplicated in just the right conditions, but this is not normal kiting. Kteguru is right; not a good idea.

Get a paraglider if that is what you want to do. A kite will collapse sooner than a paraglider.

Also, the kites are not made to paraglider standards. They aren't built with the purpose and responsibility to hold you in the air and not drop you.

Well.. Guess this solves my question. I'll just stick to buggying around then. Thanks.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhwkV6OLWFM

If I had this in my backyard I'd do it all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd8vT1KR4RE

This is about as safe (that's a relative term!) as I've seen it done. Luke's perhaps the best buggy jumper in Aus (at least to my knowledge) so he knows his stuff. He's not far off the ground and over a relatively soft surface with a big floaty kite using some gentle ridge lift. Just remember though, a power kite usually has only four lines rated at 200-300kg. Things designed to suspend earthlings (us) - ie climbing ropes/harnesses are usually 10 times that. I think a paraglider is a much better idea. I was all set to give it a whirl myself but I think I saw just a few too many youtube paraglider disasters. Including at the field I was thinking of flying at. Mind you, done right, it does look pretty damn magic.Anti-Gravity