Power Kite Forum

Brake setup question

ncbowhunter - 1-8-2012 at 03:33 PM

Finally got a light breeze today and took the Beamer up :singing:for a few minutes this evening until the breeze died:mad:. How much difference does it make to move up or down a knot on the brake adapter in the flight characteristics? I am hoping for better winds soon to be able to do some testing of my own. Thanks again for the Beamer Spencer, I am looking foward to the fall winds we have here!

Bladerunner - 1-8-2012 at 04:38 PM

You want your brake lines to hang loose with a slight arc when not in play. You want the kite to stall / back down when you apply full brakes.

Too much brake and your kite will not fly to zenith. Too little and you won't be able to use the brake input for turning / backing down / reverse launching. Moving 1 knot should make a noticable difference but shouldn't be so much it messes you up completely. You will know when you have it right.

Be sure all 4 lines are equal to start !

bigkid - 1-8-2012 at 05:59 PM

One thing to look for when the kite is up and flying is to look to see if there is a crease or fold about 6" from the trailing edge. if there is, that means to much brake.
play around with it and look for the fold/crease when you apply the brakes.
No fold/crease while flying is GOOD.

ncbowhunter - 1-8-2012 at 06:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
You want your brake lines to hang loose with a slight arc when not in play. You want the kite to stall / back down when you apply full brakes.

Too much brake and your kite will not fly to zenith. Too little and you won't be able to use the brake input for turning / backing down / reverse launching. Moving 1 knot should make a noticable difference but shouldn't be so much it messes you up completely. You will know when you have it right.

Be sure all 4 lines are equal to start !

Thanks for the info :thumbup:

ncbowhunter - 1-8-2012 at 06:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bigkid
One thing to look for when the kite is up and flying is to look to see if there is a crease or fold about 6" from the trailing edge. if there is, that means to much brake.
play around with it and look for the fold/crease when you apply the brakes.
No fold/crease while flying is GOOD.

Thanks for the tip! Now I need wind!!!!!!