From: davidn@humboldt1.com (David Neumeier) Subject: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 18:01:50 -1000 Organization: Humboldt Internet Message-ID: <4l742k$8ah@home.humboldt1.com> Personally I can't ever re-launch my kite one it gets onto its belly. Usually I'm flying at the beach and the more I pull on the lines the more sand piles up on the sail. I'm talking about when the kite is on its belly and pointed directly at you (into the wind). Suggestions and similar complaints welcome. Thanks = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: jburka@Glue.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 21:59:35 -1000 Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park, MD Message-ID: <4l7h57$b6o@geog48.umd.edu> In article <4l742k$8ah@home.humboldt1.com>, David Neumeier wrote: >Personally I can't ever re-launch my kite one it gets onto its belly. >Usually I'm flying at the beach and the more I pull on the lines the >more sand piles up on the sail. I'm talking about when the kite is on >its belly and pointed directly at you (into the wind). Generally speaking, that's considered an unlaunchable position. A belly launch is when the kite is facing in the other direction (flat on it's face, but with the nose downwind). A belly launch involves launching the kite from this position *without* first getting it to first stand up on one leading edge. There's a gadget known as a bone, which may or may not have been invented by Bob Childs (who used it quite successfully in ballet routines a while back) which is basically a longish piece of thin, fiberglass rod which attaches between the t-fitting and the upper spreader. This causes the nose to stick up a few inches above the ground, allowing you to relaunch. Of course, this adds a bit of weight to the kite, and they never caught on as a common retrofit. For a while, Top of the Line marketed a big, nasty chunk of plastic and carbon which was supposed to serve the same purpose. I received one to review for a newsletter and basically panned it. While it theoretically worked, and I managed a couple of launches, mine broke in several places, was heavy, difficult to attach to the top spreader, and just generally not worth the money I hadn't paid in the first place. In other words, you're not doing anything wrong. The only advice I can offer is to keep an eye on your kite...if it's starting to fall into this unrecoverable position, do *something*. If the kite is standing up on its tips and is falling forward, give a quick tug on both lines. If it starts to happen in the midst of some groundwork, tug a line, both lines, whatever...if you can get the kite to fall in just about any other direction, you'll be able to recover without walking down the lines. Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | Pithy, insightful quote to be inserted when one | |jburka@glue.umd.edu | occurs to me. *If* one occurs to me. | |http://www.wam.umd.edu/~jeffy/html/home.html | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Andy Wardley Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 02:00:17 -1000 Organization: Peritas Multimedia Message-ID: David Neumeier writes: >Personally I can't ever re-launch my kite one it gets onto its belly. >Usually I'm flying at the beach and the more I pull on the lines the >more sand piles up on the sail. I'm talking about when the kite is on >its belly and pointed directly at you (into the wind). 'fraid that's a fact of life. There's no known way to get the kite back up when it's like that. Any other position, yes. Belly down and nose towards you, no. The belly launch that you've heard about is when the nose of the kite is facing away from you. A simple tug on one hand is usually enough to get the kite to flip up and around. Bungle and I have both tried different hardware modifications to stop the kite landing like this. Mine was a thin glass fibre rod bent out in front of the upper spreader. It simply slotted into holes drilled at either end of the upper spreader. His was a better approach, having a similar rod bent up from the T-Piece to a hole in the middle of the upper spreader. In both cases, the effect was the same. When the kite fell on it's belly, the rod kept it supported up enough to allow a re-launch. Laziness is the mother of invention. A Andy Wardley || . Hacker, digital artist/designer, webmister, brave warrior thricefold decorated in the winky wars, best mate to the rich and famous, no really, I mean that. I luv you, you're my best mate.... For a good time, http://www.peritas.com/~abw = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: jcampbell3@msmail3.hac.com (Campbell, James E) Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 05:19:36 -1000 Organization: HAC Message-ID: In article <4l742k$8ah@home.humboldt1.com>, davidn@humboldt1.com (David Neumeier) wrote: > Personally I can't ever re-launch my kite one it gets onto its belly. > Usually I'm flying at the beach and the more I pull on the lines the > more sand piles up on the sail. I'm talking about when the kite is on > its belly and pointed directly at you (into the wind). > > Suggestions and similar complaints welcome. > > Thanks You're not alone. For me, it's time to take a walk to the kite. I'm sure there's some clever trickster out there who's pulled it off but I imagine the conditions are rather unique. However, a belly launch with the nose away from you is no problem. A few years ago, Top of the Line sold this little spring loaded gizmo that attached to the nose spreader which lifted the nose up when you pulled forwards slightly. Getting the nose up just a few inches is all it takes. The gizmos (I think they were called Quick Launch) never really caught on. -- James E. Campbell (jcampbell3@msmail3.hac.com) Hughes Aircraft Company Leading Edge Kites = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: jtavo@westnet.com (John Tavolacci) Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 01:23:29 -1000 Organization: WestNet Internet Services Message-ID: In article <4l742k$8ah@home.humboldt1.com>, davidn@humboldt1.com (David Neumeier) wrote: > Personally I can't ever re-launch my kite one it gets onto its belly. Yeah, that's the time when you throw down your handles and walk. Or stand there long enough and someone may take pity and stand it up for you! When the nose points at you, your kite is snickering at you! John, Who occasionally walks. :-( = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: rickbier@axxis.com (Rick Bier) Subject: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 14:07:18 -1000 Organization: AXXIS(TM) Internet Message-ID: <09960320214051.OUI64.rickbier@axxis.com> "Belly" launches are for real. With the nose a way from you it just takes practice and, if you are like I was, lots of walking to untangle lines from whiskers and wing tips. ;-) With the nose towards you its impossible with out mechanical assistance. I know of two devices that can make it routine: The Quick Start (tm) from Top of the Line in San Diego, CA. and The Bone from Its A Breeze Kite Co. in Morrison, CO. The only problem I can see with the Quick Start is that it shifts the center of gravity on your kite and changes the way it handles. I haven't used the Bone yet, so I don't know how well it works. The main advantage of the Quick Start is that you can leave it nose down and it won't fly until you want to launch your kite. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Sancho Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 16:41:12 -1000 Organization: South West Sport Kite League and Fiesta Kite Ideas Message-ID: <317C4348.1AC5@ix.netcom.com> Campbell, James E wrote: > > In article <4l742k$8ah@home.humboldt1.com>, davidn@humboldt1.com (David > Neumeier) wrote: > > > Personally I can't ever re-launch my kite one it gets onto its belly. > > Usually I'm flying at the beach and the more I pull on the lines the > > more sand piles up on the sail. I'm talking about when the kite is on > > its belly and pointed directly at you (into the wind). > > > > Suggestions and similar complaints welcome. > > > > Thanks > Agreed. Once your kite falls into this death position you are doomed to the 100 foot walk. Not that I'm such an experienced kite flyer or anything like that. Far be it from me to express such an expreience. But, years ago I was watching a youngster doing some amazing stuff on the beach. I had never before seen. He was eating up the ground. Wing tip staps on command. And something I have only seen one other person do, a launch from the nose postition, without touching either wing. Amazing. Totaling amazing. The youngerster was none other than Scott Ogenbach (probably misspelled, sorry Scott) I saw him get this kite out of the dreaded 'wing wrap' and re-launch. But when the kite fell nose first flat on its belly he was doomed to the walk. Of course Scott probably never had to do the walk since there were sooooo many who were willing to do the walk for him, just so they could watch him fly again. So, there is a way to launch your kite from that postion, but you had better be real good. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Andy Wardley Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 22:28:55 -1000 Organization: Peritas Multimedia Message-ID: Sancho writes: > [...Scott Ogenbach...] > ...And something I have only seen one other person do, a launch from >the nose postition, without touching either wing. Hehehe. Perhaps you want to see my latest trick, then. Andy "Nose Launcher" Wardley Andy Wardley || . Hacker, digital artist/designer, webmister, brave warrior thricefold decorated in the winky wars, best mate to the rich and famous, no really, I mean that. I luv you, you're my best mate.... For a good time, http://www.peritas.com/~abw = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Pancho Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Sat, 27 Apr 1996 06:39:52 -1000 Organization: Fiesta Kite Ideas Message-ID: <31824DD8.6EE4@ix.netcom.com> Andy Wardley wrote: > > Sancho writes: > > [...Scott Ogenbach...] > > ...And something I have only seen one other person do, a launch from > >the nose postition, without touching either wing. > > Hehehe. Perhaps you want to see my latest trick, then. > > Andy "Nose Launcher" Wardley > > Andy Wardley || . Hacker, digital > artist/designer, webmister, brave warrior thricefold decorated in the winky > wars, best mate to the rich and famous, no really, I mean that. I luv you, > you're my best mate.... For a good time, http://www.peritas.com/~abw Love to Mr.Nose. -- **********************>>>>Mr.Nasty<<<<*************** Frank Kenisky IV Fiesta Kite Ideas 8302 Tiguex South West Sport Kite League Universal City, TX 78148 http://www.tmn.com/kiteweb/index.html (210) 659-1803 Mr.Nasty@ix.netcom.com **************************************************** = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: coreykite@aol.com (Coreykite) Subject: Re: Are Belly Launches for Real??? Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 08:56:46 -1000 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Message-ID: <4m0f1e$s5p@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Excuse me, his name is Scott Hagen Daz. aoxomoxoa coreykite@aol.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =