makatakam

There will be many kite festivals throughout the Midwest this year once the weather warms. Just Google "kite festival 2019" and attend what's close enough. Ask here and we can tell you if there will be any quad flyers there. You can get a new quad kite, including lines and handles (Rev EXP) from on-line shops for about $210 average. Start with a full sail for your area (I'm in Illinois) for starters, and fly it only in the middle of the stated wind range until you're no longer crashing. You can learn alone as I did, but it would be very much easier and quicker if you can get some pointers from someone with experience. You can keep an eye on eBay. Used kites show up there frequently. Make sure the one you want comes with lines and handles. If you must learn on your own, watch the beginner tutorial videos on this forum. Watch them many times. Everything John says and shows you in them is Gospel. Once you get the hang of controlling the kite you can deviate to suit your style, but until then do exactly as instructed and it will eliminate most of the most common obstacles new flyers face. Smile, have fun, and don't forget to breathe.

I would worry about tubes getting crushed. Kite bags often get stepped on and otherwise harshly treated. I agree with Wayne about using rods rather than tubes. As far as tidy is concerned the contents pretty much take care of that. I advise not adding any weight or bulk unless absolutely necessary. You can always rip a seam and add afterwards if you think it needs some help. Not that difficult or time consuming at the edges. Overall, your design and workmanship look quite appealing.

Congratulations, Rosie.

I wish all of you the best.

Only needs mine, 978. How's that for "oneupmanship"?

Then you've got it covered. That's good. I just wanted to make sure you don't miss any smiles. 🙂

You might check the wind speed to see how many days, in your area, the wind was over 18mph last couple of years before you sell the Spider. You may be surprised at how many days per year the wind is that strong. It's about 50 days per year in my neck of the woods. That means that almost 1 out 6 times I want to fly the Spider would be my choice. As Murphy's law states, the time you really need it you won't have one. I live in the Chicago area, "Windy City" and all, but the reference actually regards the politics and not the weather. Chicago is about average as far as wind speed goes, and before I had a full vent I spent many days flying very uncomfortably or not at all. If you can afford to keep it you might consider doing so. I recommend you have either a full- or extra-vent in your quiver.

Stiffer line like LPG helps when learning because it doesn't allow the line to whip as much. Definitely disengage the springs if present or use a frame without them. Most of all, have fun, smile, and don't forget to breathe.

Hi, Ian, and welcome to the forum.

Hi, JS, and welcome to the forum.

Hi, Elliot, and welcome to the forum.

Cool!

Experience is the name of the game. Using a French bridle helps a bit but it still boils down to time on the lines. Try flipping one side, letting it make one spin and then flipping that side back.

That's just Marvinlous.

I would lengthen the bungee as opposed to cutting the frame. Just a thought. Won't affect flight, and you still have the option to trim it if absolutely necessary. I used to trim frames to fit the sail and ended up buying many more frames than I needed instead of kites and materials.

You probably cut a 100 hours off your learning curve as opposed to flying alone. And it's fun too.

It increases speed. Do you find the flare/fade easier at higher or lower speeds? Higher speeds require faster reaction from you, and decrease precision. Like everything else it's a compromise between extremes.

Or lengthen the top leaders by untying a couple knots nearest the handles. Experienced flyers never use those two unless needed for a different style of quad.

Should be okay. Anything bigger than that might be close to breaking the line.

Hi, Snowlady, and welcome to the forum. How big is the kite? 150-lb line may not be strong enough in stronger wind. You don't want to watch your kite free-fly to someplace far away. Also you need to know that a large kite can pull a lot. Enough to cause serious injury if you're not careful. Be sure you don't loop the flying line around any part of your body and that whatever you anchor the line to will hold.

This is a list of tricks. Fairly comprehensive basics. http://www.idemployee.id.tue.nl/p.j.f.peters/kites/basics/alphaidx.frm.html

Hi, Duncan, and welcome to the forum.

iii M O M The devil made me do it.

.....and so the journey begins. Have fun, smile, don't forget to breathe.

Yup, that's how your bag gets heavier and bigger. But you do smile more often. The biggest grins happen when you're flying and others can't.