Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1993 07:46:52 -1000 From: danr@crash.cts.com (Dan Rubesh) Message-Id: <1993Jun27.104652.11180@crash> Organization: CTS Network Services (crash, ctsnet), El Cajon, CA Subject: Re: Flying Fighters / solo long-line launch In article Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) writes: >Anne Rock (rock@netcom.com) wrote: > [stuff deleted] >> I also long-line the start (with the help of a friend) so I get >> enough altitude to have a (pardon the pun) fighting chance of >> getting the kite up a ways. >It's nice to _have_ friends :-) >Most times when I fly Fighters I find myself on my own so "long-line >starts" are out, but I will give this a try as soon as we have some >decent flying weather. It is winter here and the nice days all seem >to have Zero wind speed. It _is_ possible to get a long-line launch when you're flying solo.. For the smaller 'Indian' fighters, fly on 'proper' fighter line, i.e. 9# cotton or linen. Lay the kite face-down, nose into the wind [what little there may be] and walk back 25-30 feet, stripping line off your spool as you go.. Lay the spool down and pick up the line, pulling it just barely taught, then give it a sharp tug and the kite will [usually] pop up off the ground, from where you can work it up into the sky.. If there's enough wind that the kite won't lay still in this position, you don't need this technique and can usually launch from your hand.. (I was fortunate enough to have Vic Heredia of Vic's Fighter fame teach me some of the basics of fighter flying..) This technique works best on grass or smooth beach and is _not_ recommended if you fly in a rockpile.. :-) It also doesn't take a lot of wind to fly fighters.. I find that some of my better 'kite chi' meditative times are spent on near windless days with a Vic's or Black Feather fighter.. Ob. Disclaimer: I am a stunt kite dealer and carry some of the above mentioned product(s). As such, my opinions may tend to be somewhat subjective. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Good Winds and Tight Lines! Dan Rubesh Wind Wizard, Purveyor of UUCP: {ucsd, nosc}!crash!danr GO Stunt Kites & Accessories ARPA: crash!danr@nosc.mil FLY A P.O. Box 5747 INET: danr@crash.cts.com KITE! Ventura, CA 93005 (805) 859-5654 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1993 10:02:39 -1000 From: ces1at@surrey.ac.uk (Andy Tate) Message-Id: Organization: University of Surrey, Dept Chem & Proc Eng,UK Subject: Re: Flying Fighters / solo long-line launch In article <1993Jun27.104652.11180@crash> danr@crash.cts.com (Dan Rubesh) writes: >It _is_ possible to get a long-line launch when you're flying >solo.. For the smaller 'Indian' fighters, fly on 'proper' [stuff deleted] Also very simple method is to prop it upright in grass 3" or so high if its available on your flying field. Andy _____________________________________________________________________________ _/ _/_/ Dr A.H.J. Tate _/ _/ Dept Chem & Proc Eng, Email: ces1at@surrey.ac.uk _/_/_/_/ University of Surrey, Tel: +44 483 509259 _/ _/ _/ Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH Fax: +44 483 303807 _/ _/ _/ ndy _/ ate _____________________________________________________________________________ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =