Jump to content
KiteLife Forum

Trimming for indoor flight


godric
 Share

Recommended Posts

My intention in starting this thread is twofold: first, to get some specific help on one of my kites, but generally to provide opportunity for Q&A for anybody flying anything indoors.

So there I am, in a relatively small indoor space (35' x 55'), trying to fly my Prism 3-D, which after all holds at least one endurance record for this kind of thing, and it's tail-heavy. Just keeps falling out of the air. I trim the bridle to bring the nose forward a bit, to see if some momentum will help it, but as soon as I slow down it wants to stall and slide backwards to the ground. I actually added some weight to the nose and it improved things a bit, while of course reducing the overall flyability of the kite, so I gave that up.

In both the tipped-back and tipped-forward modes I was able to do up-and-overs, and the kite would flatten out nicely for just a second, but as I started to turn it back into a circular path it would drop out of the air again. Since (a) I know others have succeeded at this endeavor, several of them (B) with this kite, I could use some advice on how to proceed from here. This is a stock 3-D, about a year old, with the standoffs set for maximum lift, flying on about 10' lines. I'm thinking maybe helium-filled leading edges ... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 3-D likes to keep moving. Some indoor kites are like that. It is a kite that will help you to become a more efficient indoor flyer. It's the trickability vs. float like a feather thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Scott. Am I correct in understanding you to say that the 3-D is more trickable, but requires a lot more movement and attention as a result? Is that related strictly to wing loading, or are there other factors that obtain?

Could I also trouble you to help me understand "efficiency" as it applies to indoor flying?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

"Am I correct in understanding you to say that the 3-D is more trickable, but requires a lot more movement and attention as a result?

Could I also trouble you to help me understand "efficiency" as it applies to indoor flying?"

Yes, but not necessarily a lot more movement. Part of the extra work is keeping the kite in motion. Finding that point where you give it just enough energy, and not waste any extra energy, is the efficiency I was talking about.

A Wren is an easier kite to fly indoors because it's more forgiving. It's also nice and slow, graceful , and floaty. It actually takes less energy to keep it in the air. It's harder to do a fast axle or 540 on a Wren rather than the slow tricks that it likes. It's so light and flimsy that you'll likely just jerk it out of the air, instead of getting that real fast trick. With the smaller stiffer indoor kites like the 3-D you'll get the quick tricks but it's harder to get the slow stuff. I really enjoy getting a slow low 540 with my indoor Pizazz that would rather be moving quicker, like the 3-D. Of course, I love the incredibly fast tricks with it, too. There really are so many different indoor flying styles. Each kite has it's strengths, or things that it likes to do. Each flyer develops a style or styles,(If you are really good). I think it's important to find that connection, but it can only be done by spending the time flying.

Hope this helps, but if not, I don't mind rambling on. :wacko:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 2 weeks later...

well id have to learn those tricks outdoors first for right now im happy just keeping up in the air ive been doing loops and 360s and some type of spin trick where the kite looks like a star when doing the trick i just jerk lon lines and the thing does it i dont know how really

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...