Dual Line Flying

 The image above, kite in flight with tails, visually demonstrates the flight path of the kite. Please visit their web site for volumes of information on kite flying.

The following image graphically describes the flight envelope of multiple-line kites. There are several key areas to this flight envelope.

 

F represents the Flyer -- The flight envelope is relative to the position of the flyer. If the flyer moves around, the flight envelope described here moves too.

K represents the Kite -- The kite generally remains a constant distance from the Flyer. Depending on where in the flight envelope the kite it, it will behave differently.

P represents the center of the Power Zone -- This is the area on the flight envelope that is directly down wind of the flyer. The wind is perpendicular to the kite in this area producing the greatest force on the kite, and thus the strongest pull and fastest speeds.

L represents the Left limit of the flight envelope.

U represents the Upper limit of the flight envelope.

R represents the Right limit of the flight envelope.

The Edge is represented by Arc L-U-R and is the furthest the kite can fly into the wind. At the Edge, the kite produces JUST enough lift to maintain it's posiiton on the flight envelope. If it moves beyond the Edge it will begin to lose altitude.

As you fly your kite from the Edge to the Power Zone, it's speed and pull will increase. As you fly away from the Power Zone, it's speed and pull will decrease.

Keep in mind that the flight envelope extends to the ground along Arc L-P-R. More skilled flyers use this area for Ground Work and Landing. Less skilled flyers use this area for Crashing!

As you fly your kite from the Power Zone to the Edge, it's speed and pull will decrease.

As you fly your kite from the Edge to the Power Zone, it's speed and pull will increase.

As you fly your kite along the red lines, it's speed and pull change the fastest.

As you fly your kite along the blue lines, it's speed and pull remain constant.

As the wind increases, the speed and pull of the kite will increase.

The speed and pull of your kite can also be affected by a turn or spin, depending on your kite and control techniques.

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The Dual-Line Kite

In contrast to single-line kites, dual-line kites use two lines of equal length. When flying the single-line kite, the line length is variable -- you may have your kite flying at any altitude, depending on the wind conditions. Dual-line kites use two lines of fixed and equal length. The kite generally remains a constant distance from the flyer at all times. Setup for a multiple-line kite is also different. The lines are unwound to their full length BEFORE the kite becomes airborne.

Dual-line kites are one of the three types of stunt kites: 2-line, 3-line, and 4-line stunt kites.

A stunt kite is any kite with two or more flying lines, a kite that can be maneuvered at will by the flier.

A sport kite is any kite used for sport, that is, any kite used for recreation or competition. Sport kite is used to describe just about every kind of kite that's used for sport, an imprecise way to describe a kite. Of the three kinds of stunt kites (2-line, 3-line, and 4-line), dual-line stunt kites provide the highest speed, fastest and tightest aerobatics, most aircraft-like flight performance, strongest pull for their size, and the highest levels of tactile and visual excitement.

Dual-line stunt kites are also the easiest to fly, and are by far the most popular.

Your dual-line kite's straight-line speed & pull, its turning speed & power, how easy and forgiving it is to fly, how much fun you have, and how much exercise you get are hugely determined by the kite itself.

The Launch

Besides your kite, you will need your set of lines, your choice of handles or straps, and a ground stake.

1. Plant your groundstake where you at F. This is the location that you choose as your flying position.

2. Place your control handles or straps securely around your ground stake. If your lines are not already attached to your handles, attach them at this time.

3. Walk DOWN wind (in the direction of the wind) toward P, the center of the Power Zone. As you walk, unwind your lines. Don't forget to bring your kite with you.

4. When you arrive at the end of your lines, remove them from the winder. Hold the one line in each hand and spread them apart while gently pulling them taught. This will move any twists in the lines down to your ground stake where it will be easier to unwind them.

5. Unpack or assemble your kite if you haven't already done so and attach the lines to your kites bridle lines using larkshead knots.

6. Move the kite so that the lines are taught. Place the Trailing Edge of the kite on the ground with the Leading Edge leaning AWAY from your flying position F. This should prevent the kite from SELF-LAUNCHING, which should be AVOIDED whenever possible!

7. Depending on how eager you are to fly, you may choose to walk or RUN back to your flying position, F. Pick up your control handles, making sure that you've removed any twists in the lines. Keep the lines slightly taught so that your kite will not tip backwards, out of the launch position.

8. Stand facing your kite, which is on the ground very close to the center of the Power Zone. Keep your lines slightly taught, move your arms out in front of you. You may have to take a step backwards to accomplish this. You and the kite are now in LAUNCH POSITION.

9. Launch the kite by Swiftly & Smoothly pulling your arms backwards in a\ pendulum-like motion along your sides, keeping your arms straight. This motion pulls the kite into it's proper flight orientation, and gives it a bit of an initial impulse of energy to connect it to the wind and lift it into the air!

The Flight

You may want to read this section before you perform The Launch!

Standing at F, your kite has just left the ground near P. Assuming that your lines are of perfectly equal length, both of your arms are the same length, you're holding them at exactly the same distance relative to each other, and your kite is perfectly symmetrical, your kite will fly straight up into the air! WOW! That was easy huh?

Now lets assume that all of the above aren't exactly perfect and equal. Your kite will begin to turn one way or the other. You need to correct this -- and depending on your kite and the wind conditions, you may need to correct it quickly.

Basic turns are quite simple. To turn LEFT, pull on your LEFT line. To turn RIGHT, pull on your RIGHT line. LEFT LEFT. RIGHT RIGHT. Depending on the style of your kite, it may turn quickly or slowly. In general, the smaller the kite, the more quickly they turn. If you find that everytime you try to turn your kite turns too quickly, then you're pulling too much on your line. Back off on the amount of pull. You'll find that the kite will turn more slowly.

There are different styles of hand movement for making dual-line kites turn. In timeEveryone developes their own style -- a style that makes kiting fun and comfortable for that individual.

You'll see people that keep their arms straight at their sides and simply swing them backwards or forwards to make their kite turn. Others keep their hands in front of them and move them away from or toward their chest. It's important to remember that it's the PULLING of one line in relation to the other that causes the kite to turn.

You'll also see beginners using all sorts of body language to make their kites turn. Notice that it generall doesn't work for them.

On your initial flight, practice flying your kite straight up to the top of the flight envelope, U. Stabilize your kite at that point. If it begins to veer to the left, pull on the RIGHT line to turn it back to the RIGHT. If it begins to veer to the right, pull on the LEFT line to turn it back to the LEFT. Continue this until you're comfortable that you can keep it there.

This is a relatively "safe" place for your kite, assuming that this wind is nice and continuous. If you happen to loose control of it, it's at its highest point in the flight envelope, and you should have time to recover. It's also on the Edge, which means that it will be producing just enough lift to maintain flight.

Flying at the top Edge of the flight envelope is different than flying on the Edge on the sides. On the top, it is very easy to turn the kite to either direction and fly it back into the middle of the flight envelope. On the other hand, if you're flying on the Edge off to the sides, you'll generally only want to turn the kite TOWARD the center of the flight envelope. If you're flying on the Edge and you turn your kite AWAY from the center of the flight envelope, you'll quickly find yourself OUTSIDE of it and your kite will no longer be maintaining it's altitude. If you're kite is high enough, you may be able to continue it's turn all the way around and toward the center of the flight envelope BEFORE it reaches the ground. This is always exciting!

When you're comfortable flying your kite at the top of the Edge of the flight envelope, try turning it slightly. The kite will slowly fly down the Edge to the side that you turned toward. Then fly to the other side. Explore the Edge of the envelope, and remember where it is. When things get crazy and you feel like you're loosing control of the kite, fly it to the top Edge and take a breather.

As you become more comfortable with the control of your kite, explore the rest of the flight envelope. Depending on how far and how fast you move your control handles, you'll notice that you can make the kite turn at much different rates.

Dual-line kite lines are designed to be able to twist around each other many times and still be able to slide along each other so that you can control your kite. As you twist them however, try to keep an approximate count of the turns so that you can UNWIND the lines by turning the other way.

Practice your turns. See how quickly you can wind the lines 5 times, and then quickly unwind them. Notice how the kite loses altitude as you turn it. When you get in a "spinning frenzy", make sure that you have enough altitude so that you can stop the turns before your kite hits the ground.

Now try a large, slow turn that takes up the whole sky. You'll want to pull just slightly on the line of the side you want to turn to. As you learn, you'll have to constantly adjust the rate of the turn. Practice WILL make perfect. Soon you'll not only be able to trace perfect circles of any diameter, but you'll be able to trace all sorts of other shapes too!

Turning is very natural for the kite. It's what happens automatically. Now try flying the kite in a straight line. You'll find that flying straight is like trying to balance a ball on the peak of a roof -- it will always want to fall to one side or the other. You may find flying straight a bit more difficult then flying a constantly turning kite. This may sound silly, but think of flying straight simply as flying WITHOUT turning.

When you were flying your kite at the top Edge of the flight envelope, you were flying straight. You'll remember that the kite continually tried to fly to one side or the other and you had to compensate for it by turning it back to the center. Use this same philosophy when flying straight ANYwhere in the flight envelope.

Don't limit your imagination. You can fly ANY direction and ANYwhere in the flight envelope, as long as you path does not take you out of it. If it does, you'll quickly be reminded of just where your Edge is. Fly from the center of the Power Zone straight up into the sky, or away at 45 degree angles to either side. Fly straight down from the top of the Edge. Fly straight horizontally accross the flight envelope at different altitudes. When you get better, see if you can fly straight along the ground with your wingtip just a couple feet above it.

Once you've become comfortable with your turns and straight flight, start mixing them up. Anything you can imagine, you can do. Make up routines, fly to music, try new things, and remember... If you don't crash periodically, then you're not trying hard enough!

Everyone crashes. Beginners crash as they're learning and experts crash as the invent new tricks and maneuvers. With dual-line, sparless kites, crashing is the only way to land! The key -- the most important thing to remember -- is that kiting is for FUN!

The Landing

There are several different ways to land a kite. The most common, and probably least desireable method is called crashing. Try to avoid this if possible, especially in the Power Zone where the forces on the kite are the greatest. If you're approaching quitting time, and you accidentally crash, consider calling that your landing and vow to "land" better tomorrow!

Remember the Edge! Remember how the kite produces just enough lift, when on the Edge, to maintain it's flight? As you're learning, remember that the forces and speed are less at the Edge. Fly your kite to the Edge and slowly trace it down to the ground. Your kite will gently touch down.

Note that on the ground, the Edge is UPWIND of the Power Zone. You may want to quickly move to your kite so that the wind doesn't blow it away and possibly re-launch it.

Sparless, dual-line kites are soft. The standard method of landing is by way of the crash. Let's call it a "controlled crash." Don't fly it all the way to the Edge. These kites are soft and light. They will be easily blown downwind from the landing/crash sight. Land them at about 30 or 40 degrees from the Power Zone. When they land, they will maintain their downward orientation which will hold them to the ground, giving you time to retrieve them.