Flexifan Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 My first thinkings were that it wouldn't be windy enuff...Hell yeh it was! not enuff but just enuff for small scudds. After that i was addicted and now i go flying in everything. Problem is i need a friend all the time to hold the kite before i launch. But it's still gr8 fun. i have already jumped over my height. My wippika bar is wicked for jumping! Lewis p.s This is all on a blade mk 1 3.3 powerhouse! Quote
Coastguard Kites Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 Flexifan, Glad to hear that your are enjoying your MK1 Blade. If you are using it with what I pressume is a two line Wipika bar why not invest in a depower strap (£14.95) and a ground stake and this will avoid the need of a helper to get you safely launched/landed. Quote
Flexifan Posted January 6, 2003 Author Report Posted January 6, 2003 i actually already have a depower strap. It's also made by wipika. It's half bungy and half rope. And i tried staking down my kite with tent pegs but i was unsucessful. I pinned down bridal lines. and it started to get into a mess, but then when sorted i cudn't lauch it as i cudn't unpeg the kite and be on the end of the lines. Any tips could be useful actually. Maybe a ground stake works betta? Lewis p.s Your website menu system doesn't and i have downloaded all the applets and what not. Other Java programs and website thing work fine juist your website Quote
Coastguard Kites Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 Lewis, All you need is a decent ground stake through your depower strap, regular tent pegs do not offer enough anchorage. P.S. New menu to be uploaded very soon, in the meantime feel free to use this html document which shows links to every page on our site. Quote
Filthy Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 Hi. I fly on grass and find that the best way to peg the lines out is to use dog screws. You dont need to spend a fortune on "Proper" stakes. I found a "Grott shop" type of place that sells them for 99p each. You can get them in pet shops. Screw in two at the kite end and unpack the kite and put the brake lines onto the screws. Sort out your lines and attach the brake lines (at the handle end) onto a single dog screw. Go back to the kite release the brake lines. Put something onto the screws so you dont loose their position. Go back to the handles and launch. Again put something over the single screw so you dont loose it. If you have a small kite or its not too windy you may find that you only need to stake the handles. Of course if you are on the ATB or buggy you may never get back to where you started from anyway!! If on sand you may have to buy a couple of sand stakes. Hope this helps. Clive.. Quote
HD462 Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 I'm like Clive, I use one of those corkscrew shaped dog stakes, cheap at Poundland...everything a pound...lol I just use one of those as my main 'base', with the two brake loops on the back of the handles hooked over it. I covered the top of the stake in red tape and tied a bit of ribbon to it to help spot it, as you scud off into the distance. I've also just ordered one of those sandstake and holsters from Coastguard Kites that you strap to your leg. That will be good for the time when you need a rest and are away from your 'base' stake. The srew type stakes are a lot harder to pull out, even on sand, so give a strong hold for kite when parked....saying that, my NasaWing has managed to pull it out a couple of times, so you still don't want to leave it unattended...I did a flying leap and grabbed the handles just before it flew off into the sunset....lol Quote
skytigerer Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 even better find or steal a length of broom handle bout 1mtr long. sharpn the end and bash hard into the ground, leaning upwind about 80 degrees. now put ur kite so its on its trailing egde with the pole in the middle on the downwind side. the kite will fold round the pole and due to the incline will be held grounded till launch. to lanuch just walk so the kites at the edge of the window and pull it from the pole into the air... and to the top of the window. to land reverse this. exept land upwind slightly of the pole and let the kite move slightly under tension back around the pole hope this hepls......takes a little practise but does work vince Quote
BigBro Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 find or steal a length of broom handle bout 1mtr long So you have this thing sticking out of the ground in the area that you are flying???? No thanks! Quote
Joelio Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 i got my blade II 4.9 on xmas day and haven't had chance to fly it yhet - will try at the weekend. I'm looking forward to it *so* much, i hope the forecast is good (i'll find out tomorrow when BBC updates ), i'll probably use a normal ground stake to hold mine down - heck, it's all i've got at the moment! I have heard about de-power whatsy-me-callits, but i haven't a clue how they work or if they'd really be any use. Can someone explain how it would work? thanks! Quote
BigBro Posted January 6, 2003 Report Posted January 6, 2003 Joelio, A de-power strap will only work on a control bar rather than the standard quad handles that come with Blades. Quote
Flexifan Posted January 7, 2003 Author Report Posted January 7, 2003 I absloutly love skytigers Idea it's a gr8 idea! thats exactly as i have been launching the kte but with some1 replacing the broom handle. Then when in flight move away from the post and back to it for landing nice thinking m8....Give that man a cigar!.. Lewis Quote
BigBro Posted January 7, 2003 Report Posted January 7, 2003 Is everyone missing the point on this (aside HD462) or is it me??? The whole point of having brake lines on quad handles or a depower loop on a control bar is so that you don't need a friend or any dangerous protruding objects to hold the kite on the ground or launch/land it! You simply insert a suitabley stable ground stake into the dirt/sand and anchor to it your brake lines via the loops on the brake end of the quad handles or the depower loop on the control bar and the kite will safely sit on the ground. When ready to fly remove the handles/bar from the ground stake and launch and do the opposite to land. The use of poles sticking out of the ground is both unecessary and dangerous to you and your kite! And "wot no wind?", if you are still removing your lines from the kite every time that you pack it away you may benefit from the following advice taken from http://www.square-metre.co.uk Firstly, Leave everything connected! With the kite landed put the handles on the stake. Get your bag and walk to the kite. Fold up the kite with all the bridles in the centre so that you end up with a neat parcel of fabric with just the four lines coming out. Put this in the bag and pull the drawstring shut. Leave it there and walk back to handles. Put stake in pocket or somewhere that you will not lose it. Hold both handles together and wind all four lines around both handles whilst walking towards the kite bag. Open bag and put handles down the side of the bag. Here are some pictures that may help explain the winding procedure. You don't have to do figures of eights, it is a personal thing, I find it is kinder on the lines and is quicker but if you prefer just go round and round the handles. http://www.stratus-design.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/square-metre/firebee/lines/preview/line4.jpg ......http://www.stratus-design.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/square-metre/firebee/lines/preview/line3.jpg Quote
Flexifan Posted January 7, 2003 Author Report Posted January 7, 2003 ok this is the beat... My de-power system is half a de-power system/kite killer... Made by wipika which is attached to one of the 2 leaders coming off my 2 line wipika bar. Tell me this? how on earth is putting a stake thru the wrist leash going to stop my kite from flailing tangling it's self up.Thus you'll never get the kite off the ground..... If you put for instance a broom handle into the ground just use it for taking off and landing. Theres no need to go jumping onto it just for the sake of walking 20 meters to the right of it. See where I'm coming from now? Lewis Quote
BigBro Posted January 7, 2003 Report Posted January 7, 2003 Flexifan, What you have described is a leash not a depower strap! The leash does not depower the kite but simply stops your control bar from bouncing off the heads of those around you if you have to let go of it. A depower strap goes around the centre of your control bar and connects the brake lines from your kite to a central loop on the pilot side of the control bar which when attached to a ground stake depowers the kite and allows it to sit on the ground unaided. You can pick one up for around £14.95 Quote
Flexifan Posted January 7, 2003 Author Report Posted January 7, 2003 only thing i see off that link for £14.95 m8 is some kite killers my leash is half bungy though... and im not sure what your on about. Cos i brought my kite second hand and here is some robe going between the 2 leaders on my bar but i wasn't sure what this might be used for, so maybe your system is something to do with it.... Lewis Quote
BigBro Posted January 7, 2003 Report Posted January 7, 2003 Four line De-Power Strap: £14.95 It's there in black and white if you look! And if you can't understand the difference between a leash and a depower strap after my last two posts there is not much more info I can offer you!!! Quote
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