Fedaykin Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 Has anyone got any secret tips and tricks to inflating a Venom in low wind? I'm struggling to inflate in I'm: Placing the kite at 90 degrees to the wind Closing the upwind and deflate zips Pinning down the upwind pigtails Inflating from the downwind zip What else can I do (no, I'm not going to carry a portable hairdryer!) ? Any suggestions Thanks. Quote
Vertigo1599968637 Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 This question was asked the other day have a look >>HERE Generally if its not windy enough to inflate then its not windy enough to fly:p Hope that the link is of help. Matt Quote
lard Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 You definitely want to inflate using the UPWIND zip with the downwind one (and the deflation zipper) closed. I suspect this is what you actually do but have just typed it the wrong way round . Apart from that is seems like you're doing everything right. One other thing you could try is once it's partially inflated, close the upwind zip and 'push' the air along to the downwind tip with your hands (or roll the upwind tip towards the downwind tip and then un-roll it), then re-open the upwind zip. This can help sometimes. My general rule of thumb for my V13 is that if it isn't windy enough to inflate it then it isn't windy enough to bother flying it. Not sure if this applies to the 16 and 19 though. These will fly in lower winds I guess, but ARCs generally need a fair blow to get going. Paul Quote
mick knox Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 As Paul said, but instead of 90 degrees to the wind, try launching it like a foil, straight down wind, just pull on the middle lines. Quote
xdavemarshallx Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 As Paul said, but instead of 90 degrees to the wind, try launching it like a foil, straight down wind, just pull on the middle lines. This can in many cases make it harder to launch/inflate. If the kite is not very inflated and you try and launch directly downwind, the wind will force the top and bottom skin together (as the kite will be flat facing the wind). This means that the aerofoil shape is not present and so the kite will not lift properly and will probably just float a few foot above the ground. There will also be as much, if not more pressure on the sail, holding the two skins together than pressure blowing on the valves trying to inflate the kite. If you launch and hold the kite at the edge of the window, the wind will be flowing around the kite and only hitting the leading edge (as the kite is on its side into the wind). This means the valves are in the perfect position to allow maximum air through and the wind is not trying to force the air out by holding the two skins together. Happy winds Dave Quote
hankster Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 trying to launch an arc thats not near fully inflated normally results in a nice bowtie shape,or it'll jusy spin out of control.so i use to use my car portable starter/tyre inflater.they come with assorted nozzles for air beds etc.so i put about 1ft of flexible pipe on one,& it'll inflate an 18m arc in under 2 minutes.trouble being if anyone else was down the beach with the same prob.it was"don't suppose i could borrow your air pump mate,can't seem to get my phantom inflated enough"i bought it for the car but £18.99 from b&q. Quote
metal_snapper1599968645 Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 Unfortunatley....Twin Skins aint low wind kites......even if you do manage to get it inflated, the kite will stall all the time and you will spend most of your time pulling on the centre lines and getting quite annoyed:) Has anyone got any secret tips and tricks to inflating a Venom in low wind? I'm struggling to inflate in I'm: Placing the kite at 90 degrees to the wind Closing the upwind and deflate zips Pinning down the upwind pigtails Inflating from the downwind zip What else can I do (no, I'm not going to carry a portable hairdryer!) ? Any suggestions Thanks. Quote
reach4thesky Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 Hi mate I dont think anyone read that you dont want to carry a portable hair dryer with you.What I do is lay the kite out the opposite way that I am going to launch it and get it half inflated then as opposed to having to roll it up yo get air at the downwind end of the kite I simply close the zip and rotate the kite 180 degres open the downwind zip(previously up wind and un inflated) and let her inflate.Best method yet. Use to have an argos battery powered pump but it took forever cant believe no one else has mentioned this method Quote
xdavemarshallx Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 Can I just make it clear here which is up-wind and which is down-wind as there appears to be some confusion on the matter here. http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1254/untitled5iv.gif I'm not going mad am I people? Quote
hankster Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 Can I just make it clear here which is up-wind and which is down-wind as there appears to be some confusion on the matter here. http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1254/untitled5iv.gif I'm not going mad am I people? correcto mundo Quote
Gandromedus Posted November 28, 2005 Report Posted November 28, 2005 Has anyone got any secret tips and tricks to inflating a Venom in low wind? If I told you it wouldn't be a secret for long! Ah, what the h@ll. Our tried and tested and proved entertaining-but-ultimately-pointless 'secret' Venom inflation method: 1) Drive up and down with the venom in the back of a van, with an able assistant holding the inflation zipper open out of the window. 2) Close the zip, take it out of the van 3) Open the zip to top up by wafting a road atlas at it, zip it up and hey presto. Quote
hooly Posted November 28, 2005 Report Posted November 28, 2005 lol and if that doesn't work you could always try putting your pants on your head Quote
oc1rob Posted November 28, 2005 Report Posted November 28, 2005 Did it like this at the weekend in variable wind and the rain... Lay out kite so that one wingtip is directly into the wind Open upwind infaltion zip, and ensure all others are closed Hold the zip open until you loose the will to live Close zip and roll the kite around the upwind batten untill all air is forced to the downwind tip Unroll and re-open Upwind Zip and repeat as necessary. and in this particular case, take home and hang V16 in single garage to dry out...... ....Not much garage left!!!!! Quote
gunner221 Posted November 28, 2005 Report Posted November 28, 2005 Rob seem to remeber this worked very well, and you were soon flying even with a wet Venom Quote
Kite Kid Posted November 29, 2005 Report Posted November 29, 2005 the best way i found was inflating the venom has much as possible.Grab hold of the chicken loop so kite is depowered and leg it up wind.once inflated they fly fine. Make sure you have the leash on though Quote
xdavemarshallx Posted November 29, 2005 Report Posted November 29, 2005 the best way i found was inflating the venom has much as possible.Grab hold of the chicken loop so kite is depowered and leg it down wind.once inflated they fly fine. Make sure you have the leash on though Poor kite :( Quote
stueyboy Posted December 3, 2005 Report Posted December 3, 2005 I've found that when flying inland there is usually a fence somewhere upwind of where the kite is trying to inflate so holding the kite by the zip a couple of feet off the ground seems to get plenty of air in it. But if that doesn't work, the wind is too light to even bother. Quote
tallscott Posted December 6, 2005 Report Posted December 6, 2005 1) eat lots of beans 2) i'm sure you can work this bit out......... Quote
xdavemarshallx Posted December 6, 2005 Report Posted December 6, 2005 1) eat lots of beans 2) i'm sure you can work this bit out......... http://www.health-safety.co.za/images/signs/ww2big.gif Quote
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