Classic Rev perception

[Dean750]

I've owned a Rev 1 since 97'. In high winds it was fun while I was still into fighting the kite.

Now I prefer light wind.

The Rev just doesn't seem as responsive or as controllable as I'd like. Like theres hesitation between what my hand says and the kite does.

Whether I'm on 90# or the 150#.

I'm curious as to whether it's the short, stock handles or is it the lines (feels like they stretch sometimes) or both or maybe something else.

If I could get some ideas about what rod set, handle set and line set I should be using to fly the Rev 1 in 2 to 10 mph winds I'd be greatful.

Thanks,

Dean

[Aerochic]

I've owned a Rev 1 since 97'. In high winds it was fun while I was still into fighting the kite.

Now I prefer light wind.

The Rev just doesn't seem as responsive or as controllable as I'd like. Like theres hesitation between what my hand says and the kite does.

Whether I'm on 90# or the 150#.

Are you flying inland, Dean? It rather sounds like the case to me.

I also encourage you to post this over at the Revolution forum as well. I think you'll get faster feedback there:

http://www.revkites.com/forum

[ant man]

Dean.. your setup is a common one.. i take it you have a SLE in the top you ll want to get th4 1/4 rodsets.. they come in 2 3 and 4 wraps and now rev has the race rods..if you want better light wind pfrormance go with the rece rods or 2 wrap .. the race rods are the lightest and are really nice springy rods bend nicely to allow more wind to hit the sail .. in time you should have all the sets .. its great to have them as the winds have minds of their own..as for the handles you probly have the 8 inch handles.. they are good but 13 inch are better.. the newer revs come with them

[Dean750]

Thank you for the feed back. I went out again today with about 12mph and it sucked

I do live inland, Albany, Oregon to be exact. I think your right about the handles. And the lines (stock 150# 100') still feel stretchy.

I can count to one one thousand three before something happens. Frustating. I'd like to try a real Rev sometime. If I could afford to travel that is.

I'm a light wind dually guy normally. But I've always been intigued by the Rev. I normally fly the M.E.F.M. original by Ray Bordelon.

BTW, has anyone figured out how to fly multiple Rev's yet? I can do multiple kites indoors and out. Just curious.

[Aerochic]

BTW, has anyone figured out how to fly multiple Rev's yet? I can do multiple kites indoors and out. Just curious.

Funny that you mention that, someone just posted this video of Steve from team iQuad just this past week:

As for flying inland, the reason why I asked that is because I am running into similar problems. The winds shift often and are very inconsistent sometimes. :/

[Dean750]

BTW, has anyone figured out how to fly multiple Rev's yet? I can do multiple kites indoors and out. Just curious.

Funny that you mention that, someone just posted this video of Steve from team iQuad just this past week:

As for flying inland, the reason why I asked that is because I am running into similar problems. The winds shift often and are very inconsistent sometimes. :/

LMBO... That was AWSOME!!! Man I really do gotta fly a REAL Rev. You couldn't even dream about that with my Rev. Now what if you had A handle for each kite?

I thought cascades and flat spins with 2 X4I' was exilerating. Same with dual M.E.F.M.'s. Just doesn't require as much finger strength. WOW

[Dean750]

I'm also wondering if maybe the sail is part of the problem. It's not the same kind of Icarex as my M.E.F.M. or Illusion. It seems to be like a 3/4 oz rip stop instead of the 1/2 oz. It seems like the 1/2 oz sails are stiffer and stretch less giving a little more feeling of the kite over the heavier rip stop sails. Or maybe I'm just a dork. Sorry, just had a thought.

[ant man]

the older revs were made of a thicker sail metreal.. the newer ones are much thinner.. the only revs i think that have icrex are the SUL kites i could be wrong however..as for the kite you have if you put a lighter frames in it you will get a better fly in lighter winds .. another thing a few fliers do as fly with 50 foot lines for better responce from the kite as light winds require some walking motions.. also if you can chack your lineset to see if all your lines are the same length.. if one line is off it can make controlling the kite hard

[Penny Lingenfelter]

Usually the bigger the kite the slower the kite. Giving the kite direction is a pre-action. It's a 1/4 of a move before it happens. If you watch video you'll see this. It’s most obvious in slower wind.

Cutting your lines down to 65 -80 ft. will still give you long lines, but get rid of the lag and make the kite much more responsive.

Longer handles and adjustments on the lines will help immensely.

Look at your flying. You may not be moving the bottom of your handle up enough to keep the forward on it going. Especially if it's been in the bag a while. It's easy if there's wind.. The wind will keep it going you just steer. In light wind, you have to keep the kite moving and the forward is important.

Many people who haven't flown for a while, give the kite a good launch and then hold their hands up high, but point the handles down, which is telling the kite to come down. Try to look at your handles to see what you are doing. It may take a few outings for you, but you'll get it. You can put in lighter rods. That being said; you will have more fly time with a 1.5 and it will be easier in most winds. I love the Rev. I... it's a gentle giant. But, you won't get the speed out of it that you can with the other Revs.

BB Penny

[REVflyer]

Hi Dean,

I'm a light wind specialist, it's the local conditions around the DC Metro Area more often then not. I'd say there are several things you can do.

First, make your handles longer or buy longer throw handles, just for low wind. If the stock ones are 8 or 10 inches long, then go to 15 or 19 inches (measured across the gap, not along the parameter)

Next, shorten your line set.

if you have 120's go to 60,... if you have 80 footers go to 40 feet.

Next examine your sail and frame. Change the frame to the lightest stuff you can get. consider 2-P tapered down spars from Skyshark together with a Race frame from Rev in the leading edge.

See if your elastics have gotten longer. Tighten the tops, or remove the elastics on the down spars (at the top) entirely. Tie your end-caps directly into the frame with some heavy dacron or high-test bridle line. The caps should be perfectly flush with the leading edge sleeve, so they don't catch there, so don't start by tightening the bottom elastics!!!

Dump the sleeving (from both ends of your flying lines), that's another darn tangle point!

Make a set of new leaders, the top ones should be as long as the distance between your two flying line attachment points. Add tuning knots, to the bottom leaders only (avoids another tangle point for flying one handed, doing 3D moves, or just spanking the darn thing!) Leaving the top leaders full length, at all times. this path allows you to gain muscle memory for throws and catches.

Consider a more responsive bridle, or practice without one at all. Examine the stock bridle, see the hinge where the two pieces connect? That hinge should be no bigger than the diameter of a Sharpie Pen. Look at the middle attachment point on the across birdle. See how there's a lot of lateral movement available? That all needs to be locked down tightly, so every inch of commands actually reach the frame and sail, "Sloppy bridle" is fine in a big wind, but counter-productive in low or no-wind.

I would recommend you stay on the 90# LPG, it will not pick-up foreign substances or tangle nearly as easily as other brands or lighter weight lines.

After all this crap is done you'll still need to practice too, particularly the float and ground recovery techniques.

Here's another option.

Order a John Barresi SUL 1.5 kite direct from the factory. You want a race frame and their ounce & half nylon leading edge sleeve (instead of that 3.9 dacron "pig" that comes on a stocker)

Anything more is going to require your making your very own specialty purpose kite. (Eliminating the venting on the entire kite, make the center vee 12 inches, instead of nine. Make the sail bigger, but make certain it weighs less too! Consider making the kite as a no-sew sail using 3M's 9460 Adhesive tape)

Email me if you're interested in a custom bridle or training wheels directions. I'm not the national champ, but I betcha' I could fly most of the day in a phone booth on fire. I pray for no-wind, actually prefer it this way, even in competitions. I think I own fifty Revs, most of 'em are for low or no wind flying. When conditions are the toughest, I've probably got ten thousand hours experience in a dead calm. We call this indoor flying with an unlimited ceiling <LOL>

[REVflyer]

almost forgot the critical point.

If you held a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood directly against the wind, how hard would it push on you?

Now angle that board either forward or backward 30 degrees, pushes much less, correct?

Well you need to add DOWN to your tuning of the handles so your kite gets "square to the wind". It would seem that you'd add "UP" to get the kite moving better in forward flight. What's actually happening is the reverse, as you add more and more "up" is your tuning, the wind bleeds off the pressure at the bottom of the kite (trailing edge).

How to test for proper "DOWN"

Place the leading edge of the kite on the ground, inverted. Now shorten your bottom leaders a little bit at a time, until the kite will back-up inverted. That is how much "down" you need in your tuning.

Lines even?

An easy check to improve flight is to drop each flying line loop over a single stake after removing from the kite. Now, go back to the handles and pull 'em up tight,.... do they align perfectly in your hands? If not, adjust either the lines or the leaders.

[Aerochic]

Wow, that's some really great advice!

[Spence Watson]

Dean,

Here are all my thoughts on this.

1. Try out some race rods or 2 wrap rods, these will greatly increase your ability to fly in light winds.

2. Try some longer handles.

3. Is your sail loose? If your sail is not tight against the rods, try tightening the bungees.

4. What length and brand of lines are using? I recommend 90# Laser Pro Gold or Shanti Speed. You might want to try some short lines as well, such as 55'.

5. I think Penny is working on a handle to fly a rev onehanded, but I don't know much about it.

[Dean750]

I never imagined I'd get so many helpful responses. Thank you all. When my stimulas comes in I'll be doing some serious thinking.

I almost think I should get a "what should I do poll"? going. As in, should I rerod my current Rev, or buy the B Series?

I read an older reply of Penny's, about flying bridalless. That might be what I do along with shorter lines and lighter rods. My current Rev, I do believe just became my zero to no-wind Quad.

LOL, Guess I just talked myself into getting the B Series. You all are so helpful.

Now I'm wondering, can you actually feel a Rev in zero wind? I've tried a Rev 2 in zero and I couldn't feel it. Course thats a bit of a size difference.

But I was able to fly the Synergy indoors up in Long Beach. I could feel that quad. I do need to feel the kite at least a little.

I have no problems feeling my Synchro, Nik Nak or my X4I. But my M.E.F.M. is a cow to fly in zero. It has lift but I can't feel it so I over control it.

I'm starting to feel a pull to the dark side.

[Aerochic]

I almost think I should get a "what should I do poll"? going. As in, should I rerod my current Rev, or buy the B Series?

I'm starting to feel a pull to the dark side.

I think if you polled people the overwhelming response would be B-Series.

The dark side has a strong pull. ;D

[Dean750]

I think your right about that Aerochic. Besides the kite, I would also get the longer handles I'll be needing for light wind flying of my current Rev.

Now if the IRS would just pay me. Funny how everything seems to take forever when you want something. LOL

[ant man]

i figured paul would chime in on this one.. he is the master of light winds and has givin me a few pointers that i have used for quite a while .. Dean take all of his advise on tuneing your kite.. it has been very useful for me .. my next plan after the summer is to try a few no sew revs myself

[Spence Watson]

I never imagined I'd get so many helpful responses. Thank you all. When my stimulas comes in I'll be doing some serious thinking.

I almost think I should get a "what should I do poll"? going. As in, should I rerod my current Rev, or buy the B Series?

I read an older reply of Penny's, about flying bridalless. That might be what I do along with shorter lines and lighter rods. My current Rev, I do believe just became my zero to no-wind Quad.

LOL, Guess I just talked myself into getting the B Series. You all are so helpful.

Now I'm wondering, can you actually feel a Rev in zero wind? I've tried a Rev 2 in zero and I couldn't feel it. Course thats a bit of a size difference.

But I was able to fly the Synergy indoors up in Long Beach. I could feel that quad. I do need to feel the kite at least a little.

I have no problems feeling my Synchro, Nik Nak or my X4I. But my M.E.F.M. is a cow to fly in zero. It has lift but I can't feel it so I over control it.

I'm starting to feel a pull to the dark side.

You will definitely be able to feel the rev 1. I use my rev Indoor, and it is still a bit smaller than the re 1, and I can feel it just fine.

[Dean750]

Thank you Watty, that makes reroding the Rev 1 and buying the B series that much easier.

Now the decision is to buy it on the coast for $350 plus $50 for lines or buy it somewhere else. Cutting Edge's web site shows I could get kite and lines for the same price. Mail order or get it now cause I want it. LOL decisions decisions

[Spence Watson]

Try The Kite Shoppe (www.thekiteshoppe.com). They are in Western WA, so shipping shouldn't be too hard. I deal with them for nearly everything. and Theresa is very helpful when it comes to ordering.

[windofchange]

It is always best to support your local shop. You may pay a slightly higher price than you would ordering it online but what you get is personalized care and the ability to help kites grow in your own area. Plus if you happen to break something on the kite it is a simple trip down the street instead of costly mailing and waiting weeks for your kite to be repaired. You also get the opportunity to talk with your local shop and find out special info such as local fliers, where to go, and who you can fly with. Is a week worth of waiting really worth that 10 or 20 dollars worth of savings...or worth the chance of meeting up with lifetime friends? If you happen to need a part on the flying field chances are that your local shop or someone from there will be right there with you helping you get back in the air. To me that's worth a lot more than a couple dollars savings.

[Dean750]

I won't do the mail order thing. I have known the folks at The Kite Company in Newport, Oregon since I started flying. Since I fly the MEFM the Kite company is the only place to go. They are the distributer in the US for that kite.

Actually, my plan was to consider buying the Rev at the Kite Shoppe and going to Delta Park West to maybe fly with that bunch. Make some new friends and maybe learn something I wouldn't flying on my own. Just haven't figured out if I'll have the money to take a road trip yet.

If I don't have the money then I'll go to Newport and try talking the shop owner into going out for a bit.

[Spence Watson]

I'm sorry. I suppose I should have mentioned supporting local shops. I'm just not used to it, because I normally have this type of conversation with others in my area, and there is no kite shop in Spokane, WA any more.

[Dean750]

Close to me Watty, is like almost 70 miles away. LOL As the crows fly it's closer than that. But I haven't figured out how to fly yet.

So don't feel bad. I'm more than likely going to the shop I have gone to since I started flying. But I'll pay out the arse for it if you know what I mean. Then I'll have to come up with the money to go fly with all those great ppl at Delta Park.