Date: 26 Apr 1993 09:02:59 -0500 From: dblezek@ub.d.umn.edu (Daniel J. Blezek) Message-Id: <1rgq2jINNn8m@ub.d.umn.edu> Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth Subject: Self launching a stunt kite Hi all, Sorry if this is a FAQ, but I haven't had much time to read this news group... I bought an Aero Sport stunt kite last fall ( my first ) and the instructions claimed that the stand-offs would assist self-launching, however, they neglected to mention how to do this! If anyone can fill me in on the proper procedure to successfully self-launch a kite I would be very grateful. Thanks much, Daniel Blezek dblezek@uc.d.umn.edu = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: 26 Apr 93 15:43:23 GMT From: toddb@vu-vlsi.ee.vill.edu (Todd Blakaitis) Message-Id: Organization: Villanova University Subject: Re: Self launching a stunt kite In article <1rgq2jINNn8m@ub.d.umn.edu> dblezek@ub.d.umn.edu (Daniel J. Blezek) writes: > > I bought an Aero Sport stunt kite last fall ( my first ) and the > instructions claimed that the stand-offs would assist self-launching, > however, they neglected to mention how to do this! If anyone can fill me > in on the proper procedure to successfully self-launch a kite I would be > very grateful. > well...some of the pros on this group might answer this better, BUT since I have the same kite (great first kite, BTW) I'll tell you what to do. Lay the kite on its back (nipples of spars against ground) and with the wind at your back, walk the lines out to their length. (Make sure that the lines coming off the kite are not rapped around or tangled in any spars). When I'm doing this on the beach, and it is real windy...I throw some sand on the kite so it doesn't blow away. When your all set, the lines are in your hand..you pull the strings till they are taught and maybe the kite is just starting to stand up...give a real good jerk, take a few steps backward and she's up! The hardest part to get used to is the initial dive to the ground the kite may take when it is a few feet in the air...just have to steer/compensate, takes practice. If this doesn't work or its confusing, e-mail me...or maybe someone here can describe it better. BTW: ...bought my Premier AeroSport for $70ish...selling it now for $35. ..cuz, I'm buying a new kite...maybe a quad or large delta. -- --==>> toddb@vu-vlsi <<==--__/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\_/~\ <<==-- --==>> "It takes a big man to cry, <<==-- --==>> :-) but it takes a bigger man :-> <<==-- --==>>_____________________ to laugh at that man." - J. Handy ___________<<==-- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 16:33:46 GMT From: pmanson@bnr.ca (Peter Manson) Message-Id: <1993Apr26.163346.26256@bnr.ca> Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ontario, Canada Subject: Re: Self launching a stunt kite In article <1rgq2jINNn8m@ub.d.umn.edu> dblezek@ub.d.umn.edu (Daniel J. Blezek) writes: > If anyone can fill me > in on the proper procedure to successfully self-launch a kite I would be > very grateful. Assuming you're talking about self-launching after a nose-down "landing", here's what I do with my Fire Dart: - With the nose on the ground and the kite perpendicular (i.e. as if it was flying down), get the wingtip towards the centre of the wind pointing up and away from you, and the other wingtip on the ground. You can do this by rocking the kite back and forth on its nose. - Give the line for the up-pointing side a full, strong pull (the opposite handle, since the lines are crossed). - The kite should tumble over sideways and end up upright on the ground. - Then launch as usual. This seems to only work with the standoffs in. You should be careful not to pull too hard, since the kite tumbles over its wingtip, and that spar could break. Also, watch that the kite doesn't land flat on its front (either before or after this manouevre) -- if it does, you're out of luck. I've seen others do a more graceful self-launch from a nose-down position by letting the kite fall towards the flier, and then pulling both lines just before it falls. The kite flies sideways and then turns upward. This probably wouldn't work in higher winds, since you couldn't get the kite to fall, but it is easier on the kite. Peter = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: 5 May 1993 10:47:29 -0500 From: dblezek@ub.d.umn.edu (Daniel J. Blezek) Message-Id: <1s8nihINNnkl@ub.d.umn.edu> Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth Subject: Self-Launching results Hi all & a big thanks to all who responded to my request for directions on the proper methods of self launching my Aero Sport! I went out on Monday in some higher winds and had no problems at all using the techniques that were suggested by me. I flew for about an hour until the sun went down and took the tempature with it. I have a few more questions after this session: - I enjoyed flying to the edges of the wind, but couldn't do it very well, any suggestions? - My kite did some "radical" turns but I have seen kites do faster ones, is there some way that I can adjust my kite to turn faster? - How do you adjust the bridle to get different responses from the kite? I think that these might be in the FAQ but I seem to have misplaced my copy. In any case, thanks for any help you have for me... -dan dblezek@ub.d.umn.edu