SHBKF

Greetings fellow new guy! I had the same question when I joined. You didn't arrive here by accident. Your destiny has brought you into the KiteLife. This is the place that has great resources for you to take advantage of daily. I see the Dark Side is already exerting it's pull. Don't resist, rewarding flying awaits you. Hope you win the Rev. Keep posting, we all want to follow your journey.

Now that you mention it I remember having the same issue when I added brake lines to my Snapshot 2.5. It was my first quad & I did not know to check the lines for top to bottom equalization, just left to right. It was something I noticed when I first set up all four lines but I did not get the importance of it all. Just kind of fumbled into a flyable set up. Later, as I started reading forums, I went back & did a bit more equalization on all four. I got them within six inches & thought that was pretty good. When I read about Rev fliers wanting them within one quarter inch I thought "Those guys are some kind of fanatics". Many lessons to go as I crossed over to the Dark Side. Now I've got everyone's help living the KiteLife.

I will buy a Wala XL in your color soon. The picture is very nice & I wondered if that is where your cabin is located? Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2 (need to start taking pictures while I'm flying)

I launch my TRLBY stack leading edge down when solo. Ideally I would like to have a flight assistant hold the last kite while I did a straight up launch. I doubt the TRLBY stack would ever self launch. It's hard enough to do it intentionally. When the Nexus stack self launched they flew straight up until the lines were about forty-five degrees & then bent the stake as it pulled out. Then they flew off slowly heading to the right, staying in formation & landing nose down without tangling the link lines. I quickly landed the other kite I was flying & chased the lines finally stepping on the handles about the moment they landed. The stake was still in the loops. I straightened the bent stake, set the kites back up & flew them to the left away from the parked Revs. A bit later, after a few deep breaths, I packed them back into the triangle bag. Who says kites are boring?

I too fly alone & look forward to group flying some day. Sometimes I'll put up a SLK & fly a duelie over close just to amuse myself. But I try to avoid the line as I don't want to cut either the SLK line or duelie line set. "Remember to Breathe" is great bit of advice along with "relax" & "fly with intent". My no wind mantra seems to be "slow but steady". Seems like the KiteLife has me thinking of the next session pondering my intent....

Because of this topic I am now carrying a fully assembled kite in the pick up with the 18' lines attached. I can pop out the kite & fly it almost anywhere. The local auto store had a bit of wind tonight so I got in an impromptu short session on the SUL before heading home. Great fun. KiteLife has really helped. Thanks one & all.

After I had so much fun flying a Snapshot 1.2 I bought the 2.5 adding brake lines & the convertible control bar/quad handles. It was my first quad experience. Started out with too much brake & could not take off but could reverse launch. Adjusted the brake lines a bit more loose then tried again. Finally went to the least brake setting & did fine. I was done with the control bar after one session. Put it into the quad handle mode & entered the Darkside without knowing it. Learned to steer with the brakes & back the kite down from the top of the window. My kite will turn much sharper if I add brake on the inside of the sail as I make the pull turn. Or you might try a push turn with the opposite handle adding some brake. Thought the reverse launch was the coolest thing. Never did fly the control bar set up again. I did gain some needed confidence by having kite killers. Then I got some other kites & did not fly the 2.5 for a bit. Started learning the 1.5 SLE & failed to make the connection to lessons of the power kite. Later as I finally had my ah-ha moment I realized it was similar to the power kite just more precise & much faster. I kept the SLE leading edge in for the first ten hours or so. Now when I go back to the 2.5 it is like flying a slower Rev in many ways. I can fly with more brakes now due to my Rev experience. But now my power choice is the PB 2-4. Power Blast 2-4 1.5 & PB 2-4

Recently found a kite I bought over twenty-five years ago (I think) that has never been flown. The tail pocket was not sewn too well & I set it aside for repair for a bit. When I thought of it a few months ago the search was on. Finally found it hanging with the horse tack in the big toy shed. Now it's repaired & ready to try. No eye deer of it's brand & model. I had a self launch of a five stack of Nexus that had been staked out, leaned back & sitting for over an hour while I was flying a couple other kites. They went straight up, pulled the stake part way up, bent it, pulled it free, then flew off finally turning to the right & almost landing on the staked out Power Blast 2-4. Lesson learned? Several at least. Mainly I now know if you leave kites unattended you risk danger & destruction. Could have been expensive. Have not had a self launch of a Rev, even those parked leading edge up. Have only had side sliding by the PB 2-4 when it was not centered in the window or the wind direction changed. Now, because of several of these instances, I mostly only have one kite deployed at a time. Staked out five stack before it took off. Gusty winds slowly stood them up until they blasted off.

OBX, the place I bought & flew my first "stunt kite" many years ago. Anxious to get back & fly it there again. Of course, this time, I'll have a few additional kites with me. Rev it up Reef Runner! Wish I was there. old number one

Wow! had no eye deer! What a sheltered KiteLife I've lived. Thank you, my awakening continues.......

No comments? Fly one & you'll have something to say, love it!

Just came in from a twilight calm session with the Zero G & made some progress. I finally managed to come up with a successful belly launch. While launching off my front lawn I thought I would try several different line angles from the rear of the kite. I tried from the rear of the kite because it seemed so unlikely that it would work & had not considered it before. With the kite laying on it's belly I lined up a bit off center & gave a pull. The ZG lifted a bit then nosed into the grass. I move over to a bit larger angle, gave a pull & it turned upward climbing nicely. I was able to do this repeatedly. The angle can be varied a bit. The correct pull is important. Just experiment a bit & it will work. I was back about fifteen feet which gives some upward angle to the line. Back further is possible but I did not succeed every time. No doubt I will get better at this. I don't know how it will do in some wind but it does work in a calm. The angle of the line crossed the main wing about where the small black dashed point is located.

Found out it's not a good idea to keep a lump of beeswax in the car, even in March. Have used it to stiffen some knots & it works well for that. My oldest kite, from the mid eighties, has spent most of it's life in a motorhome storage compartment & is still in excellent shape. It has a better life now. Heat & cold don't seem to have bothered the nylon sail, vinyl fittings & spars. Sunlight seems to be the enemy of most synthetics including my high end expedition tents. I have been concerned about flying in low temperatures but have not had any breakage due to that so far that I know of.

It's funny how I am learning some tricks on kites not really known as trick kites while the boutique kites remain in the bag. I now feel the best kite for trick flying is the one on your lines at that moment. Thanks for the suggestions & hints. Things happen fast with little kites which may be playing into my twitchy style. I think I may be starting to "get it". And I got to get a Rev II soon....

And welcome to the KiteLife!

Put the Micron in that position a few times recently while flying with intent. It does not want to stay in it & pops out after a few moments. But what fun, now what's next with my little zoomy kite?

The 4D I have gets constant use. It's a good deal for the money & great fun to fly. It continues to teach me. Not a kite for easy tricking but I can do a few with it. Get or make a 5 meter set of lines & you will be able to fly most anywhere & in very challenging conditions. I need to make some 10 meter lines too. Just went outside in zero air & flew my first delta 360 & followed it up going round even further with a couple 540's. A big deal for a newbie like me with the 4D on 18' lines. I have seen video of 4D's doing all manner of slack line tricks. I am pretty limited in my efforts but tonight was progress. Flying with intent is really pushing me further a bit each session. Thanks JB!

I am progressing to shorter line sets as I try smaller locations & less wind. I have done some flying in direction changing wind & now that you have mentioned it I will try to embrace it too. It seems like you go from light wind to no wind to negative wind (blowing wrong way) as your wind window changes. The light changing winds, or lack thereof, started as a frustration but now give me extra joy.

Here's a interesting article about another use of Dyneema. http://www.compositesworld.com/news/dsm-dyneema-fiber-used-to-help-crown-freedom-tower

Last fall I was fortunate to choose a Snapshot 1.2 to use in my kite reawakening. I even eventually learned my first light wind techniques with it. It is a little different to self launch with but is pretty easily done. I always will have it with me if there is a possibility of recruiting a new flyer.

Spent quite a few hours with the Zero G now & have not come up with any ground launch other than the one mentioned with the kite laying on its back. I have bounced it along on it's belly finally getting it airborne but decided it was a bit hard on the little glider. Belly down landings mean I have to go to the kite & flip it over. Or just pick it up & hand launch it with a toss. Then you can let it glide out a bit turning upward before getting too low or you can whirl it like a lasso letting out line as you go. Have not yet tried a wand with any kite or glider nor super light line. Kite flying is interesting in that you can constantly try different approaches. I don't think I've made much progress until I try to teach someone new & see them struggle. Guess I have a few skills but still have much room for improvement. Added note: Two days later I came up with a belly launch. See post #10 below.

Flying conditions here in the Appalachian mountains vary so much that I don't believe I have ever had the steady conditions for more than an hour during the last hundred hours of flight time. A two hour session may require my using four different set ups progressing to lighter & lighter conditions. Once in awhile the wind will increase but that is because it is gusting. The best winds are mid day but I am usually working. Tonight a little wind came at dusk but by the time I grabbed a SUL kite it turned into another zero wind session. I am starting to get better at zero wind finally learning to move slowly keeping the sail lightly loaded to keep tension on the lines instead using all my ground to fly fast then stalling.

Two days ago I tried to fly where some strong vent fans were blowing air out of a large factory. The wind was directed downward by the louvers & the kite would lift up about four feet & stall. If the line of parked cars had not been in the way I could have flown higher a little further out. Now this topic is inspiring me to try more places. Certainly any public space is fair game. Thank you Mark, a little encouragement & I'm on it. Edit: I will proceed with caution so as not to infringe on others or cause any ill will toward the flying of kites as mentioned below. Sometimes my enthusiasm exceeds my dignity....

Being a newbie, with little authority, I don't see anything problematic with that approach. My Prism 4D has loose end nocks by design. I don't think the end of the tube will be cracked by impact with it loose but that may be the thought. Some parts I only lightly glue so they are held in place but can be loosened with a sharp whack if needed. Others will have more insight I'm sure.

First day I had a chance to fly my new Rev 1 I had my worst tangle thus far. It was a nice breezy winter afternoon & I had two hours to try the new kite. I started to lay out my brand new 100' x 150 lb LPG lines. Since they were new I thought I would check their length. I put each pair on it own stake & started unreeling them. I checked the ends & all four were equal length. I walked back, attached the handles & headed back down the lines with the kite rolled up under my arm while feeding the lines through my fingers to completely separate tops from bottoms. Half way down the lines I saw one line end pass me going the other way wadding up two other lines with it at the same time. Somehow one line came loose at the handle. Oh well, I can fix that, just a newbie error I suppose. Took off my gloves, it was twenty degrees, then spent the next hour untangling the mess. Of course the wind was perfect the whole time. Later I would come to understand the concept of the "new kite curse". The wind went calm as I finally was ready to lift off. I did learn a bit about unraveling tangles. When we were kids we would just throw the rat's nests away & look for more pop bottles.