Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 11:06:50 +0000 From: paulb@paradise.hackney.org (Paul Brant) Message-Id: <9304281157.aa02007@paradise.hackney.org> Subject: FlexiFoils it1jk@de-montfort.ac.uk (Groove Patrol Station 3) writes: >I've got two Super-10 Flexifoils. I've had them for some time, but never have I >been able to launch them on my own. > >I've tried putting them on top of a massive haystack, then pulling them (which >did actually work once), tried making a ramp out of my kite bag - allsorts, but >I just can't do it. Any suggestions? I stack a ten and a six. When alone I always get a result with the following: 1) If wind is light twist gause on spar to face the sky. With your leading kite stand and let it fill with air. Lay the trailing foil directly behind the leading foil. Take a few steps back and bingo!!. You should have a 7ft/8ft gap between the two sails. Any less and ones air will foil the other.On a 6ft/12ft combination I use a gap of 5ft. >Also, I've bust the centre spar on one of them, does anyone know anywhere in the >UK preferably that does them, and what sort of price are we looking at? I get all my gear from High as a kite in Stoke Newington.London. Mail me with any requirements and I will see what he can do.If your a member of STACK the discounts apply Paul. PS. Handy hint for increasing your hight. During a force 6 I flew both my foils...(:-() I had a body harness and attached myself to the front of my campervan. The rope used was not bungee.During the two minutes of my being dragged from left to right I must have been stretched. Two minutes of extreame pain. My wrists have never been the same. The line (300lb) broke. My brother swears to this day that the campervan moved. I would be only to happy to hear of other stories. Not just relating to foils. Paul C. Brant Computer Services Division London Borough of Hackney. Telephone: 44 81 442 5036 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Intership Ltd Subject: Flexifoils Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 07:26:04 -1000 Organization: M.I.T.E. Message-ID: <31A9E5AC.1CD3@isl.u-net.com> E-mail me I have 4 8ft Flexifoils and a Peter Lynn buggy. I want more power, will 3 Super10 ft's be more powerfuller. Or Shall I get a Hyper 12 ft or 4 Super 10 ft's. Please help me. I would also like to make jumps as well. Serious Replys needed by e-mail please. Thanks in advance Alex Vogel barges@isl.u-net.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Al Subject: Re: Flexifoils Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 19:44:16 -1000 Organization: Computer Base Message-ID: <31AA92B0.3C7A@tol.net> Put your stack of 8 foot flexi's away and investigate some other type of traction system. I won't go into which rig because a lot of people get upset if you rave about your fave rig. regards Al. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: daveculp@bdt.com (Dave Culp) Subject: Re: Flexifoils Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 19:38:46 -1000 Organization: Beckemeyer Development, Oakland CA Message-ID: In article <31A9E5AC.1CD3@isl.u-net.com>, barges@isl.u-net.com wrote: > E-mail me > > I have 4 8ft Flexifoils and a Peter Lynn buggy. I want more power, will > 3 Super10 ft's be more powerfuller. Or Shall I get a Hyper 12 ft or 4 > Super 10 ft's. Please help me. I would also like to make jumps as well. > Serious Replys needed by e-mail please. > > Thanks in advance > > Alex Vogel > barges@isl.u-net.com Flexifoils are *fine* for buggying. Don't let anyone tell you different. Do *not* jump with kites; any kites at all. Very dangerous; people have been crippled/died. Buy a para-glider instead. I fly flexis, pulling sailboats. I've been doing it for 18 years. Check out my web page. I always use 10's (want to buy some, used?). They are very powerful, especially 3-5 in a stack (I think 3-4 is enough for buggying), yet also fast, quick maneuvering, and don't need *too* much line differential to turn (which are the respective problems with 6's, 8's, and 12's). The 10' kite is more than twice as powerful as a 6' and easily half-again as strong as an 8'. 12's are twice as strong as 10's. Yes, you can stack mixed-length flexifoils. People usually put the smaller kite(s) on the bottom. Be aware that the whole stack will behave as the poorest kite, though. I always am careful to match my kites *precisely*, even using successive serial numbers, if I can. My stacks are *much* more powerful for it; the kites behave as one, and pull like trucks. I fly my kites from a 1.5 m long bar, but many think this is too dangerous (if I let go, someone may be hit by the bar). As I sail on water, in areas without many other people, and have a chase boat alongside, I feel it's ok. Maybe not for you, though. Flexis need constant attention, as you know, to fly them in zig-zag patterns. This is where they get their power. Other kites (peels, sputniks, quadrifoils) don't need to do this, so are easier to fly, and especially easier to fly well (flexis only need to be flown poorly for a short while to have the whole field of buggiers pass you). Hope all this helps. Oh, if you want to buy used 10's, I've got some for US $125 each. Have fun! ################################################################### Dave Culp Speedsailing | e-mail to: daveculp@bdt.com 312 Flaming Oak Drive | Pleasant Hill, CA 94596 | http://www.bdt.com:80/home/daveculp/speedsail.html #################################################################### = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: rmasu@ix.netcom.com Subject: flexifoils Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 04:18:29 -1000 Organization: Netcom Message-ID: <4p2i5c$g5l@sjx-ixn5.ix.netcom.com> I have heard that when stacking flexi's the smaller should be the leading kite (nearer to the you). I've tried this but get a lot of flutter at the edge of the larger flexi. When I reverse them (putting the smaller in the back) it flys great. Any input please. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: jim@oasis.icl.co.uk (Jim Cheetham) Subject: Re: flexifoils Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 21:41:31 -1000 Organization: ICL, Bracknell, UK Message-ID: <4p3dnb$5t8@eccles.dsbc.icl.co.uk> rmasu@ix.netcom.com wrote: : I have heard that when stacking flexi's the smaller should be the : leading kite (nearer to the you). I've tried this but get a lot of : flutter at the edge of the larger flexi. When I reverse them (putting : the smaller in the back) it flys great. Any input please. The smaller kite should indeed be in front, as this helps to maintain the correct 'bend' in the larger kite. It sounds to me like you have the length of the stacking lines wrong. I usually use a 2/3 rule, and it seems OK for same-size kites ... kite size link line length --------- ---------------- 6 foot 4 foot 8 foot 5 foot 4 inches (call it 5 foot!) 10 foot 6 foot 6 inches (although 6 works OK) When mixing kites of different sizes, I tend to use the larger link line size throughout, so for stacking a 6' and an 8' I'd use 5' lines. I guess your mileage may vary :-) -- _____ ceci n'est ____ _ pas une _ _ email (__ __) o ______ ( __)( )_ ___ ___ _( )_( )_ ___ ______ (____) (_)(_)()(_) (____)(_)_)(__=)(__=) (_)_(_)_)(___)_(_)()(_) -jim cheetham, Digital Life = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Andrew Beattie Subject: Re: flexifoils Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 12:39:56 -1000 Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Message-ID: <9606062339.aa07783@tug.com> > It sounds to me like you have the length of the stacking > lines wrong. I usually use a 2/3 rule, and it seems OK for > same-size kites ... On what grounds do you derive the 2/3 rule? > kite size link line length > --------- ---------------- > 6 foot 4 foot > 8 foot 5 foot 4 inches (call it 5 foot!) > 10 foot 6 foot 6 inches (although 6 works OK) I'd fly everything as close as I can without them interfeering with each other. On my stack of 6 10's that worked out at about 4 feet. Andrew The Answer to the Sputnik FAQ: Buy the disk. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: kjreed0000@aol.com (KJREED0000) Subject: Re: Flexifoils Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 18:49:59 -1000 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Message-ID: <4q80tn$ski@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Side Note Slightly off the subject but still in relation to Flexis. We have been flying flexis for about a year now and only recently started flying the 10. A problem has started to arise or flap into our laps. In minimal winds say 7-10mph we have started noticing a peculiar flapping on the outside edges. everyonce in awhile. As if it's not fully inflating. Ever had this problem? And How'd ya Solve It? Curious = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Paul Chandler Subject: Re: Flexifoils Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 09:58:09 -1000 Organization: Buggy Bum Message-ID: KJREED0000 writes > >We have been flying flexis for about a year now and only recently started >flying the 10. A problem has started to arise or flap into our laps. In >minimal winds say 7-10mph we have started noticing a peculiar flapping on >the outside edges. everyonce in awhile. As if it's not fully inflating. >Ever had this problem? And How'd ya Solve It? Curious Have you been doing flexi loops? Sometimes when doing this the outer cells get wrapped round the spar restricting the air flow into the cell. Paul ---------------------------------- | PAUL CHANDLER - York Kite Flyers | | Paul@FreeWind.demon.co.uk | ---------------------------------- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: jtavo@westnet.com (John Tavolacci) Subject: Re: Flexifoils Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 03:51:56 -1000 Organization: WestNet Internet Services Message-ID: > KJREED0000 writes > > > >We have been flying flexis for about a year now and only recently started > >flying the 10. A problem has started to arise or flap into our laps. In > >minimal winds say 7-10mph we have started noticing a peculiar flapping on > >the outside edges. everyonce in awhile. As if it's not fully inflating. > >Ever had this problem? What your experiencing is what is sometimes called stretching the bag. That is, the attachement points need to be moved in a little. Slide your line about an inch or so towards the center of the spar not the ends. This is the ever elusive bridle adjustment for Flexis. Most people don't even think you can adjust a Flexi *bridle* Fly sAfE! John = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: windwiz@west.net (Dan Rubesh) Subject: Re: Flexifoils Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 19:10:48 -1000 Organization: Wind Wizard Message-ID: <4qfv8o$d38@acme.sb.west.net> In article <4q80tn$ski@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, KJREED0000 wrote: >Side Note Slightly off the subject but still in relation to Flexis. > >We have been flying flexis for about a year now and only recently started >flying the 10. A problem has started to arise or flap into our laps. In >minimal winds say 7-10mph we have started noticing a peculiar flapping on >the outside edges. everyonce in awhile. As if it's not fully inflating. >Ever had this problem? And How'd ya Solve It? Curious This is a common presentation of the sail being pulled too tightly along the spar.. Try moving the grommets inboard in small increments (like 1/8" - 1/4") and that should improve the performance.. The sail being too tight prevents the outer cells from inflating properly and causes the flapping.. If you (or anyone out there) would like a free Flexifoil tuning pamphlet, drop me an e-mail with your USnail address and I'll get one off to you, or call Cobra Kites (U.S. importers of FlexiFoil) at (908) 506-0461 voice or (908) 506-0388 fax.. Ob. Disclaimer: I am a sport kite dealer and carry some of the above mentioned product(s). As such, my opinions may tend to be somewhat subjective. -- Dan Rubesh GO Wind Wizard windwiz@west.net FLY A P.O. Box 7304 http://www.west.net/~windwiz SPORT KITE San Buenaventura, CA 93006 (805) 659-5769 (voice & fax) T.B.N.K. Member: AKA & KTA (805) 671-4402 (pager) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =