Reef Runner

Still, first things first. All of those are great info, but you don't want to suffer information "OVERLOAD" I still gotta recommend, as a beginner, concentrate on: 1. Line Management http://kitelife.com/...ine-management/ 2. Assembly & Disassembly http://kitelife.com/...nd-disassembly/ 3. Basic Launch & Control http://kitelife.com/...ch-and-control/ and in particular - Line Management...........the rest will come, in it's own good time, but too much info, right up front, can be mind boggling.

The most important tutorials, that I can reccommend, at this point are: 1. Line Management http://kitelife.com/forum/videos/view-41-rev-tutorial-line-management/ 2. Assembly & Disassembly http://kitelife.com/forum/videos/view-40-rev-tutorial-assembly-and-disassembly/ 3. Basic Launch & Control http://kitelife.com/forum/videos/view-281-basic-launch-and-control/ Watch the "Line Management" tutorial over and over, until you are tired of it, and then watch it a few more times. You've got to know that, or your second trip out, will be a disaster. Line worry's shouldn't take up your time - flying should......... ps...............just ask CaptainBob about that !

Okay, somebody else has got to have a great story to share..............

In my opinion, you've first got to decide (your best guess), if you and your son, will be spending a lot of time flying together, in the coming years. If so, I'd consider two identical kites, and that way, you can always fly together, when winds are right, for that kite. Should this be the case, then you've got to decide whether to get standard sails, or mid-vent sails (or full-vent). That of course, is going to depend on the winds where you fly, so refer to the suggested wind ranges, for the different kites. There's usually a lot more overlap, in wind ranges, than indicated on paper, so don't limit yourself, too strictly. Personally, I've had several different sets of Revs (B-series, B-Pros, & B2's), and each set included a standard sail, a mid-vent, and a full-vent. In every case, I always ended up flying the mid-vent kite the most. Others will have different opinions, but everyone has an opinion, as to their favorite, based on how and where they fly. I do most of my flying during the summer, at the coast, and the winds there are usually in the 10 - 12 mph range, and tend to be a bit more consistent, than inland. Vented kites tend to be smoother in stronger winds, but they also excel in choppy inland winds, kinda like adding shocks to the car. If you think that flying together, is going to be a "hit & miss" with your son, then get one of each - a std and a mid-vent. You can still fly together, but of course, there will be a difference in the two kites, but on those days when you are winging it alone, you will have a wider range to pick from. Now, all you've got to do, is decide on the color - matching, or not. The B-series would surely be a fine choice, and as you mentioned, you will get an extra frame with each. The "ready to fly" package also comes with the 13" handles, equipped with adjustable leaders. You'll be ready to go ! (I love spending other people's $$$'s) As for handles, yes, there are different lengths, such as 11", 13", 15", etc. The different length handles, change the input to the kite, so you need to stick with the standard length handles, that come with the kites you pick. For instance, the 1.5 Revs, usually come with 13" handles, while the shorter handles are usually designed for the faster, twitchier kites, which require less, or minimal input. They are not designed for smaller pilots, per say. The weight of the longer handle, won't really make much difference for your son, if that's what you were concerned about. The kite will be bearing most of that weight, anyway. Again, this is just my opinion, and it's worth exactly what you paid for it...........others will surely chime in with more helpful suggestions. You'll find lot's of help here at Kitelife. Just ask, and good luck.

I would say, next time out, and assuming 8 mph, give it a try. As John mentioned earlier, if you can't launch, move in one knot. 3 - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. 3a - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. 3b - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. 3c - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. Eventually, you should hit a knot where you are *just* able to launch Also, don't forget line stretch. A day of high wind flight (not that 13 is too high), could stretch the upper lines, which could again, call for an adjustment, "IN", on the top leaders............. Sounds like you are figuring this thing out............

Well, I can edit my topic "Title", if I use "Full Editor", in the first post ?

Nope, I'm near the NC/VA line, close to the lower end, of John H Kerr Reservoir

A "one man show"...........

Ralph, you are getting entirely too many kites ! Hmmm, is there "such a thing", as "too many kites" ?

Sounds like you got hooked, pretty quick........great story !

On the ground - leading edge down In the air - birds beware !

Yep, as Wayne said, the upright launch is ok when you are first learning, but trust us, once you become familiar with the Rev, and actually begin to establish some control, you will begin to land (inverted) with the leading edge down, all the time, and you'll never think twice about it. It will become natural, and that is definitely the "PARK" position, for any Rev. You will also begin setting up the rev, from the inverted position, as well as launching from the inverted position. There's no reason to roll it over, before going up in the sky, just launch inverted, and once your are up, go for it, and do your thing...............

That would be a sweet suite. Yes "Sweet (little) Suite"

Deep !

Go for it !

Hi chonkyfire9, First of all, welcome to Kitelife. Please join us, we have a great bunch of folks here, and lots of great information, along with plenty of those folks, ready to help, at the drop of a hat. Now, as always, I am very interested in learning new tricks. I understand what you eventually did, so far as attaching a leader around the spine, up where the spreaders meet, but what I don't understand, is the "first method" that you described, and it being similar to what I did? Are you saying, that you put a short piece of fiberglass rod, through the hollow tube, at the bottom of the tee - that tee being located at the bottom of the spine - and then attached your tail(s), out on the ends of this rod ? Also, was it 1 or 2 tails ? If that is the case, then it is quite understandable, how that rod ended up, breaking the tee, and maybe even the spine. Uneven torque on that piece of rod, produced by the weight and pull of the tail, could easily cause the tube part of the tee section, to fracture and break, possibly even taking the bottom portion of the spine, along with it. Also, 4 lbs is a lot of weight, to be pulling behind any kite, especially it you are making erratic twists and turns, while in flight, as evidenced by your photo. As for the method that I used, I have only a short piece of bridle line running through the hollow portion of the tee, and it's in there, mainly to hide the knot, however, the force, or pull from the tail, is really just on the strip of Velcro, which is pulled tightly around the end of the tee, and is supporting it fully and securely. There is nothing hard or ridged, going through the tube, and nothing to really cause any kind of leverage, inside of the tube, which would surely cause it to fracture or crack - all the pull is against the Velcro. Not trying to be argumentative, at all, but just curious as to what exactly you really did, and not sure that I completely understood your explanation / description. I think I understand, but a picture is always worth a thousand words.............would love to see just how you rigged that piece of rod, through the tee section, as I can surely see how a bit of unequal pull, on either side of the tee, could immediately spell catastrophe.

Too young - NOT. My kind of music - YOU BETCHU. Thanks for reminding me of that "oldie but goodie" !

I think your fonts go past 48 !! Hmmmmm ?

Okay Mate Better ? LE CHAPEAU TILLEY

Well congratulations, Konfuzion ! Enjoy !

RNG must be on coffee break

Yea, I actually do, on occasion, wear sailing gloves, which are leather, but have the finger tips removed. I can't tie and untie the line, with heavy work gloves. Doesn't your carabiner get awfully hot, when you walk down the kite ? I've had them to get so hot, I was concerned that it may actually melt the line, but a good pulley eliminated that. No frictional heat generated, at all, which is good...........

Wish I had a place like that close by............

Yea, and it really doesn't require the heavy gloves. I usually let the line out slowly, from a large diameter hoop winder, then when I'm done flying the kite, I walk it down with the pulley, so there's rarely any real hand-to-line contact, except when securing the line to the carabiner, on the sand anchor.........

I have noticed, that on a hard pulling kite, and especially if it's out 400 - 500 feet, the carabiner alone, will get awfully hot. Jeepster reminded me about using a pulley, so I got one from a mountain climbing website, and it works great. It opens up, you close it back, and then snap a carabiner (with strap) into the holes, and away you go.