80 replies to this topic

[Bob D]

I flew my Rev 1 yesterday (the second time) and had trouble maintaining an inverted hover. I had to continually make adjustments with the left and right handles to maintain but I couldn't do it for very long. It wanted to rotate around and it wasn't very long before it went around and flew off.

Any tips for keeping it steady?

[Sailor99]

Do less! It sounds like over controlling again (see your question about reversing). An inverted hover is essentially reversing, but with no movement (if that makes sense!). Keep at it, it comes but takes time.

[Kitelife]

You have to use a little more brake on the trailing wing in the slide, to keep it from turning when you pull one hand to make it slide.

[Choccy]

Try checking your brake line.

if you go up a knot towards the handle you'll find the oversteering will smooth out and you'll maintain less wobble and more stable inverted flight

It used to freak me out before I set my brake to more, and now I spend most of my time inverted Yay

Good luck and keep trying,
less is more

[Sailor99]

I think Bob would be happy just to hover inverted for the moment John, without throwing in slides and stuff too!

[Sailor99]

if you go up a knot towards the handle you'll find the oversteering will smooth out and you'll maintain less wobble and more stable inverted flight

Thats one knot towards the handle on the brake line BTW, not the top line.

[Kitelife]

Sorry, that's what I get for posting before 5am.

On my way to the Apple store (3 hours early), to get in line for the new iPhone.

[Sailor99]

On my way to the Apple store (3 hours early), to get in line for the new iPhone.

Waste of time - you still won't be up to flying a decent inverted hover

[Bob D]

Thanks! Since I don't have or know how to use leaders (see my posting under "tuning"), should I just tie knots on my lower handles.

(How many inches would or wouldn't make a difference?)

[Sailor99]

About half an inch nearer the handle. See the other thread

But you also need the extended leaders on the top lines to have a significant impact. This has the effect of letting the top lines out a bit, which is much the same is bringing in the bottom ones when one thinks about it. About 9" long with a knot every half to three quarter inches.

[Choccy]

Sorry, yes I was not clear on which leader is which.
Sailor is quite right, it is the bottom leader, tie extra knots in them if you don't have them already, every 1/2 inch or so.

I won't even embaress myself about confusion of some of the technical stuff on here, when I first started out...
faux pas along the lines of 3 and 4 wraps.

Of course it is easy when you know how, but to newbies it is never that clear!

Got to start somewhere

[big bri]

A good tip Bob is,just use one side/handle to adjust and keep the other motionless.Its a good tip for any inverted moves.Try either handles,whichever suits ya best.Small movements,tiny adjustments.
.May work for ya,may not.I am sure with the other advice[minus the champs slide advice ]thers some help in ther.

Best advice, PRACTICE,,PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE

BRIAN...if at first you,,,,,

[steveb]

Unless the wind is absolutely smooth and perfectly steady, you need to be constantly making very small corrections with the handles to maintain a steady hover. It takes practise and a light touch.

[Watty]

All these adjustments will help, but you will not instantly achieve a steady inverted hover. The key is lots and lots of practice. Try starting out with the kite LE-down on the ground. Back it up into the air a bit and hold the inverted hover as long as you can. As soon as you loose it, get back to the starting position, and do it again. Remember to just make light adjustments. Any exaggerated movements when going in reverse, or holding an inverted hover will cause many problems.

[Kitelife]

I often suggest leading edge down on the ground... Lift one wing, set it down... Lift the other, set it down... Build up a rhythm, to develop your feel on the inverted controls.

Eventually, apply those principles (with small inputs) in the air.

[Bob D]

Thanks for all the tips! Revs are a lot more work to fly well than duals. (It seems like quads and duals are two completely different animals.) I saw a few of John B's videos on YouTube and he makes it look so effortless! I can really appreciate his skill now!

I'll have to get some bridle line and make some leaders.

[Jim Foster]

I was having a very hard time learning inverted hover.

Ron Despojado walked over and said "Do an inverted launch to about a foot off the ground. Hold it. When you feel you are loosing control, land the kite and start over." That worked for me. You will be able to hold the hover longer and longer each time until your brain gets the message, then it will be easier than an upright hover. Revs do really like to be inverted. Inverted slides are much easier than upright slides, once you get on to it.

[Jeepster]

... your brain gets the message ...

Well Jim, that must be MY problem ... that brain thing again! Maybe if I got an iPhone with the kite flying pictures on it! You think?

Seriously, I can do most other non-trick manuvers. They might look like a one-year old walking ... wobbly and right on the edge of disaster ... but, that inverted hover lasts about two or three seconds before the vertical rods start fighting over who's the tallest ... and you know the rest of that story. I'll practice the inverted launch method ... any other mental training wheels for the hover?

[Choccy]

... any other mental training wheels for the hover?

if you can find yourself some 'clean' wind.

fly to the top of the window, turn over 180, start a slow dive stop,
more of a glide stop and stop the hover and try and hold it for as long as possible.

try it at various heights and see how you get on.
I did this on a beach with clean wind, and I got the eureka moment

once you feel it, you'll recognise it in any kind of dirty unkind wind too.
FYI: it really hurt my forearms the first few times but it soons eases.

find what is best for you, and keep trying.

"There is another way"

[big bri]

if you can find yourself some 'clean' wind.

fly to the top of the window, turn over 180, start a slow dive stop,
more of a glide stop and stop the hover and try and hold it for as long as possible.

try it at various heights and see how you get on.
I did this on a beach with clean wind, and I got the eureka moment

once you feel it, you'll recognise it in any kind of dirty unkind wind too.
FYI: it really hurt my forearms the first few times but it soons eases.

find what is best for you, and keep trying.

"There is another way"

Also,to completly wreck your head.As Choccy says above,but Step Into the kite[walk forward] as you turn it over at the top.It will,turn,and fall much better.

BRIAN...