Title: First lifting kite Post by: SparkieRob on October 05, 2012, 09:32 AM I want to get a kite to hang some line laundry off. Was looking at a Premier Sled 24 with #300 line. Is this a good one to start on? And what type of anchor would be good for park grass? I want to put some transition tails and stuff from it.
Thanks heaps. Rob. Sent via Tapatalk for iPhone. Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: thief on October 05, 2012, 09:44 AM a sled is perfect......
are there any trees in the park you could anchor off to? It is always best to have a large potentially-not easily-moveable object to tie off to....car...bench.....tree.... you could use a couple of the screw in dogstakes but keep in mind that they are rated ~150#.....i have seen them break before and become a dragging projectile across a field... big tent stakes (like circus tent style) work great and i would still double up on them as well... The 24 will get you started....if you can jump up a level that would be better.... Welcome to filling the sky with color! Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: red sweater on October 05, 2012, 10:46 AM and i would still double up on them as well... The second stake is there to keep the first stake from turning over. (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MqWWGq5iBWE/SPSMiwQoRRI/AAAAAAAABxE/IYYZqPihIj8/s320/anchors-715609.gif) Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: thief on October 05, 2012, 11:33 AM those will work...i was thinking more of these though:
(http://www.gombergkites.com/faq/A-10.JPG) you can see some more about anchoring kites: http://www.gombergkites.com/faq/faq-a.html (http://www.gombergkites.com/faq/faq-a.html) Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: red sweater on October 05, 2012, 01:11 PM you can see some more about anchoring kites: [url]http://www.gombergkites.com/faq/faq-a.html[/url] ([url]http://www.gombergkites.com/faq/faq-a.html[/url]) "I've seen people connect 1200 pound flying line into 200 pound tie-downs or attach large kites to car bumpers and forget to set the brake." Hey, engineering departments compete with solar-powered cars, what's wrong with wind-power? :D Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: Wayner on October 05, 2012, 03:36 PM A sled is a nice kite to start off with, just pull it out of the bag and attach the line. ;D
Delta Conynes, Roks and foils are also great lifters if you want other options. ;) The sled has a ligher pull than some other kites its size but will be fine for transistion tails. I would call the 24 a fun size. Easy to set up, fly and take down. ;) A larger size will be a better work horse if you want to get crazy with line laundry. You can use a anchor, but should have no problem flying by hand in most winds. I have Gomberg's 40 sled and use 150# line for normal wind and #250 for high wind. Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: Tmadz on October 05, 2012, 05:29 PM I have the Gomberg 40sq ft super sled as well and I use the 250# waxed black dacron. It's not real heavy pull, but flies nicely I liked it more because I could get the matching pennant tail rather than get tubes to stabilize it. I lift plenty of laundry with it in a 8-10mph+ wind, but the Premiers are better lifters. If you're looking to start with a light sled the Premier 24 would be a good choice. It doesn't cost much and performs reasonably well. You could lift a few things with it.
Jim Nicholls in New Zealand is a single line flier and he has a website of his own with lots of reviews of all of his kites, including sleds. Those might give you a pretty good start and help you decide what to get. I like the lifting power of delta conynes, french military and Roks as well. DC's and french military are reasonably priced for their lifting power as well. I would definitely stay away from skyhooks and flowforms/skyforms for now. Those are pretty advanced lifters. As far as ground stakes. I have what Thief has. They're nice solid steel stakes with rounded point for hammering into the ground. I got mine at a home improvement warehouse here for $2US apiece. A little orange spray paint to identify it on the ground and they hold firm on regular black soil with a higher clay content. A 2lb mallet knocks em in deep. I don't know if your soil is really sandy. I love my sled. It always gets attention. I was at a club fly this weekend with plenty of wind. It definitely got peoples attention and plenty of photos. I love looking at it. Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: Wayner on October 05, 2012, 06:27 PM Jim Nicholls in New Zealand is a single line flier and he has a website of his own with lots of reviews of all of his kites, including sleds. Those might give you a pretty good start and help you decide what to get. Thanks for the tip on the site. http://www.jimskites.co.nz/reviews.html (http://www.jimskites.co.nz/reviews.html) Good info. Suprised to see we have many of the same kites. Enjoyed seeing reviews on a few kites I am still looking a purchasing. ;) Title: Re: First lifting kite Post by: SparkieRob on October 05, 2012, 07:10 PM Thanks heaps for that. I want to work my way up to getting one of those Gomberg Octopus inflatables, just love watching them. I'd use a pilot with that but as there is NOTHING like that on this side of my country I want to build some experience first. I also love the attention lifters get and I'm betting my kids will go nuts!
Rob. Sent via Tapatalk for iPhone. |