Power Kite Forum

Windtool Setup?

DMC - 1-3-2010 at 09:06 PM

I picked up a Windtools Mosquito Pro KS 7.5 Kite last fall and I have not had much luck getting it in the air. I have not been able to finding a website for Windtool either, so I have been trying to do it by trial and error when it comes to attach the fly line to the kite. When I got the kite, it was configured to fly on a 3 line arrangement. At this point I just want to get this kite in the air, weather it is a 3 or 4 line set up. I am hoping there is someone here that has some experience setting up this kite to fly with a bar.

flexiblade - 1-3-2010 at 09:15 PM

You may have seen this already but here it is looking to lumped in with it's contemporaries. http://www.powerkites.org.uk/kites.html What year did the Blade I come out in? A three line setup, hmmmmmm . . . could you post some pictures of how the bridle is currently setup? That would probably be the quickest way to let you know what is what.

zero gee - 1-3-2010 at 09:19 PM

Try here... It an archived website not the real thing the company is not around any longer. but it does have tips Good luck.
http://web.archive.org/web/20010405095257/www.windtools.com/...

DMC - 1-3-2010 at 09:20 PM

Got it for 66 Bucks

flexiblade - 1-3-2010 at 09:36 PM

Sounds like an interesting kite - is it setup for water use? (no open vents on the leading edge of the kite) From what I could read the 3rd line is for depower and a safety leash. I would imagine that the 3rd line would have to attach to you somehow and run through the center of the bar. The 2 other lines would then attach to the outside of the bar. pulling the bar towards you would power the kite and pushing the bar away would lessen the power, letting go of the bar would make the kite fold in the center and flap the outer wings away from the flyer. Don't know if that helps or not.

DMC - 1-3-2010 at 09:45 PM

From what I have read about the kite. It can be flown on land straight out of the bag, or on the water if you fill up the air bag in every other cell. The problem I am having is getting the line lengths right, so I can get it to fly. I am not getting anywhere close to getting the kite to fly. I am checking out the link the Gee just posted. The site is running very slow but at least I have a site to try and find the info I need. :spin:

zero gee - 1-3-2010 at 09:48 PM

Quote:
[quoteThe site is running very slow but at least I have a site to try and find the info I need. :spin:


I think some of the pictures are missing and may never load. Unfortunately, some pictures are key to tuning.

dave brown - 1-3-2010 at 09:48 PM

I had that kite a few years back
It was a good lightwind kite. like the Quadrifoil Xsurfers
It is just a 4 line FB
I flew mine on handles. It will fly like crap on a 3 line bar

DMC - 1-3-2010 at 10:19 PM

I got the link for the setup with the safety system to load and it ends up being a page with line lengths and letter (A, B,C...). The information is a little over my head without pictures to tell me what the letter correspond to on the kite. The setup for 2 line has some pictures but still is not helping if I don't know what lines A and B are.

ripsessionkites - 1-3-2010 at 10:44 PM

A - top row of the bridle line
B - the middle row
C - the 3rd row

D / Brake - is the last row on the TE, found on all 4-line foils. if it came in 2 line configuration you need to seperate the flying lines from the Pigtail. there should be 2 Pigtails after that.

there was a discussion a few months back on here with someone else do had a Mosquito Pro KS.

g-force junkie - 2-3-2010 at 07:08 AM

DMC,
I've got a 5.5 and I fought it for a month trying to get it to fly on many different control systems, if you don't get the bridles right the kite will be uncontrolable and very dangerous even in light winds, I finally realized that the bridles had been tinkered with, set them up right in a four line config.with handles and 25mtr lines and it flys like magic. In low wind when most kites won't even fly this thing will rip, lots of power and lift, very fast flier and turns on a dime. I can send you a pic of my bridles,but don't try to fly it on a bar.

erratic winds - 2-3-2010 at 06:02 PM

Would love to see your setup g-force, as I got a KS7.5 off CL for like 30$ some time ago and never ever got it to fly well.
I don't think it would ever get into my quiver out of my closet, but hey, if I could get it flying well, i'd be happy to pass it off to someone else for what I paid for it, making some newb very happy.

DMC - 2-3-2010 at 10:31 PM

Thanks for all the help guys. At least I have more information on how to get this kite in the air. I have to admit I am a little disappointed. I got this kite with the idea that I would be using it to do so some snow kiting. I figured with the fact that it came with a bar, that I would be able to transition from the water to the land with no problems. It looks like everyone that has managed to get there windtool kites flying recommend to fly it with handles instead of a bar.

So is it only the new foil kites that fly well with a bar setup? I have a 12.5 meter Flysurfer Worrior that pulls like a truck but turns like a lame duck. Am I looking at the same thing with this windtool?

erratic winds - 3-3-2010 at 06:51 AM

DMC- You didn't by chance get that warrior off ebay for 120$ USD did you....(I will find the person who beat me in that auction, and I will buy that freaking kite off them...that was the worst ebay sniping I've ever had happen to me)

Actually, with bit of tuning, that warrior should shape up and turn better.

DMC - 3-3-2010 at 07:39 AM

I got it on Ebay last October for 95 bucks, and I didn't see to many people bidding on it. I have had a lot more luck with the Worrier then the Windtool. When I got it out the first time I found the pulley were seized up. Once I replaced them I was able to fly it with some control. I have actually been able to strap the snowboard on and had it take me down wind, so I could do the walk of shame back to where I started :lol: . Like I said I was having a hell of a time getting it to turn. I did some enquiring about getting the bridles updated to that 1.5 version, and was told it was not worth it for that old kite. I was thinking if I can figure out how to adjust the lines on the windtool, I would play around with the Flysurfer lines next. Right now the Worrier is my only flying winter kite.

erratic winds - 3-3-2010 at 09:47 AM

DMC-I'm pretty sure we were in on the same auction :D I think with a bit more experience and tuning it you'll whip that warrior into shape. It's really hard to have an idea how to tune a kite when you're new-ish.

I've gotten the windtools KS 7.5 in the air on a bar, but it would not turn at all. Guess I'll have to put on my big boy pants and redo the bridle on it.


I too, have had people make negative comments about "old kites" and how it's "never worth it to fix them up, you need newer equipment"...That's great if you've got $$ to burn on kiting, but I know a lot of us are very close to superbroke, and that new/used kites are just out of the price range for us at the moment. Your kite, your stuff, you do what you want.

I really love my brands but I'm never buying a slingshot LEI again after how "positive" my experience with one of their reps about replacing bladders was.:thumbdown:


And a walk is only a walk, it's only shameful if you think it is. I walked over a mile in 6" of snow last week because of a equipment malfunction. I felt dumb but not ashamed.

DMC - 3-3-2010 at 09:21 PM

Well I was suprised to see that the kite went so cheap. I have not seen a Flysurfer go that cheap before. I was expecting to pay at least 100 bucks. Some times time when a kite doesn't get any bidders, I tend to worry.

I am hoping I will have some time this weekend to work on my 7.5 windtool. We are not having a very good winter here. February is suppose to be our colder time of year and we were getting snow melting temps with next to know wind. I have long stretches of waiting before I can get enough wind to try out the adjustment I make to the kite. It makes it more painful when I get out and the kite just flops around on the ground.

Along with the lack of cash to buy a new kite, I figure if I can fly these old models, the new one will be a snap. Living On The Edge Baby :lol: :crazy: . I think my the end of next summer, I will be ready to step a few inches away from the edge and get a new kite.

Bladerunner - 4-3-2010 at 05:32 PM

You get what you pay for in this sport.

Flysurfer got a LOT better around 2006. Older Flysurfers are well made but they don't fly as well s the newer ones. That is why it was so cheap.

Try flying the Windtools kite 2 line. If it won't fly 2 line then you have a problem with the ABC lines in the bridle. Setting the brakes up 3 line style means they won't have any effect during normal flight. No doubt this kite will fly better on handles.

krumly - 5-3-2010 at 09:47 AM

A lot of larger fixed bridle kites that fly well on handles will also fly well decently on a crossover bar setup. See attached image.

When you steer the bar right, it pulls your front lines and also gives proportional input to the rear brakelines. If you let the bar out, the center line applies the brakes evenly to each side. It isn't depower - the center line is hooked to your harness spreader bar and almost all the pull is taken by your arms thru the bar.

Search on 'cross-over bars' or 'Xover bars' in this forum or Google.

krumly

Xbar 008.jpg - 34kB

g-force junkie - 13-3-2010 at 04:27 PM

Finally took some pics of the mosquito bridle set up, u2u me for pics and commentary