[Reef Runner]

Stan, on 07 November 2011 - 09:43 AM, said:

BTW, it sounds like I still have way too much down as to get the kite to launch inverted I have to haul in on the bottoms (almost all the way). Next time out (assuming good wind), I going out further on the tops.

Stan

Stan, Possibly you may have stated that wrong. Letting out on the tops, is the same as adding more brake, or maybe I'm not understanding what you are saying (that's possible, for sure). If you are having trouble launching from the inverted position, then you need, more brake, which you should get, by letting out the tops.............
You know, we are making this sound a lot more complicated, than it really is. This isn't "rocket science", but close !

You really need to meet up with Lee & I, over in Louisburg. There is nothing like hands on help, and I think we can help to shorten up your learning curve.............next weekend looks good, especially Sunday (67F and better winds, hopefully)

ps...........1.5 B is an excellent choice - Standard Sail, I'll assume !

[Stan]

Well my journey into the dark side is almost complete..... It will be complete in about 4 weeks when my kite is delivered..... Let you guys read between the lines as to what Rev takes 4 weeks to get here



Stan

[Stan]

The Brown Sleigh carrying my new B Series Pro just left.....

Dang it, Lolly didn't pack the wind.....

Question... Does drool stain the sail?

pics to come later... I gotta work

Stan

[nckiter]

Stan, sounds like we need a lunch fly in Louisburg with Reefrunner!

[Reef Runner]

We want pictures !!!

[stroke survivor]

Keep the drool away from the sail!!!

[REVflyer]

I just received my new pro replacement sails yesterday. They are so new and crispy, I'm almost embarrassed at the beating they will receive in my hands! New full sail and new mid-vent to replace the ones I've treated so poorly. My bride Barbara and Dantonio were both quite specific,... "those old ones gotta' go!"

I've got 'em all rigged just as I want 'em and I can't hardly wait to thrash the stitches out of Bazzer's gorgeous craftsmanship. One's an SUL and it is a perfect set of conditions for testing right now, I might be feeling too poorly the rest of the afternoon and use some of the 800+ hrs of sick leave I've accrued.

[mbro]

Hey Revflyer, I know a place "those old ones" would love to go! My house!!!
Michael

[Stan]

After the wife saw it... She now thinks it would look good hanging on the wall.

[Stan]

And Now Pics.....

[Stan]

Bigger Picture...

[SkyPuppet]

Sweet lookin' 'Pros yo!

Very nice

[mbro]

Very nice Stan,a beauty!!
Michael

[Reef Runner]

Stan, on 20 December 2011 - 02:35 PM, said:

Bigger Picture...

2011-12-20_14-25-37_979.jpg

Looking good Stan.
Now if we can just get you to come fly with us

[Stan]

Just got my new lines in... Skybond (50# and 100#). The 50# will be 50' for light wind and the 100# will be 100'.

Whole lot "slicker" than my previous lineset...

And now waiting for two things..... Wind and Time...

[stroke survivor]

Stan, on 08 January 2012 - 04:17 PM, said:

Just got my new lines in... Skybond (50# and 100#). The 50# will be 50' for light wind and the 100# will be 100'.

Whole lot "slicker" than my previous lineset...

And now waiting for two things..... Wind and Time...

Stan - Give us a review of how you like the skybond line, will ya?

[B-13]

Hi all, just so excited my 1.5sle arrived today (thanks Ben for all)
I have it with both LE and two lines sets. One 120' and another one shorter..80' i guess bit will measure it exactly.
In addition to my Supersonic i bought last month, this one will be on more smooth days and for more precise flying.
I have a 11" handle that i will use for it till i save a bit and get longer 13" ones.But i will learn with this handles first and adjust pitch if needed.
Any advice for leaders tuning for this kite? I was advised from someone to put longer leaders to get some pitch, brakes, etc.
Any length i can begin with and at what distance first not begin from the handle tow point.

But beside all this, i am really excited to fly this kite and sort of another jump into the DARK WATERS

[REVflyer]

If you want to eventually master the 3-D stuff, and the "throw & catch" specifically, you'll need to consider approaching your leaders somewhat differently. I'd recommend you make the top leaders as long as the distance between the two attachment points on your handles (just slightly shorter, so it can't reach the bottom attachment point). Make all tuning adjustments only on the bottom leaders (this keeps the tops a consistent length for muscle memory).

The longer the top leaders are,.. the farther you can reach out there w/o cutting your pinky fingers on the raw spectra!

Removing the sleeving on your line set is one less thing to tangle when the handles are laying on the ground or both held in one hand. I'd even mark one of 'em so you know which goes into your right hand upon quick examination.

Replacing the leaders with 100# hi-test bridle line is another recommendation. That thick dacron cord is a tangle just waiting to screw you up! Hi-test is easier to manually adjust one knot to insure you always begin with the handles "perfectly aligned, tight & equal" on a single well-placed stake ~ determines neutral/equal line lengths, BEFORE adjusting for the amount of "Down" for your preferred flight dynamics. I use a doubled strand or hi-test but only put the adjustment knots in one of those legs (easier to untie and move if ever necessary)

Practice first just throwing the kite and don't worry about how ugly the action looks in the beginning. You want it to g-l-i-d-e out while slowing rotating, to wind up inverted and parallel with the ground. It will fly farther and straighter with the SLE leading edge (more mass and stiffer, to overcome/penetrate the wind) It will be easier to fly overall with the light weight leading edge. (every modification is compromise, one way or the other). You can do this practice with the kite off of the lines. How far can you make it glide away?, but remember it's gotta' wind up inverted and parallel with the ground, bridle facing you at the end of the flight.

It's easier to do, if you throw the kite across the wind window, winding-up at the edge, in the corner. I'm severely "left handed", so I throw to the right side most of the time. I'm used to flying one handed (using my weaker hand, the right one, since I need the left hand to pull the top leaders or throw the kite)

Next, you need to practice where in the wind window to execute your pull on those top leaders. As the kite is powered-up and climbing the center of the window you need to pull, sharp and hard, ... imagine you were sitting down aggressively and did that yank as the same time, that's the kind of action necessary. Where in the window the effort is made ultimately affects the flight path. Done directly overhead and the kite drops straight down into your outstretched hand. If you execute the yank about 2/3's up in the wind window's height you'll get an arcing glide that takes much longer to reach you (so you'll really need to add some significant energy, to cut across the oncoming pressure of the wind (or do it in low/no wind!). If you don't do your yank evenly, or in the center of the wind window, you'll get a diagonal glide, or some funky stalled action.

As your overall quad skills improve, you'll find the bottom leader adjustments keep getting short and shorter (more brake). I run 3-400% longer top leader lengths than bottoms, but I fly lots in low/no wind, so all that down helps me to keep the sail square/perpendicular against the pressure.

There is no single answer to most questions, sometimes it's more about the path of discovery than the actual destination objective. Enjoy and please keep writing about your adventures on the dark side!