Bridle.
All Skytigers have a pre-set Spectra fiber Bridle. As the angle of attack of the kite
can be changed in flight, by varying tension on the bottom lines, there is no need to
alter the main bridle setting. Should Bridle Legs get damaged or break, they can
easily be replaced with similar material.
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Distorted Underside.
If the underside of the kite looks distorted or pulled out of shape, it is usually due
to one or more Bridle Legs getting "Hung Up" on the knot or loop where the main Bridle
meets the Flying Lines. Land the kite and release the caught Bridle Leg.
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Don't Drag It.
It is especially important when flying on abrasive surfaces like Asphalt or Dry Lake
Bed to avoid allowing the kite to slide from side to side when it's on the ground.
This action and dragging the kite along the ground will result in both stitching and
fabric wearing through.
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Drawing Of Skytiger
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Control Problems.
If it is difficult to hold the Skytiger on a steady course whilst traveling, when used
for traction, it may be due to unequal flying lines. This problem can be a difference
form side to side, front to back or a combination of both. Check line lengths and
adjust to make them all equal. If lines are unequal side to side, the kite will have
a tendency to drift in the direction of the shorter line. The kite will have to be
flown with a constant control input to correct the drift if the line lengths are not
equalized. Line length differences front to back can lead to decreased power as well
as control. [Power Problems] If the Skytiger seems
to pull hard but does not climb or steer very well, it's a sign that the Top Lines are
too long or Bottom lines are too short. This is generally a result of the Top or main
flying lines being stretched. [Flying Line
Stretch] This is normal, especially when flying lines are new and re-adjustment
may be necessary two or three times before they become fully stretched. To remedy the
problem the Top Lines can be shortened or the Bottom Lines lengthened. Usually the
amount of stretch is quite large and the first adjustment will be approximately six
inches or so. To cut six inches from the Top Lines may not be satisfactory as it may
be too much or not enough. [Flying Line
Adjustment] A good idea to correct discrepancies due to Top Line Stretch is to add
8 to 10 inch loops to the Bottom Lines. This effectively increases the length of the
Bottom Lines to counteract the Top Line Stretch.
By adding a series of knots to these loops, fine adjustments can be made
once all the lines have been equalized. Slightly less common is the situation
where the Bottom Lines are too long, giving little or no 'Brake'. This usually
happens if lines are swapped between kites. The Skytiger will tend to overfly
and lack pulling power. It will also be virtually impossible to land by applying
full 'Brake' on the Bottom Lines. To cure the Bottom Lines being too long, just
extend the Top Lines using a pair of loops as described earlier. Once Flying
Lines have become fully stretched any major differences can be trimmed off to
avoid excessive loop lengths.
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Flying Line.
We recommend using Spectra flying lines as this material has good non-stretch
properties and is relatively thin for its breaking strength. As Skytigers are used
mostly for kite traction, a good rule of thumb is to use 300lbs for the top lines and
200lbs for the bottom or brake lines. This combination is good for any size, since the
larger kites will be used in light winds and the smaller ones in ber winds. As kite
traction is about moving along, maximum resistance is avoided and 300lbs breaking
strength line is b enough for nearly all circumstances. Occasionally, a 200lbs on
top/150lbs on bottom combination could be used to cut down on some drag, but there is
a durability trade-off from scuffing etc. A very comfortable length of flying lines is
75 feet. This length is long enough to prevent the kite from moving too fast across
the wind window, yet not so long as to be anti-social when buggying with others for
instance. Long lines may be a solution for very low wind, though with lines twice as
long comes twice the drag on those lines, or a way to overcome turbulent wind low
down. In general however, we find 75 feet to be the ideal length.
In order to maintain your flying lines in good condition and avoid tangling we
suggest that you keep a set attached to each kite and pack it as shown in the
Wrap It Up section. Though this may seem
extravagant, it is by far the best way to keep your Skytigers ready to fly and prevent
time consuming line changes in the wind, where tangling will most certainly occur.
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What size?
Choosing the right size of Skytiger for kite traction ultimately comes with flying
experience. There is no set formula to refer to in order to choose the best kite for
any given set of conditions. Essentially, there are 4 variables which determine which
Skytiger to use. Skill or experience, surface, wind and pilot weight. The best rule to
follow is don't attempt to use a kite which is too large for the prevailing
conditions. b wind, smooth flat surface and a light weight pilot do not suggest that
anything but the smallest kite should be used for buggying under these conditions.
When learning, it is especially important to start small in order to gain experience
and get a feel for operating both kite and buggy or skis. It is very wise to become
familiar with flying Skytigers whilst standing still, if four-line flying is new to
you. Learn how to direct the kite where you want it to go and understand how powerful
it can be.
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Wrap It Up.
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To ensure that Flying Lines and Bridle do
not get tangled, pack your Skytiger away as follows;
1) Wrap Flying Lines around Control Handles while walking toward the kite.
2) Lay Bridle on top of the Skytiger and put the wrapped Line/Handles on the ground about 18 inches away from the Trailing Edge. Make sure the Line/Handles are
well away from the Bridle.
3) Fold the kite inwards from each end including the Bridle, to form a long folded strip, Bridle enclosed, with Line/Handles about 18 inches away from the Trailing Edge.
4) Place the Line/Handles on top of the folded kite, well towards the middle.
5) Roll the folded kite up around the Line/Handles and stow in bag. Your Skytiger will be ready to fly and tangle-free every time if you follow this simple pack-up routine.
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