Flexifoils

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[Zeke]

thanks for the 'lore'.  my 16' Flexi came with a bar, straps and a set of #750/200' lines.  I have flown it on #500 and #300 lines. all depends on the wind.  The length of the lines does make a difference. I'd say that 150' be a minimum for the 16' as turns are huge and slow. I have flown the 12' on 100' lines.  I said I manged to fly 6-6's and 4-10's on different occasions and it all came down to wind speed. Had that been higher I would not have been able to fly them.. I guess I could argue many points in the "lore".    It comes down to the winds and the individual.

[ae]

Most insane i have flown where a stack of 10 6' in like 8-9 BFT winds. Was on a beach and i guess i was outspeeding cars on my behind.

[Smeagol]

Heh, crazy!  Most I've managed on higher wind days with stacks was 3x 8' and 2x 10' on a different occasion.  The 2x 10' was quite the handful if I remember correctly, equal to about 6 6's.  One of these days I want to try 2x 6' 2x 8' 2x 10' at once but the winds will have to be just right.  Maybe I'll leave off one of the 10's just to be safe. 

While we're on the topic of Flexi's, if anyone has any spare Pro Team 8 spars (centers or ends, doesn't matter) let me know as I'm looking for some.  The ends are the same for the 6/8/10's.  Not sure on the 12'.

-Mike

[zippy8]

Oh aye. I knew I had one more thing to forward about Flexifoils. 

You should all know of Dean Jordan. You may not know about an accident he had. This is his recalling of what happened.

The date was May 1991, the place was Wildwood, NJ. I was hospitalized for two weeks in agony, and then confined to a wheel chair for three months. I was flying a twelve stack of 10' flexi's when i flew into the ground. George Baskette possibly saved my life by keeping me immoble for the next few hours while well intentioned people, including rescue personel, tried to move me. I had shattered my pelvis and broken it in six or seven places as well as crushed my coxax and lower spine.
Source.

Do be careful out there.

Mike.

[ae]

Auch,

Yes, anchored power flying is probable the most dangerous method of all. Listen to Dean folks, simply Don't.

[Ca Ike]

Auch,

Yes, anchored power flying is probable the most dangerous method of all. Listen to Dean folks, simply Don't.

I don't think Dean was fully anchored when he had that accident but rather "lifting" which, if I understand right is the power kite equivalent to parasailing. Or jumping letting the kites lift you up whitch is stupid anyway.

[thief]

Oh aye. I knew I had one more thing to forward about Flexifoils. 

You should all know of Dean Jordan. You may not know about an accident he had. This is his recalling of what happened.

The date was May 1991, the place was Wildwood, NJ. I was hospitalized for two weeks in agony, and then confined to a wheel chair for three months. I was flying a twelve stack of 10' flexi's when i flew into the ground. George Baskette possibly saved my life by keeping me immoble for the next few hours while well intentioned people, including rescue personel, tried to move me. I had shattered my pelvis and broken it in six or seven places as well as crushed my coxax and lower spine.
Source.

Do be careful out there.

Mike.

more to this story:

The reason that Dean had the accident was because all of the flyers doing this were required to wear a helmet....dean had grabbed a helmet and thumped it on...it was a bit big............
as he was being lifted the helmet slipped down over his eyes and he got disoriented...he ended up powering the kites straight down into the beach instead of flying upwards to lift himself....thus powering himself into the deck as well.......

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