The edge or edge work - how a kite behaves
when flown as far to the side of the wind window as possible.
Precision - a measure of how accurately
you can control a kite's flight path.
Response - the speed with which a kite
changes its path after you pull on a line.
Ideal levels of precision and response depend on the skill of the flier.
Beginners need forgiving kites, not ones that respond instantly to
every little movement of their hands.
Flying Fun
BUGGYING : A stack of dual line kites are used to pull
a small go-cart along. Strong winds are required to reach maximum speed.
Because the best place to fly a kite is on the beach, buggying becomes less
dangerous because of the sand as a safety landing for both the kites and the
flyer.
Buggying is done on pavement, hard packed beaches, dry lake beds, and grass.
Even ice!
KITE SAILING : A stack of kites are used to sail on
water. They act as the sail to a kite sail boat. Why are kites used?
For the simple reason that they are the fastest form of soft water sailing
known to man.
Kite sailing is truly an emerging technology sport. There will be huge
advances in the near future in both technology and technique in this
exciting new field.
KITE JUMPING : Is generally regarded as one of the
more dangerous forms of power kiting. In kite jumping, the pilot uses a
very large kite to lift him/herself off the ground for brief periods.
Kite jumping would not be so dangerous if not for the inevitable landing
which is difficult to control.
Many people have not only been injured by doing this,
but also crippled and killed.
Think twice before you attempt this, or speak to someone
that has experience and ask them to help you.
Once you have become experienced enough and feel confident enough to try
something really different, then try an attempt at Night Flying.
Kite lights use bright LED's visible for hundreds of feet.
Another way to put more action into your kiteflying is to make use of a parachuting Bear.
The ultimate line climber, the ParaBear is one brave teddy! Launched
from his nylon-sailed line climber, he floats to Earth beneath a 2 foot
diameter nylon parachute. Reset the launcher on your kite line and up he
goes, eager to jump again.
Teddy needs a
Delta or
Airfoil
for a lifting kite.
Safety Precautions
Flying is great fun, but it can at best become a nuisance to the
unconverted, so please be considerate to others and remember that
buzzing over peoples heads may look like fun but can be extremely
dangerous. So if you want to show off your new found skills, don't
do it at the expenses of others.
Play hard but play safe - nothing stops the fun faster than an injury!
Important things to remember when
flying your kite:
1. Don't fly near people, especially young children
2. Don't fly close to roads, landing a kite in a road
could cause a serious accident.
3. Keep away from overhead power lines.
4. Don't fly near airports.
5. Don't fly your kite in winds stronger than recommended.
6. Although it is unusual for dogs to attack kites while still
in the air, always make sure that there are no dogs around when you land your
kite. They are known to run away when a kite lands but in some instances they
have been known to grab the kite and run away with it.
SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FLYER, NOT THE SPECTATOR!
USE EXTREME CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE WHEN FLYING ANY FLEXIFOIL POWER KITE
Tricks
Once you get used to the controls you can start thinking
about spins and other more advanced tricks:
Spin |
Jump Stall |
Helicopter
A Spin:
When doing a spin, pull one control line or the other (depending on whether
you want the kite to turn left or right) and keep pulling until the kite has
completed the spin.
Immediately after the spin, bring your hand back to its original position
and the kite will again fly in a straight line. Although you will now have
a twist in your lines the controls are exactly the same.
Pull left, turn left, pull right, turn right.
To remove the twist, simply spin the other way.
Jump stall:
Start with the kite just off center of the wind, in a wingtip stand.
Next, spin the kite into the wind like you were going to land it onto it's
opposite tip. When the kite is flat on it's belly during the rotation (nose
away), you quickly pop both hands towards you, causing the kite to pop open
facing down. Now lightly let one line out so the kite can rotate around
pointing the nose up. Now hold the kite in a stall, and slide it out to
one side.
This trick is ideal for light wind flying, and requires a kite with a deep
sail.
Helicopter:
Fly the kite to the top of the wind window (overhead).
Pull both hands to bring it past that point. This will stall the kite.
Extend your left hand (immediately) to initiate a left rotation float. You
will have to move forward so that the lines stay under the kite as it floats.
To end this trick, point the nose down and pull the kite back into the wind window.
Add your kite trick to this list -
What is Radical?
Radical maneuvers are the turns, dives or straight line passes that are
normal sport kite maneuvers. Until fliers discovered the radical side of
kites, kite designers considered "radical" kite behaviour to be a
defect and tuned it out of their kites. Now it can be the basis for winning
in competition.
Some radical tricks:
Snap Stall:
The Kite stops downward in midair.
Axle:
The Kite drops forewards and pivots horizontally around it's center.
Feather:
The Kite floats on its back parallel to the ground.
Preparing to Launch
1. Unroll your lines directly upwind and make sure that both
lines are of equal length.
2. Attach lines to clips on the kite
3. With the kite lying on it's back and with your back to the
wind, take up the slack on both lines and pull the kite gently into an
almost upright position. At the same time as taking a couple of quick
steps back, pull evenly on both lines and the kite will fly to its maximum
height. Using gentle movements steer the kite around by pulling left and right.
Landing your Kite
1. You will have noticed by now that when you reach the side of the wind the
kite slows down considerably. This slowing down will help you to land.
2. Fly to the end of the wind, either left or right a couple of meters above
the ground. As the kite reaches the end of the wind turn it upwards and at the same
time take a few steps towards it. This action will take all the speed off the kite
and it will land gently in an upright position.
3. Now place the lines on the ground and unclip from the kite to prepare for
winding up. On no account walk around with your lines after landing unless you want
to spend the next few hours undoing the birds nest which you will now have!
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