Flying Stacked!!

[Baloo]

hi all,

Just been able to fly my 3 stack of Rev 2's for the first time. Exellent fun, and pull!!

Couple of questions. Well 3 actually.

The stack seems to wobble in anything other than reasonably fast forward flight, anything I have done wrong or can try to correct this??

Stack takes off front kite first, is this right??

Seems to like long sweeping turns, will reverse but with care. I am using "normal" equal length lines, is there any benefit to more or less brake when stacking??

Thanks,

Chris.

[Mike]

The stack will wobble when holding still, it shouldn't wobble too much when flying slow. Keep pressure on the lines and also check that all the stacking lines are the same length.

Less brake can reduce the pull. You can also try shifting your hands higher on the handles.

I'm not sure what you mean by "stack takes off front kite first", but the kite to keep an eye on is the last kite in on a stack. It's the one that will go crazy on ya!

[johnnmitchell]

hi all,

Just been able to fly my 3 stack of Rev 2's for the first time. Exellent fun, and pull!!

Couple of questions. Well 3 actually.

The stack seems to wobble in anything other than reasonably fast forward flight, anything I have done wrong or can try to correct this??

Stack takes off front kite first, is this right??

Seems to like long sweeping turns, will reverse but with care. I am using "normal" equal length lines, is there any benefit to more or less brake when stacking??

Thanks,

Chris.

1. Stacks do tend to wobble from very much to very little depending on several factors.

a. Sail design and age. The closer the design and age of all the sails, the less wobble.

b. The train lines. All seven train lines should be checked that they are exactly the same length and connected identically. You really need to get down to the millimeter if you want it to settle down. You should also measure the distance from the first to the last kite to verify your train lines did not get messed up in length anywhere. Train lines should not stretch at all. Use good spectre line(or kevlar). Stay away from the stretchy nylon and similar train lines.

c. Adding a little more length to the last kite is said to improve the situation.

2. The front kites does take off first and lifts the following kite which lifts the following kite and etc until the wind grabs them all.

3. Stacks do fly nicer on long sweeping curves but you can do sharp one with a bit of care. The last kites will drag behind and you need to slow down a little until they snap back into place.

Whether you fly with more or less brake is really up to you. Try to determine what you like best. I personally prefer a little more brake.

[Baloo]

Thanks for that. I will re-check the lines AGAIN. This time measuring them while they are on the kites.

Not sure of their age as they are all second hand, got 2 solids and one 2 colour.

At least it flew with reasonable dignity and a couple of my worries are gone.

Another thing, they are difficult to set up and take down, any secrets to setting up and packing away???

[John Barresi]

Traditionally, between the last and second to last kites, I kept the bottom train lines 1-2" shorter... Seemed to cut down the wobble.

[Baloo]

Thanks John, just to clarify, was thet 1 to 2 " shorter on the bottom lines or half an inch.

I remember reading about having the rear bottom lines shorter now.

[windofchange]

I set up stacks with all stack lines exactly equal in length and then I tune the stack from there. Usually I will start at the end kite and shorten the bottom stack lines about 1 inch (2.5cm) and that will usually help keep the chasing down to a minimum between the kites. If you get excessive chasing in the center of your stack, shorten the bottom lines between the kite that "chases" the most and the kite directly in front. Eventually you will get the stack to fly exactly equal with very minimal chasing. When stacking more than 3 rev's I have found that you need to add 2-3 inches of overall brake line to help with the control of the stack. Adding in a set of pigtails on the top and bottoms of your handles makes it very easy to adjust your brake line tension on the stack. Once you find the right setting mark it with a pen so you always know where to hook onto.

Putting away the stack can be a pain. The easiest thing I have found is to try and keep all the kites together without unhooking the stack lines. Lay them all on top of each other with the stack lines in the center of the kites (as much as possible) and then carefully remove the verticals, stacking them on top of the top kite. Then carefully separate the leading edges and then fold the entire stack over on top of itself and roll it all up in one big rev. If you have more than 3 rev's, you may not be able to fold all the leading edges over. In that case I remove the leading edges completely from the sails and then fold the sails over, then lay all the rods (leading edges and verticals) on top of the stack and roll it all up. Re-assembly is just the opposite.

Another hint....if you have different spars in each of your kites, spray paint the rods on one end with a different color to keep all your frames the same. My 8 stack of 1.5 SLE's has heavy frames (custom 6 wraps) in the front four kites, standard 4 wrap in the next 3 and UL in the last one. Different paint helps identify which frame goes in which kite very easily.

Hope that helps.

[blondie]

i havnt had a chance to fly rev stack but it looks like its fun!!!

love always,

jenn

[Baloo]

Thanks for the advice Kent. Will let you know how I get on.

Wow a 8 stack of 1.5's, I was only in a fairly light wind and had to step forwards a few times with a 3 stack of Rev2's. Your stack must pull like a train.

I REALLY like the looks of the progressive stack from Rev, did think about making a 2, EXP, 1 stack myself.

If you get a chance Jenn you try it. Good fun and I only had about an hour to fly. It looks fantastic in the air. You need to stand aside to see it best. I just need someone else interested to take the lines so I can watch. Shame you are so far away. Hopefully will be even better when I get the tuning right.

[windofchange]

Yea the 8 stack pulls like a train. Really fun to fly and after adjusting the brake lines I got the pull to be much less but still have to have your feet well planted and ready to go on a ride when the wind picks up. I actually buggied with the stack once, was really fun.

Here is a link to some wallpaper pics of my custom 8 stack along side of my Powerblast 4-8.

Revolution 8 Stack Wallpapers

It is easier to tune your stack if you can look at the side of the stack while flying. If you can get someone to fly the stack slowly towards and away from you you should be able to see the area that needs to be adjusted. Other times it is just trial and error. I use some small dowels of different sizes to tune the stack. Just larks head a dowel into the lower stack line and give it a try. If it improves make the difference in line length permanent. If not just pull the dowel out and try another size or in another area.

Hope this helps.

[Baloo]

Thanks again.

No chance of anyone else flying my stack. Not because I wont let them, just no one else flying near me that I know of.

Going to try shortening the brakes on the rear when I get a chance.

[fool]

Thanks again.

No chance of anyone else flying my stack. Not because I wont let them, just no one else flying near me that I know of.

Going to try shortening the brakes on the rear when I get a chance.

I had a 4 stack of rev 2's I could hover without much wobble. Took me about 2 years of adjusting though. A few years later I ended up trading them off to a friend for some RC equipment. I've always regretted trading that stack but plan to work on building another bigger better stack ever since I got back into kiting in '04.

Your best bet for removing wobble in a stack is to pull the bottoms in like what has already been said in this thread. Definitely some nice advice. After you get the kites to stick together start working in 1/2" increments then in 1/4" to really fine tune it. I found making my stack lines out of old flying lines helped to keep the stretch to a minimum. If not pre-stretch your lines with a few flights using a heavy pulling single line kite.

[Baloo]

Not had chance to check the change out yet. Will try to have suitable "adjusters" so I can play with the line lengths.

Hope to get it sorted B4 2 years Chris. Still we have the same name and my chances at flying are few, might well take that long.

[fool]

Well the 2 years was mainly spent working out a little wobble here and a little wobble there as lines would stretch out. I started with fresh spectra stack lines and ended with well used flying lines that were copied from the originals.

[Choccy]

Just been able to fly my 3 stack of Rev 2's for the first time. Exellent fun, and pull!!

Hey Baloo, that's a sweet looking stack of IIs you've got

Just experienced the same as you this weekend.

Maiden flight of my stack.... into the setting sun was fun.

Pics here

Pulled like a train, if you want it too

Chocs~away

[Baloo]

You be careful now, you hear.

Tiz good fun though. Must get mine flying again soon.

Have fun.

[kiteking]

I will agree with the last train lines to be shorter, I only have a short stack of rev's (currently 2 - 1.5's) But I am going to add another 1.5 and a couple of rev II's.

I do fly a lot of different dually stacks, and found when tuning the last kite I use a small piece of a stirring stick. I then grab a section of the train line and use a overhand knot on the stick, and test fly, and keep adjusting till I like the response of the last kite, then I measure and make the knot w/o the stick.

[Choccy]

...I then grab a section of the train line and use a overhand knot on the stick, and test fly, and keep adjusting till I like the response of the last kite, then I measure and make the knot w/o the stick.

Hey Kiteking

sounds like a good trick for adjusting lines,

thanks.

@Baloo, You're such a hunny bear, of course I know when to let go these days if I get dragged around too much

Anyone flown a stack of vented IIs ?