I took the 15.5 out for the first time. Winds were 5-8 MPH for my safety ;-)

Fun session except the kite wanted to over fly the window and collapse or fly backwards, I could not get it trimmed to suit the conditions. I am not sure that it isn't a product of too little wind. Also I really never felt in control I could not keep the kite in the air long enough to get a good feel for what it was doing or going to do next. I got about 5 minutes of decent flying in and this thing will pull! Huge gentle/slow slides in wind that you had to try to feel the direction, this thing will be a power house in 10-14 MPH.

Any suggestions for controlling over flight and backwards flight tendencies?


Jerry

Todays follow up, pretty much the same. I am afraid of the kite. 8-10 MPH today, kinda choppy but it should fly. Same problem as before luff and backwards flight. The kite only in the air for maybe a total of 2 minutes out of an hour. I used the safety many times due to luff and pop it is open again. I would hate to have that in 15 MPH! Never could get it off the leading edge once it ended up that way and very poor turning ability make it impossible to keep in the air. I wonder if it is out of tune, stretched bridals or something?

I must be doing something wrong :puzzled:

I'd try posting your concerns over on foilzone...lot's of flysurfer pilots over there.

Clint

never tried this specific FS model

but a 15.5 has a lot of pull, so I wonder if you were just static flying it ?? Normally a such big kite is to make you moving.

If you were kitesurfing, then it may need ajustement

I started on a P2. From what I have heard the P1 was a tricky kite to fly. If backstall is your main problem try setting the depower strap to about 80% depower even though it's low wind ! Steering will be mushy so you need to pullin a bit to turn.
That kite will have a very small range. You will need 10mph at least of wind to fly but you will be overpowered around 17.

Like Buzz said, I think this is more of a park and ride kite. Not one that would fly static well.

The Psycho has improved by leaps and bounds through each generation.

As you both have pointed out, I was static flying. This kite wants to move...... either you or it or both. I am or was trying to understand the way it works. the trim is still a bit mystic to me as the blue=power, yellow=depower are interconnected and in the wind I had so far they do nothing. 4" -vs- 160 sq. ft. is nothing and it does little to nothing in 8 MPH wind. Next time out I intend to try it while moving.

"When that kite is inflated, it is arrogant" (my wifes words). It will kick my as*. Another watcher said "there is another day.... or ebay"

Jerry

I had the feeling you were static flying it.

So when the kite overflies you, it's because the kites wants to move. You can stall it at midnight or anywhere at the edge by applying the right pull to the depower bar. Sheet in and stall the kite.

When you get a gust, depower (sheet out).

When you get a lull, send the kite back in the window to get some power and bring it back to the edge. Be ready to get dragged a bit.

You want to static fly it. Go in the water, and body drag with it. You will learn the kite, and have some fun in not much wind in a safely manner.

8mph is the VERY bottom end for almost any depower kite.
People seem to think that if the SA is a light wind winner they must all be but that's NOT the case. With the older Flysurfers in particular they need almost 10kts to fly right.

ya !

what makes the difference between a SA and other flysurfer is that below ~~8-10 knots, the SA can float. Other FS need to be in constant motion otherwise they fall.