Date: Sun, 3 Apr 1994 09:22:45 -1000 From: brigatti@bu.edu (Federico Brigatti) Message-Id: <2nn525$gjl@news.bu.edu> Organization: Boston University Subject: first flight ..need help.. hi, i'm very new to the world of kite flying, and everybody in this newsgroup seems to be very experienced... maybe one of you could give me a few basic tips for flying my 50"delta. i've checked out a few books on kites from the local library, and went on to attempt my first flight yesterday in 7mph winds.. the flight was successful but lasted less than 10 minutes, so i guess i was probably getting a few things wrong.. for instance, when my kite floats parallel to the ground because there's not enough wind to keep the line tense, should i reel some of the slack line or should i wait for the wind to pick up? also, do i walk backwards if the kite is getting overhead and tries to fly over me? thanks for your help, federico. XCYS = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 3 Apr 1994 12:18:39 -1000 From: rbetel@hookup.net (Richard Betel) Message-Id: Organization: Hookup Communications Corp Subject: Re: first flight ..need help.. In article <2nn525$gjl@news.bu.edu> brigatti@bu.edu (Federico Brigatti) writes: >i've checked out a few books on kites from the local library, and went on to >attempt my first flight yesterday in 7mph winds.. the flight was successful >but lasted less than 10 minutes, so i guess i was probably getting a few >things wrong.. for instance, when my kite floats parallel to the ground because >there's not enough wind to keep the line tense, should i reel some of the >slack line or should i wait for the wind to pick up? also, do i walk backwards >if the kite is getting overhead and tries to fly over me? Are you using a single line kite? My two string delta (aprox. 2 metres wide, 1 metre high) doesn't go beyond overhead. It looks like it could, but it can't really because of its shape. It actually looses lift when it comes close to directly overhead. In strong winds, I use it as a rest position. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 4 Apr 1994 15:05:31 -1000 From: rock@netcom.com (Anne Rock) Message-Id: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services Subject: Re: first flight ..need help.. Federico Brigatti (brigatti@bu.edu) wrote: >hi, i'm very new to the world of kite flying, and everybody in this newsgroup >seems to be very experienced... We vary in experience and interest in different types of kites and physical abuse ... I just started flying deltas in the last year and don't know why I waited so long to try them. >maybe one of you could give me a few basic tips for flying my 50"delta. >i've checked out a few books on kites from the local library, and went on to >attempt my first flight yesterday in 7mph winds.. the flight was successful One thing to keep in mind is that the wind speed that you feel near the ground probably isn't the same wind speed your kite experiences at 50, 100, 200' or however high you fly it (there's a 500' limit imposed by the FAA unless you notify them). Watching your kite (as you were doing) will give you an idea of what winds aloft are doing. >but lasted less than 10 minutes, so i guess i was probably getting a few >things wrong.. Not necessarily wrong ... you can't control the wind. >for instance, when my kite floats parallel to the ground because >there's not enough wind to keep the line tense, should i reel some of the >slack line or should i wait for the wind to pick up? Depends on what's going on around you (is your floating kite more likely to tangle with another kite?), whether you like watching it float, whether you always like to have some line tension. Your style. >also, do i walk backwards if the kite is getting overhead and tries to >fly over me? Deltas tend to fly overhead when there's too much line tension from strong winds; winding the line in 'too fast'; or from walking into the wind with the kite. If the kite is overflying, you could let out a bit of line or walk downwind, but if the wind is constant, you may have to keep doing this. Adding a small drogue, spinner, or tube tail will add drag to the kite and should keep it from overflying. If your delta is floating, you may be able to 'pump' it up higher to better winds. If you pull some line in quickly and hard,the kite may go higher -- and if it does and there's some line tension, let the kite pull line out, until you feel the tension slack off, then pull again and try to get the kite higher again, and on it goes. If the wind has really died, this is not so likely to work. Hope this helps. Anne -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * | * * Anne Rock | The sign at the fork in the road pointed * * rock@netcom.com | to Hell and to Burnout, and both paths * * Berkeley, CA | were paved with good intentions. * * | A. Rock * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =