so I got this thing in the mail today and I'm planning on testing it out after work.

I've never flown a kite this big before so if anybody has any tips for me I would greatly appriciate it.

I'll let you know how it goes tonight as well!

Launch at the edge of the window. LOL PLEASE NO SUPERMANS!!!!!!!

Actually if you're by yourself and there is sub 8mph of wind you'll find it much easier to hot launch it! Will skud you a bit but it won't go up very fast because it won't be completely inflated - yank on the center lines and watch the thing float up So amazingly light

its lookin like today we may get a decent thermal so the wind range could be anywhere from 10-18kts is my guess.

beginning to wonder if today would be better on the Pulse 2 12m if i get in 15kts +

I've never had to self launch a foil at the window before. so that might be a bit interesting....maybe I'll pickup a couple jugs of water or something to weight down a wingtip.

here's some tips on your kite:

BE CAREFUL !!!... sand down the wing tips, no rocks, no juggs.... gotta respect the SA material and treat it accordingly.

also, the tips will fold in for a bit when launching without pre-inflation.. just have the trimmer about half way then pump the bar slowly to pitch the AOA and get air into the tips.

window edge launches with the SA don't really work... its so light it just drifts back to the PZ and becomes a hot launch anyways . its easier on the kite to not have sudden shock loading. remember.... sheet in to slow down the kite to a near-stall so the kite doesn't quickly accellerate and yank your harness off.

when steering and re-directing... put your hands way out to the edge of the bar. its a shorter bar than a "normal" 17m since its the SA fabric, so keep your hands out near the ends.

also, could be a good time to Mixer-Test it so you know where it is or where it should be. wax the lines good where they cross and rub together as well as the depower line. (regular white parafin wax or unscented cheap candles work good). lube the pulleys with Silicone based lubricant.

anything else?

When I launch large Speed2 (they are SAs), I usually do hot-launch. Small amount of sand in many places on bottom edge, just barely enough to keep the kite on the ground. Then, before launch, I grab upper part of depower strap and pump a couple of times. It will catch wind and pre-inflate the kite on the ground. Once the kite shapes with some air in, I keep the the front lines short until it inflates enough to launch. In this way, you can eliminate tip foldings during launch as much as possible.

Powerzone, when you say wax, do you mean make it hot liquid wax and pour it on lines or just rub solid wax against lines?

THE TRUE LIGHT WIND RIG.

NICE

SKATE, I THINK YOU'VE GOT THE TIGHTEST QUIVER WITH THE SA.

YOU POSSIBLY COULD BE SET FOR LIFE.

when we wax lines, we just rub it in by hand. there is enough friction in your fingers to heat and "melt" the wax into the fibers. a little wax goes a long way.

don't forget to rotate your lines every once in a while (swap ends of the MLL lineset)

Good tips! Thanks PowerZone

thanks powerzone, very good advice. im glad you reminded me about rotating lines. I think Its probably time to do that on the pulse2 as well.

I got a chance to fly the SA yesterday in about 4-8mph winds. this thing is crazy! so controlled and easy to use but when you pull the bar all the monster power is right there.

so what would you guys say is the safe top end wind to be self launching in since a hot launch seems to be my only option. I don't want to try in too much wind on accident lol.

This is not a straight answer you are looking for but if you are unsure about which kite, then go out with your Pulse2 12M first. If underpowered, then switch to your SA1 17M and that's your high end

I guess it's all depends on your weight and kite skills. Play safe and go easy on it first.

Good advice Lee ^^^^^

When in doubt start small and work up

>190 LBS. MAYBE 11-12MPH AND LITTLE MORE IF SKILLS PERMIT
I IMAGINE ANYTHING MORE WITH LESS WEIGHT WOULD BE BRUTAL THESE RIGS ULTRA EFFICIENT, AND VERY RIGID A WITH MOUNTAIN OF POWER. LIGHT WIND IS ALOT WORK AND THIS SEEMS SO EFFORTLESS.

CHECK THIS GUY, THERE ARE OTHER SA VIDS THAT COME UP WITH THIS ONE WOW THESE THINGS ARE AMAZING.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XPbKe3pUkc

start with the kite set up for a hot launch,... then just as it lifts off the water/land , turn it hard to one side and let it head for a window edge. the top wingtip will inflate first as you sweep it to zenith then the other wingtip will follow.

that way you can point your Hot Launch in a somewhat safe direction.

top end for the SA for me is around 15knots. the material is so light it does not want to drive to the extreme window edge like standard Speed kites in high winds... the SA material causes it to sit further back in the window and can generate more downwind pull than in lighter winds.

that kite is a secret weapon for sure !

hey what do you guys think about hard vs soft steering on the SA 1.5?


I think its probably set to hard currently but I haven't had a chance to verify that yet.

the version of the 1.5 mod we do actually permanently locks the kite into FULL SOFT mode.... nobody seemed to ever use the harder settings on the Speed1 canopies, so we re-used the steering setting line as a WAC limiter set to full soft. no adjustment needed or even possible. you can cut off the little flaggs and the knots don't do anything.

all you'll ever need to adjust is the Mixer. best setting is B-0.5/C-1.0