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Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 4:55 pm
by Bille
I have the A-15, (15m) ultralight .
Could someone tell me the standard way of launching it, in
8 to 11Kt , (9 to 12 mph) wind ?

The only real knowledge i have about launching kites, would be self
launching LEI's and Old PL Venom's ; and i've bin doing it successfully , usually
without insolent, for over 15 years. This kite is not designed like anything i would
be use to ; and i'd rather ask how-to , (rather than destroy it). :o

Thanks : Bille

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:59 pm
by Adventure Logs
Check out the how to launching vids on YouTube. Should work like all foil kites. In that light of wind you can lay it flat, perpendicular to the wind, sand the trailing edge and just hot launch it. If you want to preinflate it some, use more sand and slowly pull on the center lines to raise the inlets into the wind until it’s sufficiently filled to your liking.

Without preinflation, you can launch and try to keep the kite backstalled till the wing tips fill. Backstalling helps accelerate this.

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:15 pm
by loco4viento
Agree with Adventure Man
I generally like to weigh down one tip to windward, lay out the lines, and preinflate as much as I feel like. The A-15 series fills so nicely that you don’t even need to preinflate, as long as the intake valves are open.
The lighter the wind, the hotter I prefer the launch and the less I care about preinflation.
And once I get it off the ground I prefer aiming it for the side of the window rather than the top if I have any concerns (like first time launching or unsure of wind gradient).

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:39 pm
by Bille
I use a 12v , Boat bilge blower, with three, 1500mah LIPO batterys on my Peter-Lynn
kites ; i can use it, to pre-inflate the A-15, (paid $25 for the blower).

Thanks for the advise !! :thumb:

Bille

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2020 3:05 pm
by Tomlutz
Bille wrote:
Thu Jul 09, 2020 4:55 pm
Could someone tell me the standard way of launching it, in
8 to 11Kt , (9 to 12 mph) wind ?
I have the same kite and it launches in such light wind very easy right from the powerzone. No need to preinflate. As easy as a Soul.

Have fun - it is a good kite! - Tom

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:01 pm
by Kiter_from_Germany
Bille wrote:
Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:39 pm
I use a 12v , Boat bilge blower, with three, 1500mah LIPO batterys on my Peter-Lynn
kites ; i can use it, to pre-inflate the A-15, (paid $25 for the blower).

Thanks for the advise !! :thumb:

Bille
preinflation by shaking the kite (make intakes open) works from 8kn.
In lowwind powering the kite while flying makes filling quicker - just balance with the backstall...
Standard start is possible, I would say...


Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:55 pm
by Bille
@ Kiter_from_Germany

Wish i coulda seen the kite's shape,as it inflated itself, at the beginning of
the video ; it definitely is way different from my PL , so there is gonna be
a learning curve here.

The PL's , i set them at 45-deg to the wind angle ; don't try to launch
till their at least 3/4 inflated, or they like to fold into knots.

Bille

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:17 pm
by Kiter_from_Germany
Bille wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:55 pm
@ Kiter_from_Germany

Wish i coulda seen the kite's shape,as it inflated itself, at the beginning of
the video ; it definitely is way different from my PL , so there is gonna be
a learning curve here.

The PL's , i set them at 45-deg to the wind angle ; don't try to launch
till their at least 3/4 inflated, or they like to fold into knots.

Bille
Just shake it with the preopened air intakes into the wind (1st the first, than 2nd and so on until you create a filled sausage in the leading edge). Than follow the procedure from the vid.
You see in the vid also, the tip fell nearly onto the bridles but by balancing of angle and pull on the bar you can manage that.
When the tip stands perpendicular to the ground just walk strongly backwards, the kite will follow the tip into the air.
Just continue walking backwards, the kite itself flies into the powerzone, but makes actually no hard pull, it looks like a jellyfish.
By steering left and right you fill it.
Powering the bar helps, but you have to balance with the backstall of kite... it has to stay in the air, obiously.

You see in A15 wonderful, when the kite fills completely (like a wave filling from front to back). Take care, if filled, the kite generates full pull in a second.
For that this part should happen NOT directly over you but waterwards sideways...

But try that first on a real 6-8kn day, you can handle every unwanted situation (filling on top) easily.
Best on low wind tries:
Up to 10-12kn, you can land it into the powerzone by backstalling.
Take a ground stick with you and fix yr steering lines in the backstall position, when kite on the ground. It stays there.
Kite will loose air slowly until just the leading edge sausage. From that fill level you can even start from the powerzone, cause of jellyfish effect...

Re: Launching A-15, (15m)

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:06 pm
by Bille
@ @ Kiter_from_Germany

Real Good description ; i can now visualize it, perfectly !! :thumb:

Thanks : Bille