SHBKF

I must admit I was touched when a World Class flyer actually interacted with me on a forum when first getting into the KiteLife. It was an openness I did not expect. Kite people seem to be extraordinary individuals. It's a real surprise for an introvert like me. But now I seem to have some boldness in flying. Where did that come from? Knowing you all has helped me. Thanks one & all. Dayhiker

A big field, steady wind, great kites & lots of time to launch them, what a day!

NOAA is the most helpful forecast for kite flying in my area. I especially like the charts. Wind speeds & direction with times & gusts. Also sky cover predictions are charted.

Seems like these days my meter stays in the bag until the gusts start to concern me. But I fly regardless & my broken spar collection grows. Nice to know what speed wind was a bit too much, ground contact excluded....

Very helpful to see these. I most resemble the "just trying to keep it in the air" video. Some recent help I've received from my KiteLife masters is to slow down a bit. Now I can see it in the videos where before I did not. Also I can now watch a kite video seeing the inputs by the flier & how the kite responds. Thanks so much. Your fans are watching. Sylvester is very cool with Rob on the lines.

Got a Snapshot 1.2 as my first new sport kite when I started flying again 16 months ago. Seemed like a great choice at the time & I still feel it was. Very fast fun kite & I would feel fine letting anyone give it a go. Hope it inspires you to continue. Wear it out.

Quad lines in the snow are just like winter backpacking, any mistake is a big mistake. First time I flew my Sedgwick Cool was in the snow. Wrangled the lines for about an hour as the wind blew sweetly. Finally sorted out the mess I'd made & then the wind dropped. But still I flew until the sun went down. Took a bit of determination. Also learned to bring my reading glasses so I can see the snarled line better.

These posts sound like the kind of flying I do when I can't get to the big hay fields while the wind is up.

Alright, consider me inspired. Thanks for the spur in the side. Makes me very anxious to fly as soon as possible to continue the journey on the Dark Side. You're the man, wow!

My dead launch successes have come mostly in mowed hay fields where the stubby cut grass allowed a bit of air under the kite. But hay fields have other problems like briers that can snag your kite or lines. I walk to the kite often. I have learned to like short line sets. I am a highly experienced novice for sure.

As much as I flown my 4D it is surprising I have not broken any of the frame. Lost a spreader one day, went back the next & found it. A bit of luck has been used up on that one. I would also say take it easy when flying over abrasive surfaces (asphalt for me). The nose is not very heavy & I have had to repair mine. I have also wore through the leading edge fabric in a few places dragging it around without mercy.

Sometimes, when I have flown in the driveway, the horses stand at the fence watching while moving their heads back & forth like it's a tennis match. Critters like kites too. Need an iFlite no doubt.

Checking the kite I've just attached to the lines is something I don't do quite enough. But if you pick it up by the bridle ends, seeing if it hangs straight & square, it will show you problems before you're in the air. Revs seem to get extra wraps on the tips & deltas get the bridle under the spreader when I hurry too much. Recently read about Rev bridles getting out of adjustment & I need to check all mine. I learned to put a bit of beeswax on the duelie bridle adjustments to lock them better. Early on my skills were such that it looked like everything was out of whack. I've got a recent shipment of whack & it should hold me for awhile now.

Wonder if the lady of the house will let me take down some of the chandeliers?

I just recently found out that flutter was something I needed to work on. My gusty conditions probably make it unavoidable for me at my level of skill. I have smoothed out some. Until I get to fly in some real ideal wind I will continue to expect some from time to time. I got to fly with a skilled Rev pilot for the first time two weeks ago & he obviously had no problems but did complain about a bit of flutter flying the SB 2-4 in strong gusts as he was dragged down wind a bit. He showed me how to move down on the grips & smooth things out. One thing that's certain is that I am about to get some great advice as KiteLife comments below. "Thanks, I really needed that."

Back when I got my first sport kite 150's were standard & it never occurred to me to fly shorter lines. But that was back in the Kevlar days...

Yes, thanks to KiteLife I feel like I have gotten to know some of our friends a bit better.

Recently met a Rev flier whose first one was a Supersonic. No wonder he's a skilled pilot. Don't have one myself, yet.

DOS 3, 4, 5, Win 2, 3, XP, Win 7, thin client. Command line, clicking keys, hot keys, joy stick, mouse programs, two click, roller, touch screen, wireless. Green screen, burnt orange, mono VGA, icons with labels. Dot matrix, thermal paper, laser, inkjets, networked copier. 1200 baud, dial up, cat 5, now wifi. Many others too numerous to continue typing. But the changes are the constant. First ever live chat tonight. That was pretty personal.

So again the KiteLife masters teach me something I would have not likely thought of or tried, taking the wind out of my sail to finish a dive. Thanks! The Darkside beckons me to get out there & fly.

The little Zero G I got from Reef Runner taught me "Lasso the wind, grab the sky".

Love my 4D. A few images from a fair light wind winter day,

Strange how this story of misfortune makes me want to get out & tempt the trees. Living here in the mountain woods I deal with trees constantly. Cool windy day here today. The trees were all waving to me.

Welcome! Home is where you park it. http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/5443-roadside-flying/