tethered launch vs "stationary" object

[edt]

[plummet]

That's way too overpowered. Lucky get didn't hook in. Could have killed himself.

[shawn13]

Was this yesterday? Winds here were insane too!

[edt]

yes. Wish we had some video. Everyone here got blown off the water once it got over 50 knots. It's funny because nobody got hurt even the kite survived. Otherwise it could have been a disaster.

[bnthere]

that not funny, its why you keep a hand on a centerline when your moving between the kite and bar, dumbass.


normal kite power is enough to toss a picnic table, or a lifeguard stand, or drag the back of a car around 90 degrees,.

[Don Monnot]

For a tethered launch a 400 pound object should be enough. I think that would be a reasonable assumption. The problem comes from shifting, gusty winds at the shoreline, where the kite can tumble directly downwind and hotlaunch. I'm not sure holding onto a center line would be helpful in those conditions, or even advised. What would be advised is to not self-launch! Even if tethered to a more substantial object, if that would happen I think the strain on the lines and CL could be enough to do some damage to kite, lines, etc., even if the stationary object stayed put.

[NHKitesurfer]

Same thing happened to a friend in 20 knots. Kite back stalled, powered up and whipped across the wind window, sending the picnic table 20 feet. Lucky for him no real damage.

[NYKiter]

Good thing no bystanders were involved - instant kite ban.
Sounds like they are somewhat bragging about it but not sharing any of the context.
Good reminder anyways.

[RickI]

I have had some kites in the past that you couldn't do tethered launches with, they bounced too much and would eventually roll down into the center of the power zone and start dragging/breaking stuff.

More recently the kites I have used anyway, are better behaved and usually just sit there. In excessively gusty winds with lulls, even these new kites might roll downwind. With the chicken loop full extended I am not sure how much power they would have. Then again, in 50 kts. looping downwind, I would say plenty.

I know some guys routinely leave tethered kites unattended. This seems like it could lead to problems at times. What other "fairly recent" tethered launch problems have people had? Was the kite bouncing or quietly sitting there before things hit the fan?


p.s. - a squall boosting winds to 50 kts. "usually" sticks out in advance like a pink jumbo elephant rampaging on angel dust. It is best to not ignore the signs and have your kite even inflated much less rigged up to go.

[edt]

forecast was 20 knots all day the 50 knot gust front was not in the forecast, no clouds no radar nothing