Jump to content
KiteLife Forum

Zephyr


Breezin
 Share

Recommended Posts

Flew on Z about 3 hours today R line is off about 2" more. Used same line set on PD for 2 hours. Monday up for about 2 1/2 hours on both. 1 more adjustment should be good to go for a bit. Unless I put the set on the Widow in 12 mph :devil:.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Flew on Z about 3 hours today R line is off about 2" more. Used same line set on PD for 2 hours. Monday up for about 2 1/2 hours on both. 1 more adjustment should be good to go for a bit. Unless I put the set on the Widow in 12 mph :devil:.

Ok so what do you think about the PD. I usually don’t fly mine above 5 mph we have better suited Kites for heavier winds. IMG_2518.JPGhere is my son with a PDSUL in almost no wind on 20 foot lines.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While putting up PD leaned over to get spars and whiskers. Pipe fell out of shirt pocket onto whiskers. BOINK. Next 20 minutes on hands and knees finding what went BOINK. May I suggest as a Newbie perhaps put away whiskers 1st:cat_angelic:. Unless of course ya like that sorta thing. Ordered enough rods and end caps to make 14 whiskers for the Jet Speed. Figured I'll be losing those a lot. Plus 3 tee's. Figured I'll be breaking those a lot.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got my sewing machine today. 2 stocking hats and a shirt to repair for practice. !1st major project [for me anyways ] is sew a little velcro for whisker storage pocket. I store top spreaders for all but the Z in LE hole. Maybe attach RF tag to whiskers and stay out of water:huh:.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Dang hope I don't jinx anybody but here goes. Yesterday morning winds hitting 12 to 13 max and flew the Nighthawk. After lunch went to 2 to 6 so Zephyr time. Hour or so into it found a pin hole. Whipped out my trusty ca glue some cellophane and fixed it right up. This is my 4th minor sail repair and best yet. Got to thinking how dumb that was to do in the field and won't do it again. Winds high again this morning so up with the Widow. Winds came down but gusty so I got the Zephyr. Putting kite together looked for pin hole. Couldn't find it till I ran my hand over the back and felt a little bump. If I would have went to the house got some tape for the back, magnifying glass and a tooth pick to align the sail would be virtually impossible  to find. Put in the weight adjusted the bridle and nocked the leach line. About an hour set like that. Quite different. Still have to get used to it but I liked it. Winds dropped to near nothing topping at 5 to 6 and seeming to get lower so went back to low wind setting.. Coming across the window a blast knocked me a couple feet forward. Got to the edge landed the kite whipped out my wind meter and wind was still 17 after already dropping some. Zephyr done for the day. While taking down the kite thinking I had just dodged a bullet found the  lower spreader ferrule cracked. Minor issue and still think I got lucky but I don't have spare.:kid_cussing:. Now I'm thinking tomorrow morning I'd better take the kite down and inspect everything I can think of.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Even if you are flying a heavier, tougher standard kite, conditions you describe may still cause damage of some kind.  I broke the spine of a kite when a big gust came on suddenly accelerating the kite into the ground.  Round these parts there are many trees.  I try to listen for changing wind coming through the trees behind my position.  I can hear the larger gusts approaching. When this occurs I fly to the side of the window & hover lower while the gust is passing by.  Also flying at ten feet or less the wind is usually noticeably less due to ground friction.  Another choice is to park at the top of the window straight above you.  But don't do that with a power kite.....

Try some tip stands over to the side for fun.  In a strong sustained wind you can just park the kite on it's tip for a time.  Lift slightly, roll the kite up and over then execute an extremely low ground pass to a second tip stand when you stall at the edge of the window on the other side.  Great fun & even more so with a long tail.  Don't tempt fate with a light kite, fly to the side & land, always.  Love it when my lines whine & sing but it is a warning song no doubt.

Many of us fly dualies mostly in lighter air switching to vented quads when stronger conditions arrive.  Vented sportwings, with the proper frame, eat gusts very well.  But that is another call from the Dark Side.  You must accept the will of the Force.

SHBKF

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

After inspecting looks like the rest of the kite is okay. After removing the ferrule found a slight crack in the coating of the rod. Doesn't look like it's in the carbon but I'm going to replace both sides just to be safe. After thinking about it more feeling  luckier then yesterday. Before that gust hit I was thinking about getting the Pro Dancer. That would have been really bad.Nearest trees for me are 30 miles west. The tell is usually dust coming at you but hard to see with your back to the wind.When summer comes the dust devils are going to be interesting. Looked at Riffs bridle mods for a foil. Sigh can feel myself slipping. GFK foil isn't worth much so that would be the sacrificial lamb so to speak. Make myself practice sewing for an hour every morning. Starting to get some descent runs but my proper tension still sucks. Once that's figured out those tabs look very doable.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Weekend sucked for flying. Thought the winds were going to howl but just snow and cold. Warmed up a bit and went out with the Zephyr today. Man I missed that kite more than I realized. Prism sent my lower spreader really fast. Pricey but pleased.Winds were running 3 to 6 with a few drops. Really nice for a couple hours. Winds dropped o to 3 mph and had to give it up. Did you know that when snow and ice build up on your kite you can't fly  very well in low winds :o. Still fun though. 2 days without flying and by yesterday afternoon all I could do was play sad sad blues songs. Played myself right into a bout of mild depression LOL. Got over it today though :D

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ouch. Hauled milk from the dairy farms to the processing plants for 11 years. Night shift for 7 of them. Sat on the side of the road many times waiting for one of you plow boys to clear a path to a farm. Always happy to see those flashing  lights. 18 wheeler with a 1/2 load in a smooth bore tank makes for some real tense moments on a slick road. Miss not being able to work except for those times. When the winds dropped could not bring myself to put the PD into the snow. The thought gave me more of a shiver then the cold.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

PS, if you want to really beat the system... Put a small extension between each line and strap/handle with a series of knots 1/2” apart, then you can adjust on the fly... Often times just moving lines to another kite or set of handles can bring in more variables, with the knots you can always tune on demand. ;)


Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...