Trip Posted September 13, 2014 Report Share Posted September 13, 2014 I was going to take my NikNak out tomorrow morning but it doesn't look like there will be much wind... forecasts says 5mph. Might try to make due with that. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2014 Do y'all use finger straps on your lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 13, 2014 Report Share Posted September 13, 2014 Sometimes..... most of the time I use regular straps. I use boas brand. Prism straps are good also. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Trip, did you get to fly today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Well just checked and the wind has picked up some. Think I'll go to the high school and try it out. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Tried but didn't have enough wind. Maybe another day.Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 I'm thinking of taking my NikNak to school with me one day this week. The yard behind my classroom seems to always have some wind. A couple of classes fly small tetrahedral kites out there each year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Good idea. I decided to start taking my kite bag with me to the university each day. Maybe I can start flying at lunch again. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Took the kite out in the pasture tonight. Definitely the longer lines help with reaction time. No wind, though, still no actual flying. Is there any beginner no-wind kite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 The best 0 wind kite for the money is the prism 4-D. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Would the 4D have flown today when your NikNak didn't? If so, I'll order one tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I just want to be able to get one flying, do some gentle turns and loops. Nothing fancy or fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I tried flying my 4-D today. It flew for a while but eventually it would fade to the ground. If I were you, I would save my money and fly the nik nak when the winds are up a little bit.Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfish Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I thought the NikNak is supposed to be a good low wind kite. (No, I don't have one, this is just what I have heard.) Admittedly, it is much much easier to learn to fly when there is enough wind. Once you get the basics, then you can work on low wind technique and be able to fly in lower wind than when you started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 That's true dragonfish. The NikNak is rated for 0 to 12mph winds. But as light as the NikNak is ... the 4D is lighter and flies better in low or no wind. Also, I'm more of a ballet/precision flyer than a trick flyer. So, I need a little more wind to fly. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 The ability to fly in lower speed or zero wind increases exponentially with time on the lines. Hang in there, keep flailing, smile and don't forget to breathe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I teach math, so I believe in learning thru making mistakes.... So y'all are basically telling me to practice what I preach, right? Practice, practice, practice. Keep launching til I can keep the kite in the (no wind) air. I think I got 5 seconds more aloft yesterday than the last time out . So there's progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred van Curen Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 I have flown my NIK NIK indoors in the school gym here on short lines and yes its not easy but not impossible. It's keeping your moves steady and smooth, by walking around left or right and just start by pulling the kite not hard and have the kite flying on its side. This way you'll have the kite in the air and you will learn how fast you'll move to keep it in the air. Don't do anything more till you are comfortable walking around with the kite flying it's side. Then you can turn the kites nose up and fly over head and repeat, this will take some time but you will get it. You can also do figure eight. Just don't try getting fancy. This can also be done outside too. Hope this helps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey78 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I practiced tonight! When I'm carrying the NikNak (by its top bar) out to the field, it always seems like it's wanting to float/fly behind me, so I practiced walking in little circles and sort of swinging it, on short lines, to get a feel for how it wants to fly or glide. I managed to actually FLY it for almost half a circle around me, and made a nice landing, as opposed to a crash! Boy, this kite is built like a tank - it has taken many nose dives and bounces and still looks like it just came out of the bag. I learned a bit more about its handle, so short or not, it was a good outing. I bought a pair of finger straps - do y'all have different straps on each set of lines? I'm still practicing with my cheap lines, and I cut my finger just about every time handling the string barehanded. Thanks to everyone for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred van Curen Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 WOW that's great you are on your way to flying the NikNak . Yes I have finger straps that I use for my zero wind kites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 That sounds great grey! You're on the road to flying. The Nik Nak is an excellent kite. I'm in Plano at the balloon festival this weekend. Plan to fly all of my kites including my Nik Nak. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow. Sent from my Samsung S3 using Tapatalk. :^)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Here's a pic or two of me flying my Nik Nak and Jaws kite at the Plano Balloon Festival on September 20, 2014. Had a blast! You can see more pics on my website at www.hilliard.ws/kites.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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