rover620 Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 sorr yfor spelling mistake meant to be "doing" Hello Peoples, Am looking for some advice on flying my Stratus 3m kite I can get it up in the air but the flight is only lasting a few mins before it either starts to curl up one side or just kind off implodes:eek: and comes crashing down I can control it well when it is up and can get it to dive left to right and vice versa and I feel the power and pull whilst diving but as I said before it all goes Pete tong:mad: and I was wondering if it is something that I am doing wrong. Any comments welcome regarding this. Many thanks, Adam Quote
PurpleMonkey Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 Gusty wind is a nightmare for the stratus, it doesn't like it at all. Quote
captain caveman Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 even if its a pig in gusty winds i would imagine that keeping it moving will help but you say the opposite which is odd ! ...are the brake lines slack ? some fixed bridles like a bit of brake imput just hold the canopy in shape ! Quote
PurpleMonkey Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 even if its a pig in gusty winds i would imagine that keeping it moving will help but you say the opposite which is odd ! ...are the brake lines slack ? some fixed bridles like a bit of brake imput just hold the canopy in shape ! Deffo adjust the brake lines if looking slack, keeping it moving and lower in the wind window too helps. Quote
PurpleMonkey Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 Burn it. LOL. or that........then buy a Blade Quote
Easyrider Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 Burn it. LOL. hahaa sacrifice it to the wind gods lol Quote
captain caveman Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 what they are quite bluntly saying is that it may not be the one of the greatest kite out there ..... doesnt mean you have to spend a fortune on the latest models but best to stick to the more well known brands . for example .... i bought a 4.5m pansch ace for my bro ...... i was a pile of crap in comparison to the ozone riots i had at that time flexifoil ozone peterlynn flysurfer pkd Quote
PurpleMonkey Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 what they are quite bluntly saying is that it may not be the one of the greatest kite out there ..... doesnt mean you have to spend a fortune on the latest models but best to stick to the more well known brands . for example .... i bought a 4.5m pansch ace for my bro ...... i was a pile of crap in comparison to the ozone riots i had at that time flexifoil ozone peterlynn flysurfer pkd Good advice, however, if you can learn to fly the stratus and learn to anticipate it luffing and acting like a spoiled brat etc, it will stand you in good stead when you fly other kites that behave a lot better. a flow by comparison is such a tame kite, but every now and then i will still fly the stratus just for the challenge of taming it once again for a little 3m it has almost as much pull as a 5m flow in my opinion and although frustrating at times is a good work out. Do as i have done and put it down to a newbie mistake buying it, but don't be put off kiting. Quote
Jim O'Hara Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 Another thing, you should make sure you are flying it in a nice wide field, far downwind of things that could make the wind turbulent. Flying right next to trees and houses will make any kite unflyable. Hold out your hand at arm's length pointed towards where the wind is coming from with your thumb up in hitchiking position. Anything higher than you thumb will disrupt the air you are trying to fly in. Also, just becuase it is a kite doesn't mean it will fly. I've bought several ebay specials and chinese pieces of junk that simply won't fly even if you know what you are doing. I don't know enought about the Cirrus to say, but your kite could be like that. And check you lines to be sure all 4 are the same length, otherwise it won't fly. Adjust them until they are. Quote
mikeymustard Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 And check you lines to be sure all 4 are the same length, otherwise it won't fly. Adjust them until they are.This isn't always the case, but the respective pairs should at least be the same. Just a thought, but what sort of windspeed are you flying it in? Some kites, particularly in low winds need to be actively flown i.e. moved around in the window Quote
rover620 Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Posted June 17, 2011 Hi All, I took out the stratus last night and it was the best it has been, I sorted out the length of all lines and made them the same as I have said being a complete newbie and this being the first power kite I have had I am not so forward or lateral thinking to these things but I sorted out the lines and got dragged about like a rag doll I got a couple of little jumps out of it and as all of you are saying it can be very unpredictable with its flying at times, It has a very good pull on it(but I have nothing to compare it too) but am going on the fact it ripped both my trainers at the front it pulled my toes through, and to answer mikeymustard the wind speed last night going by the internet(as I have not got a wind meter yet) was about 18mph. I am currently using the quad line handles at the moment which are good, my children have bought me a quad line kite bar for fathers day will Ifind flying it easier with the bar rather than handles or is this personal preference. Purplemonkey I understand what your saying and as for it being a good work out I ache like hell today and whilst flying it last night it got to the point with constantly fight it all the time soon found myself out of breath and lying on floor flying kite above just for a break as did not want to put it down because that was the first time it has actually worked for me as I always thought a powerkite would. It may not be one of the best powerkites out there but what an ADRENALINE RUSH. many thanks to all. Adam Quote
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