Id like to hear some of your comments on an experiance i had the other day down at leighton.
Im a regular kiter on leighton (3yrs) and was watching on as some guys struggled to launch so i offerd to help, as i held the kite he gave the thumbs up so i released.
The kite looped numerous times before he landed on his arse !!
Another guy came up and said "wat are u doing, have u any idea wat yr doing ?? I was like, eerrrrrr, ok. I wont help again !
They checked the lines and were found to be crossed, this is not my reponsability to check some other dudes kite lines ! He give the thumbs to release !
Wat u think ?

Thumbs up means GO, i've seen kites roll along the beach also due the the thumb.

You as the launcher have a look at the rigging from your end (bridals etc), but you cant spot everything! Kiters responsible as their the ones who rigged the kite.

Sounds like a couple of tools! send them to Pinnaroo and when that thumb goes up, if I haven't spotted anything I'm letting go.

natural selection at it's finest....

dont stress man, not your fault. i do try and check other peoples lines as i launch them but the glare n **** makes it hard in some scenarios.

my mate has given me the thumbs in a low wind scenario to see his brand new rebel stall into a bush, **** happens and its usually because some body is impatient or worried about holding another up (because most people are impatient) to check their gear properly.

best you can do is watch it and be ready to grab again if it doesnt make it to 12!

Just out of curiosity, can a kite still easily loop if the release has been pulled?

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Technologic said...

Just out of curiosity, can a kite still easily loop if the release has been pulled?

On 4 line kites where the safety line is a single front line it is rather common for the kite to do multiple loops in the air (unpowered) until it comes crashing down

Good subject .. and I would like to add a couple of gripes I have with some starting practices. I have been helping uncounted times in all sorts of spots with all sorts of conditions and 95% of the times it all goes well. The other 5% were numerous problems. Ok .. if it was really 5% or not, I cannot say, but you get the drift. What I want to say is the majority of situations were ok.
One major problem I have is that more unexperienced kiters do not quickly get the lines tensioned after one has picked up the kite. When I see that the kiter is too close and the lines have lots of slack or worse walks towards me, I hold the kite horizontal on its back until the kiter makes and attempt to actually get the lines tensioned. You all have probably experienced the situation where a big kite in a bit higher breeze is pulling you back, or folds when you hold it too low at the beginning. This can be avoided when the kiter gets the lines tensioned quickly and takes the load off the person holding the kite. Even in perfect position to the wind sometimes it is a challenge to hold a kite for some time until the kiter has sorted his chicken loop after one thought he was ready. Of course I do not pick up the kite when the kiter is in the wrong position and I would get the kite right into the wind.
When I hold the kite I feel the pressure in the leading edge and have aborted at least twice to let the kiter know that I think the pressure was too low. In both cases they pumped again. I also try to see if the lines are ok, but in no way feel responsible. So to the OP .. I think it is not the launchers responsibility to check the lines.
In quite a few situations when you hold the kite you see/feel that the angle to the wind is not really ideal. As the person holding the kite you are not supposed to move unless both of you know each other well and rely on each others judgement. In such cases I try to signal the kiter to move up or downwind depending on the situation.
As the person launching one usually has a good feel for direction (with a bit of experience).
Now one last thing and for me the most important. When the kiter shows the thumbs up I do not immediately release the kite unless I feel and upward pressure or movement. With experienced kiters the thumbs up and the movement upwards is a split second experience and all works well and smooth. With less experienced kiters or in situations with squalls or turbulence (we have a few spots like this) I always try to have a good feel for the upward movement of the kite before I fully release and let the kite slide out of my hand. This practise saved a few people from disaster because you can quickly grab the kite again in case something is wrong.
Saying all this ... there are still situations where all involved tried their best and still something goes wrong ... well .. sh.t happens and it is not good practise to shout or blame anyone. Just learn and be happy nothing more serious happened.

Sorry for the sermon, but I thought I write this down for some to think about.
regards
gmd

the kiter can't really see very well what's happening at the kite end. I.e. is one of the steering lines caught on something. and this is probably the most dangerous situation if a steering line is caught by even say 100mm, as it will power up hugely and go out of control quick smart. I've seen it and probably been guilty of it. So give the kiter a hand and always double check that all looks okay at the kite end.

Dazza

Getting the lines attached right should be the kiters responsibility, I always run the lines out behind my kite and pull tension on them so I can see there is nothing crossed before walking around to the launch position.

However when assisting a launch I always look at the bridles and lines and do not release the kite (even if the kiter has given the thumbs up) unless I am happy too, the kite end is where problems often occur, a line hooked over a wingtip or a bridle around a valve etc is easier for the launcher to see than the kiter.
Whilst you shouldn't be held responsible, you also shouldn't neglect to do whatever you can to make sure the launch is safe.
I can honestly say that I always check the lines to the best of my ability and would like to think that anyone launching me would too, but if they didn't I wouldn't blame them, in this sport you have to be responsible for your own safety and can't rely on others.

Hi

You are not responsible at all. If you notice the lines are not right by all means try to help out. I have in the past had some awkward launches because of seaweed tangling the lines and the launcher has been good enough to warn me.

Personal grip for me when I am launching someone... If you must lay your lines out up-wind of your kite. Walk to the edge of the window before trying to launch. I hate people who try and make me launch them when the kite is fully powered and knocking you over. I have a good mind to hot launch you next time.

Not your fault. Pilot is always responsible for his/her aircraft. That's why you even see 747 captains and their first officers walking around their planes before takeoffs. Just watch Sam Sheppard in 'The Right Stuff' inspecting the F104 before he attempts a world altitude record - have a close look then send her 'upstairs'. That's the attitude!

take all care, and no responsibilty ?