Date: Wed, 26 Apr 1995 11:24:19 -1000 From: jnaylor@southwind.net (Jim Naylor) Message-Id: Organization: entropya Subject: newbie note-launching I'm sure all you old hands know about this, but I stumbled across a solo? launching trick other newbies might like to try. Here in Kansas, behind the tree line at my house, the turbulence and gusts can practically *prevent* unassisted launches with a Flying Edge: if you lay it out on its back, it will self launch or be blown over before you can get out to pick up the lines. If you try to hold it up in a flying attitude using tension on the lines as you back away, it's bound to fall over when the breeze stops or slows momentarily. Once flat on its face, it makes a good pull toy or grass plow, but isn't going anywhere in the direction of _up_. But if you poke a dowell (2-3 ft long) in the ground slanted into the wind, place the kite behind the dowell on its face, it'll stay there in a gale until you get out to the end of the lines and pull it up against the dowell and into perfect launching position. Now somebody tell me about the inevitable easier way. -- Jim Naylor | aging sentimentally-- jnaylor@southwind.net | it's bound to be fatal. Wichita, Kansas | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 27 Apr 1995 09:52:28 -1000 From: sasaki@netopd.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <3noslt$2h5@netope.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard OIT Network Services Subject: Re: newbie note-launching In article , jnaylor@southwind.net (Jim Naylor) writes: |>I'm sure all you old hands know about this, but I stumbled across a solo? |>launching trick other newbies might like to try. Usually, you use some kind of ground stake (there are several commercial ones available, some folks use screw drivers, ice picks, or garden shovels) to attach the handles.straps of your kite to. You then stretch out the flying lines down wind with the kite attached. Prop the kite up so that it is tilting backwards/downwind. If the nose goes into the wind, the kite will launch. Then walk/run back to your handles. Pull on the lines to tilt the kite forward into the wind... -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 90 Melrose Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Arlington, MA 02174 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-646-1925 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 28 Apr 1995 13:11:46 -1000 From: tgrable@fast.net (Tom Grable) Message-Id: Organization: FASTNET(tm) PA/NJ/DE Internet Services Subject: Re: newbie note-launching >Once flat on its face, it >makes a good pull toy or grass plow, but isn't going anywhere in the >direction of _up_. Sometimes I think my kites work better that way. >But if you poke a dowell (2-3 ft long) in the ground >slanted into the wind, place the kite behind the dowell on its face, it'll >stay there in a gale until you get out to the end of the lines and pull it >up against the dowell and into perfect launching position. >Now somebody tell me about the inevitable easier way. Wow, Jim, thanks. It's not many times I can provide an answer before any of the more knowledgable folks here at r.k can. Maybe I'm wrong but your technique is certainly original. What I've seen most sport kite fliers do is use a stake and stick it into the ground though the control handles. Then they stand the kite up with the nose angled away from the wind. The wind pushes against the front of the kite, over the nose of the kite and forces it to stay on the ground. You may then carefully remove your handles from the stake, preventing if from noseing into the wind. Once you have the handles pull them towards you and the kite magically launches. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom and Donna Grable E-Mail: tgrable@fast.net The Watermelon People one day I wished for a fish, Allentown, PA, USA and I got one ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom and Donna Grable E-Mail: tgrable@fast.net The Watermelon People one day I wished for a fish, Allentown, PA, USA and I got one ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 28 Apr 1995 19:42:49 -1000 From: pconnor@alkali.otago.ac.nz (Paul Connor) Message-Id: Organization: University of Otago Subject: Re: newbie note-launching I use a slightly non-standard way of launching solo. I use 2 stake to hold the kite up, again leaning backwards, with the strings lying on the ground, so no chance of a surprise launch. Then pick up the string, get ready and step back. Up she goes! This works for both single and double string kite (esp. Deltas). For the stakes I use "pigtails", the temporary electic fence holders. Mine are pink plastic coated metal, there are also fibreglass ones. They have a spike at the bottom, usually with a pushed in by foot, and a hook or loop at the top which doubles as string holders for small kites. Cost about NZ$4 (~US$3) each, and hard to loose due to colour. With a Stunter, just remember to step back so you don't get caught up. Tight lines Paul Connor Dunedin New Zealand. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =