Got my first seat time last night, had a huge multiple soccer field complex to myself.

PL folding buggy with oversized tires, and lumpy wind ~8-10 mph........it was steady, but then would lull.


Started with my fleet of Viper S's, 2.6m to crawl, then the 3.9 that got me moving, then the 5.3 that I got some good runs in till the wind was dying down.



My Lessons Learned, to pass on to other virgin noob's.


(and to all you years of riding veterans, these observations might bring back memories and a grin or two.)

Apparent wind is just that.
From static flying, the whole wind window has now changed while mobile.
You can luft a kite easily letting it lead you a bit and gotta keep your steering up-wind to keep tight lines.
Kite Killers with the 5.3m in a wind gust at the apex of a turn are your friend. :duh:
Lufting your kite in wind lulls sucks getting in/out of the buggy a dozen times to re-launch.
Buggies do not like being pedaled backward to take up slack in lines without the front tire swerving all over the place which real is a beatch.
Flying now in a buggy, oh goody look at all those stainless steel bolts and foot rests and ground stake and feet, that your lines tangle with like a magnet.
With zero wind it's a pain in the grass to leave the buggy distant, do a quick field kite pack, go back to car, deploy new foil, park buggy, quick kite field pack, go back to car, repeat several times over 2 hours.
Yes it's a good idea to approach the buggy from down wind. I had a nice gust and smooth hop over the buggy once, but no shin bashing.
No you don't want the kite to get too back behind you over your shoulder..........you can read on the web about that all day long, but you gotta taste it to appreciate it.


all in all, a good smooth birthing process it was for me.


Pic is my nice flying field 25 minutes from me, Last night I never had to do the walk of shame! but did use my leash to bring it home.

Been flying power kites static for a couple years now, and have a very decent quiver and skill built up. I'm blessed that my wife loves to fly and doesn't cringe when another UPS box shows up.


Nice flying field aye!

Nice Dave, that did bring back many memories for me. Also, the 5.3 viper likes to fly forward in the window to the point it loses pull if in the lower to medium part of it's range. It's helpful to ride the brakes a little to add grunt and prevent you from wanting to turn too far upwind to keep lines tight. It's kind of a challenging kite in the buggy but works well once you sort out the finer points

very cool , static to dynamic its what we're doing here!

So when I pee my seat, that is Fluid Dynamics?

no....that would be your 1st obe

congrats on the new wheels

no thats referred to as convenient tankage relocation dynamics

Great job. Sounds like you are checking off the list of "Ah Hah!" moments!

Dave - WAY TO GO!!!!! Yes, your description did bring a smile to my face a number of times; nice write up. Looks like a great field!

Have to say, I think I recognize that buggy picture..... :evil:

Oh, and by the way, I couldn't help but notice the gaping hole in your quiver at the 4.0m mark. It's your lucky day; I've got a 4m Hornet for sale! :P

Addendum to my list of accomplishments 24 hours after the fact:


I now have sore muscles in places I didn't know I had.


Kite Killers are my friend for now, I've got two different harnesses and I don't mind being hooked in while static flying, but the buggy I'm going to respect this new adventure and hold off on hooking in, not quite yet.

Somebody pass the aspirin and pour me a drink.

Cherry Popping - (I still vividly remember my first ever quad line foil flight, a innocent 3.3m Soulfly......first flight in decent winds on the Oregon Coast soaked me in sweat and drowned me in fear, I was still shaking off my adrenaline rush 45 minutes after landing)

we all start somewhere.

Next time I'll be on the other side of the camera lens in one of my movies, I hope to make SOBB this fall as a driver, not a spectator.


https://vimeo.com/97062094

David - when I suggested you buy my used Hornet I had no idea you had so much first hand experience with them. Way to hit 'em, Harry. :evil:

Good job bud!!

Quote:

I hope to make SOBB this fall as a driver, not a spectator.

Yes, as a buggy newb those memories are fresh in my mind too. Nice field I hope you can make it to SOBB, it can be amazingly better than riding in soccer fields and will allow us to really improve our buggy skills. We can take turns running defense ahead of each other to clear the experienced guys and random vehicles out of our path

Hope to meet you soon