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August 2 2002 by space  

Hi all, I am quite new to New Age Kiting (meaning 4 line ramairs). I do have an extensive background in BASE jumping, Skydiving, and some paragliding experience and only 8hrs on a 2.5m sq, 4 line (25m lines). Anyway what I did today totally blew me away, I was flying at a clay court soccer field in extremely lite and variable winds flying to the right when it just kept going to the right, I was getting dizzy and was trying to avoid the light poles, fences, trees and after about 3 times around I was able to crash it in an open area. I know in hindsight what happened, I was flying in a thermic bubble liftoff. Is this a cool flight? Or am I just a Newbie and people do this all the time? Thanks in advance.
space

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August 3 2002 by doomwheels

>I was flying in a thermic bubble liftoff. Is this a cool flight? Or am I just a Newbie and people do this all the time?

Flying a 360 is an old trick when the pilot flies to the edge of the wind window and then starts running in a cirlcle to complete the upwind half of the 360. But to pull off a 360 (in fact multiple 360s) while standing in one place is indeed an unusual thing.

Variable wind often results in some weird and fun flying. I once flew a demo at a Texas fest when a large whirlwind (nearly a small tornado in size) blew right over the top of me. It wasted all the spectators covering them in dust and then cut right through the demo field.

I flew directly into it and then steered the kite over the top and down the other side of the window as the wind changed direction 180 degrees. I finished the routine flying in the opposite direction as I had started. Seems I always get the weird wind!

I would have loved to watch you pull off your thermal 1080!

Cool story!
BC

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August 6 2002 by space

Hi Doom,
Denis Pagan, Understanding The Sky, will explain thermic bubble liftoff, though I only realized this was what happened after..I am searching in the same place as often as practical for the same conditions (which = not yet), I´ll get it again now that I know it´s out there. I hope to send you a vid. where are you located? flyingwise i mean.... I know some hi desert areas that may be 360able..let me know...
Take care,
space

my friend was able to launch the kite up past the zenith and behind his head (sort of 360 wind) but as soon as it was near the groung the kite calapsed and he landed form about 3/4ft high onto his back

he was unhurt but it was a stange event