BigE

Firstly a big thanks to ExtremeKites and especially Joel for sorting my prize out.  Yes it was a real competition 
Secondly apologies for the video, it's the first time I've had chance to get my phone hooked up to it and get some footage, so here it is unedited but it proves the kite does fly, wind was very lumpy and rain very imminent:
littleHammer.mp4
littleHammer.mp4

Firstly a big thanks to ExtremeKites and especially Joel for sorting my prize out.  Yes it was a real competition 
Secondly apologies for the video, it's the first time I've had chance to get my phone hooked up to it and get some footage, so here it is unedited but it proves the kite does fly, wind was very lumpy and rain very imminent:
littleHammer.mp4
littleHammer.mp4

Firstly a big thanks to ExtremeKites and especially Joel for sorting my prize out.  Yes it was a real competition 
Secondly apologies for the video, it's the first time I've had chance to get my phone hooked up to it and get some footage, so here it is unedited but it proves the kite does fly, wind was very lumpy and rain very imminent:
littleHammer.mp4
littleHammer.mp4

Firstly a big thanks to ExtremeKites and especially Joel for sorting my prize out.  Yes it was a real competition 
Secondly apologies for the video, it's the first time I've had chance to get my phone hooked up to it and get some footage, so here it is unedited but it proves the kite does fly, wind was very lumpy and rain very imminent:
littleHammer.mp4
littleHammer.mp4

With a Z-Bridle fitted to my new 3m, I've been itching for more flying, a business trip to Irvine, west coast of Scotland, so in to my hand luggage went the kite, I was expecting to be asked what was in my luggage but nothing! Straight through it went.  First evening good wind coming nearly off the sea, roughly 12mph, first attempt, kite leapt up and straight back down, second time, up around 12ft then a reverse death spin, WTF still too much brake? Or have I created a new "Damien". Moved the brakes a bit more, up she went, still short of the zenith but oh lordy did it pull, virtually no tip collapse, with a coastal wind everything is so much easier, pulling 20-30ft scuds with ease, down loops making loads of power. While walking back I was thinking maybe one more mod to the brakes, to keep the wing tips inflated, it's holding the kite back.  So an evening of tinkering.
Second evening, laid kite out, NO WIND! Just the odd rustle of neck hair, tried a few catch the slight breeze and walk back, no more reversing, no wing tip folding just sliding down when there was just too little wind, by this time the tide was on it's way in and the wind started to pick-up a steady 6-8mph, this time the difference at the zenith between where it did park and now does is halved.  Feeling much better, power still piles on with a loop, all looking good.
Weather and work were against me for the next evening, like a scratch you can't reach, I still think there is a touch more to get in terms of speed / window, so I have partially reduced the AoA, which will drop the power a touch and give more speed / window, well that's the theory anyway.  Now to go back to watching trees for the next opportunity to fly.
 
Damien: Was a 3m HA NPW9 I built a while back , it flew like a stunt kite, had less window and when I tried it in the buggy was a nightmare, fully powered it just wanted to reverse given the slightest opportunity.  I tried all sorts but could not crack it.  Thinking how that flew compared to my new 3m they are poles apart, the thing that really keeps striking me is the power it generates, although I could pull longs scuds sending it up was not creating heaps of lift, but nor was there anywhere in the window to rest, even parked at the top it was still pulling. 
Here is Damien:
 
I you're thinking of making a 3m HA NPW or less for traction this is me trying to buggy
Damien Vid
 
      

With a Z-Bridle fitted to my new 3m, I've been itching for more flying, a business trip to Irvine, west coast of Scotland, so in to my hand luggage went the kite, I was expecting to be asked what was in my luggage but nothing! Straight through it went.  First evening good wind coming nearly off the sea, roughly 12mph, first attempt, kite leapt up and straight back down, second time, up around 12ft then a reverse death spin, WTF still too much brake? Or have I created a new "Damien". Moved the brakes a bit more, up she went, still short of the zenith but oh lordy did it pull, virtually no tip collapse, with a coastal wind everything is so much easier, pulling 20-30ft scuds with ease, down loops making loads of power. While walking back I was thinking maybe one more mod to the brakes, to keep the wing tips inflated, it's holding the kite back.  So an evening of tinkering.
Second evening, laid kite out, NO WIND! Just the odd rustle of neck hair, tried a few catch the slight breeze and walk back, no more reversing, no wing tip folding just sliding down when there was just too little wind, by this time the tide was on it's way in and the wind started to pick-up a steady 6-8mph, this time the difference at the zenith between where it did park and now does is halved.  Feeling much better, power still piles on with a loop, all looking good.
Weather and work were against me for the next evening, like a scratch you can't reach, I still think there is a touch more to get in terms of speed / window, so I have partially reduced the AoA, which will drop the power a touch and give more speed / window, well that's the theory anyway.  Now to go back to watching trees for the next opportunity to fly.
 
Damien: Was a 3m HA NPW9 I built a while back , it flew like a stunt kite, had less window and when I tried it in the buggy was a nightmare, fully powered it just wanted to reverse given the slightest opportunity.  I tried all sorts but could not crack it.  Thinking how that flew compared to my new 3m they are poles apart, the thing that really keeps striking me is the power it generates, although I could pull longs scuds sending it up was not creating heaps of lift, but nor was there anywhere in the window to rest, even parked at the top it was still pulling. 
Here is Damien:
 
I you're thinking of making a 3m HA NPW or less for traction this is me trying to buggy
Damien Vid
 
      

With a Z-Bridle fitted to my new 3m, I've been itching for more flying, a business trip to Irvine, west coast of Scotland, so in to my hand luggage went the kite, I was expecting to be asked what was in my luggage but nothing! Straight through it went.  First evening good wind coming nearly off the sea, roughly 12mph, first attempt, kite leapt up and straight back down, second time, up around 12ft then a reverse death spin, WTF still too much brake? Or have I created a new "Damien". Moved the brakes a bit more, up she went, still short of the zenith but oh lordy did it pull, virtually no tip collapse, with a coastal wind everything is so much easier, pulling 20-30ft scuds with ease, down loops making loads of power. While walking back I was thinking maybe one more mod to the brakes, to keep the wing tips inflated, it's holding the kite back.  So an evening of tinkering.
Second evening, laid kite out, NO WIND! Just the odd rustle of neck hair, tried a few catch the slight breeze and walk back, no more reversing, no wing tip folding just sliding down when there was just too little wind, by this time the tide was on it's way in and the wind started to pick-up a steady 6-8mph, this time the difference at the zenith between where it did park and now does is halved.  Feeling much better, power still piles on with a loop, all looking good.
Weather and work were against me for the next evening, like a scratch you can't reach, I still think there is a touch more to get in terms of speed / window, so I have partially reduced the AoA, which will drop the power a touch and give more speed / window, well that's the theory anyway.  Now to go back to watching trees for the next opportunity to fly.
 
Damien: Was a 3m HA NPW9 I built a while back , it flew like a stunt kite, had less window and when I tried it in the buggy was a nightmare, fully powered it just wanted to reverse given the slightest opportunity.  I tried all sorts but could not crack it.  Thinking how that flew compared to my new 3m they are poles apart, the thing that really keeps striking me is the power it generates, although I could pull longs scuds sending it up was not creating heaps of lift, but nor was there anywhere in the window to rest, even parked at the top it was still pulling. 
Here is Damien:
 
I you're thinking of making a 3m HA NPW or less for traction this is me trying to buggy
Damien Vid
 
      

With a Z-Bridle fitted to my new 3m, I've been itching for more flying, a business trip to Irvine, west coast of Scotland, so in to my hand luggage went the kite, I was expecting to be asked what was in my luggage but nothing! Straight through it went.  First evening good wind coming nearly off the sea, roughly 12mph, first attempt, kite leapt up and straight back down, second time, up around 12ft then a reverse death spin, WTF still too much brake? Or have I created a new "Damien". Moved the brakes a bit more, up she went, still short of the zenith but oh lordy did it pull, virtually no tip collapse, with a coastal wind everything is so much easier, pulling 20-30ft scuds with ease, down loops making loads of power. While walking back I was thinking maybe one more mod to the brakes, to keep the wing tips inflated, it's holding the kite back.  So an evening of tinkering.
Second evening, laid kite out, NO WIND! Just the odd rustle of neck hair, tried a few catch the slight breeze and walk back, no more reversing, no wing tip folding just sliding down when there was just too little wind, by this time the tide was on it's way in and the wind started to pick-up a steady 6-8mph, this time the difference at the zenith between where it did park and now does is halved.  Feeling much better, power still piles on with a loop, all looking good.
Weather and work were against me for the next evening, like a scratch you can't reach, I still think there is a touch more to get in terms of speed / window, so I have partially reduced the AoA, which will drop the power a touch and give more speed / window, well that's the theory anyway.  Now to go back to watching trees for the next opportunity to fly.
 
Damien: Was a 3m HA NPW9 I built a while back , it flew like a stunt kite, had less window and when I tried it in the buggy was a nightmare, fully powered it just wanted to reverse given the slightest opportunity.  I tried all sorts but could not crack it.  Thinking how that flew compared to my new 3m they are poles apart, the thing that really keeps striking me is the power it generates, although I could pull longs scuds sending it up was not creating heaps of lift, but nor was there anywhere in the window to rest, even parked at the top it was still pulling. 
Here is Damien:
 
I you're thinking of making a 3m HA NPW or less for traction this is me trying to buggy
Damien Vid
 
      

I mentioned another story in my last entry, some of you may already have seen a post I did on another forum a few years back but thought I'd re-tell for those who did not see it.
I used a field to buggy in which is pretty much a rectangle, over 100m wide and about 220m long 7.4 acres, on the rhs and top edge there are erm power lines (marked in red).  Starting flat at the bottom and rising up to a flat at the top.

Okay scene set, now for the weather, it was blowing @ 20mph and I decided that it was time for me and my trusty 5m NPW to do some serious buggying.  Off I set, ran down the field in the buggy with no kite up, kite out, away we go OMG I took-off like being fired out of a canon, up to the top of the rise and back down, did this a few times, I was absolutely buzzing, stopped at the bottom, dropped the kite for a breather, I had a grin like "here's Johnny".  
Ready for next run, stake out, "Pirate, November Papa Whiskey 21 read for take-off".....
Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go

Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone
Brakes off, whoosh, crest of hill coming up fast, ready to turn, now I'm in a surreal bubble time is slowing down, I've stopped and there is no noise, I'm mid turn and I have no kite in my hands, I look in utter disbelieve as there in front of me is my kite climbing still inflated, with two handles along for the ride.  I know get an incredibly sick feeling, I can see the kite approaching the power lines running across the top of the field, kite was too high to drop, so I decided to will it to go higher "GO ON!", like a plane's tail hook the lines caught the first power line, the handles swung under and up over the other parallel power line and continued a full arc, and back over the first, "phew that wasn't too bad", kite now powered up more, the death grip on the power lines tightened and the lines started a journey towards each other, I looked on utterly mesmerised and helpless, next a massive flash and CRACK. Oh holly sh!t.  As if things could not get any worse, I'm now out of the buggy and doing the mother of all walks of shame, the kite has now luffed and fallen across the power lines which run up the side of the field and somehow has wrapped round the two power lines, nearing the house heart thumping I can hear the house alarms going off, my wife is at the back door taking to our neighbour, "we have no power" she says, she sees the look on my face, "Oh please don't tell me it was you", I drop my head even more in shame and that's all she needed for confirmation, as in the distance another load CRACK, my kite had succeeded with it's grip on the other lines.
After placing the call to the power ppl, a posy of land rovers appeared, I walked them to the crime scene, out comes a plastic pole with a saw on the end, and he started to cut the kite lines free first, and like a gift from god my handles dropped back to earth, which I deftly picked up (£25 saved). Next the kite, he was going to go at it like Freddy Kruger, "no hang on, try cutting the lines first", so he set to work cutting the lines, it was still wrapped, I thought it must have melted, then a saw  through the heart of the kite, I was gutted, but a glimmer of hope, it started to unwrap, bit by bit, it fell down, lines checked no damage, nothing had melted!
I now had two handles a sick kite and a good ear bashing for being so foolish, do you realise the dangers blah blah.

Next morning my wife was setting off for work, "What are we not going to do today?", "Wear my killers" I proudly pronounced, "not fly a kite was what I was hoping for".
And so from the ashes arose "Zombie":

Fully re-bridled, I decided not to hide the damage and patched it in white to show his scars off. 

I'm Working down in Hertfordshire in a large town called Stevenage. I always have a kite or two in the car, so finished work and headed for the local park. Although the park is a good size it's in the middle of a large sprawling town and the wind that goes through it is spawned by the devil himself.
Using my faceometer I reckon the wind was around 16mph, maybe too much but what the he'll let's see how it goes. Left the kite in the bag, run the lines out, stake handles, pulled kite from bag, immediately sprang out and sat there. Picked up the handles, let the brakes off...  three feet up and back down.  s!h!t maybe still too much brake on the Z bridle, give it another go.  Three, four feet, I'm now looking at the handles moving skyward and my new PL killers stretching out in front of me.... please hold, then calm the kite drops back to ground in to the only muddy patch for miles around. I always religiously wear killers, the once I didn't ended up with the electricity ppl being called out and 400 ppl with no power but that is another story.  I managed to skirt around the center of the window, but there really was no place to rest. 1/2hr and my arms are screaming.  Packed up and checked in to my hotel, first job get the kite out to dry, omg it stank, that muddy pool must have been the aftermath of an elephant eating a local curry! So into a nice warm bath it went, the joys of a kite hobby. Now nice and clean and dry.

I mentioned another story in my last entry, some of you may already have seen a post I did on another forum a few years back but thought I'd re-tell for those who did not see it.
I used a field to buggy in which is pretty much a rectangle, over 100m wide and about 220m long 7.4 acres, on the rhs and top edge there are erm power lines (marked in red).  Starting flat at the bottom and rising up to a flat at the top.

Okay scene set, now for the weather, it was blowing @ 20mph and I decided that it was time for me and my trusty 5m NPW to do some serious buggying.  Off I set, ran down the field in the buggy with no kite up, kite out, away we go OMG I took-off like being fired out of a canon, up to the top of the rise and back down, did this a few times, I was absolutely buzzing, stopped at the bottom, dropped the kite for a breather, I had a grin like "here's Johnny".  
Ready for next run, stake out, "Pirate, November Papa Whiskey 21 read for take-off".....
Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go

Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone
Brakes off, whoosh, crest of hill coming up fast, ready to turn, now I'm in a surreal bubble time is slowing down, I've stopped and there is no noise, I'm mid turn and I have no kite in my hands, I look in utter disbelieve as there in front of me is my kite climbing still inflated, with two handles along for the ride.  I know get an incredibly sick feeling, I can see the kite approaching the power lines running across the top of the field, kite was too high to drop, so I decided to will it to go higher "GO ON!", like a plane's tail hook the lines caught the first power line, the handles swung under and up over the other parallel power line and continued a full arc, and back over the first, "phew that wasn't too bad", kite now powered up more, the death grip on the power lines tightened and the lines started a journey towards each other, I looked on utterly mesmerised and helpless, next a massive flash and CRACK. Oh holly sh!t.  As if things could not get any worse, I'm now out of the buggy and doing the mother of all walks of shame, the kite has now luffed and fallen across the power lines which run up the side of the field and somehow has wrapped round the two power lines, nearing the house heart thumping I can hear the house alarms going off, my wife is at the back door taking to our neighbour, "we have no power" she says, she sees the look on my face, "Oh please don't tell me it was you", I drop my head even more in shame and that's all she needed for confirmation, as in the distance another load CRACK, my kite had succeeded with it's grip on the other lines.
After placing the call to the power ppl, a posy of land rovers appeared, I walked them to the crime scene, out comes a plastic pole with a saw on the end, and he started to cut the kite lines free first, and like a gift from god my handles dropped back to earth, which I deftly picked up (£25 saved). Next the kite, he was going to go at it like Freddy Kruger, "no hang on, try cutting the lines first", so he set to work cutting the lines, it was still wrapped, I thought it must have melted, then a saw  through the heart of the kite, I was gutted, but a glimmer of hope, it started to unwrap, bit by bit, it fell down, lines checked no damage, nothing had melted!
I now had two handles a sick kite and a good ear bashing for being so foolish, do you realise the dangers blah blah.

Next morning my wife was setting off for work, "What are we not going to do today?", "Wear my killers" I proudly pronounced, "not fly a kite was what I was hoping for".
And so from the ashes arose "Zombie":

Fully re-bridled, I decided not to hide the damage and patched it in white to show his scars off. 

I mentioned another story in my last entry, some of you may already have seen a post I did on another forum a few years back but thought I'd re-tell for those who did not see it.
I used a field to buggy in which is pretty much a rectangle, over 100m wide and about 220m long 7.4 acres, on the rhs and top edge there are erm power lines (marked in red).  Starting flat at the bottom and rising up to a flat at the top.

Okay scene set, now for the weather, it was blowing @ 20mph and I decided that it was time for me and my trusty 5m NPW to do some serious buggying.  Off I set, ran down the field in the buggy with no kite up, kite out, away we go OMG I took-off like being fired out of a canon, up to the top of the rise and back down, did this a few times, I was absolutely buzzing, stopped at the bottom, dropped the kite for a breather, I had a grin like "here's Johnny".  
Ready for next run, stake out, "Pirate, November Papa Whiskey 21 read for take-off".....
Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go

Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone
Brakes off, whoosh, crest of hill coming up fast, ready to turn, now I'm in a surreal bubble time is slowing down, I've stopped and there is no noise, I'm mid turn and I have no kite in my hands, I look in utter disbelieve as there in front of me is my kite climbing still inflated, with two handles along for the ride.  I know get an incredibly sick feeling, I can see the kite approaching the power lines running across the top of the field, kite was too high to drop, so I decided to will it to go higher "GO ON!", like a plane's tail hook the lines caught the first power line, the handles swung under and up over the other parallel power line and continued a full arc, and back over the first, "phew that wasn't too bad", kite now powered up more, the death grip on the power lines tightened and the lines started a journey towards each other, I looked on utterly mesmerised and helpless, next a massive flash and CRACK. Oh holly sh!t.  As if things could not get any worse, I'm now out of the buggy and doing the mother of all walks of shame, the kite has now luffed and fallen across the power lines which run up the side of the field and somehow has wrapped round the two power lines, nearing the house heart thumping I can hear the house alarms going off, my wife is at the back door taking to our neighbour, "we have no power" she says, she sees the look on my face, "Oh please don't tell me it was you", I drop my head even more in shame and that's all she needed for confirmation, as in the distance another load CRACK, my kite had succeeded with it's grip on the other lines.
After placing the call to the power ppl, a posy of land rovers appeared, I walked them to the crime scene, out comes a plastic pole with a saw on the end, and he started to cut the kite lines free first, and like a gift from god my handles dropped back to earth, which I deftly picked up (£25 saved). Next the kite, he was going to go at it like Freddy Kruger, "no hang on, try cutting the lines first", so he set to work cutting the lines, it was still wrapped, I thought it must have melted, then a saw  through the heart of the kite, I was gutted, but a glimmer of hope, it started to unwrap, bit by bit, it fell down, lines checked no damage, nothing had melted!
I now had two handles a sick kite and a good ear bashing for being so foolish, do you realise the dangers blah blah.

Next morning my wife was setting off for work, "What are we not going to do today?", "Wear my killers" I proudly pronounced, "not fly a kite was what I was hoping for".
And so from the ashes arose "Zombie":

Fully re-bridled, I decided not to hide the damage and patched it in white to show his scars off. 

I mentioned another story in my last entry, some of you may already have seen a post I did on another forum a few years back but thought I'd re-tell for those who did not see it.
I used a field to buggy in which is pretty much a rectangle, over 100m wide and about 220m long 7.4 acres, on the rhs and top edge there are erm power lines (marked in red).  Starting flat at the bottom and rising up to a flat at the top.

Okay scene set, now for the weather, it was blowing @ 20mph and I decided that it was time for me and my trusty 5m NPW to do some serious buggying.  Off I set, ran down the field in the buggy with no kite up, kite out, away we go OMG I took-off like being fired out of a canon, up to the top of the rise and back down, did this a few times, I was absolutely buzzing, stopped at the bottom, dropped the kite for a breather, I had a grin like "here's Johnny".  
Ready for next run, stake out, "Pirate, November Papa Whiskey 21 read for take-off".....
Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go

Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone
Brakes off, whoosh, crest of hill coming up fast, ready to turn, now I'm in a surreal bubble time is slowing down, I've stopped and there is no noise, I'm mid turn and I have no kite in my hands, I look in utter disbelieve as there in front of me is my kite climbing still inflated, with two handles along for the ride.  I know get an incredibly sick feeling, I can see the kite approaching the power lines running across the top of the field, kite was too high to drop, so I decided to will it to go higher "GO ON!", like a plane's tail hook the lines caught the first power line, the handles swung under and up over the other parallel power line and continued a full arc, and back over the first, "phew that wasn't too bad", kite now powered up more, the death grip on the power lines tightened and the lines started a journey towards each other, I looked on utterly mesmerised and helpless, next a massive flash and CRACK. Oh holly sh!t.  As if things could not get any worse, I'm now out of the buggy and doing the mother of all walks of shame, the kite has now luffed and fallen across the power lines which run up the side of the field and somehow has wrapped round the two power lines, nearing the house heart thumping I can hear the house alarms going off, my wife is at the back door taking to our neighbour, "we have no power" she says, she sees the look on my face, "Oh please don't tell me it was you", I drop my head even more in shame and that's all she needed for confirmation, as in the distance another load CRACK, my kite had succeeded with it's grip on the other lines.
After placing the call to the power ppl, a posy of land rovers appeared, I walked them to the crime scene, out comes a plastic pole with a saw on the end, and he started to cut the kite lines free first, and like a gift from god my handles dropped back to earth, which I deftly picked up (£25 saved). Next the kite, he was going to go at it like Freddy Kruger, "no hang on, try cutting the lines first", so he set to work cutting the lines, it was still wrapped, I thought it must have melted, then a saw  through the heart of the kite, I was gutted, but a glimmer of hope, it started to unwrap, bit by bit, it fell down, lines checked no damage, nothing had melted!
I now had two handles a sick kite and a good ear bashing for being so foolish, do you realise the dangers blah blah.

Next morning my wife was setting off for work, "What are we not going to do today?", "Wear my killers" I proudly pronounced, "not fly a kite was what I was hoping for".
And so from the ashes arose "Zombie":

Fully re-bridled, I decided not to hide the damage and patched it in white to show his scars off. 

I'm Working down in Hertfordshire in a large town called Stevenage. I always have a kite or two in the car, so finished work and headed for the local park. Although the park is a good size it's in the middle of a large sprawling town and the wind that goes through it is spawned by the devil himself.
Using my faceometer I reckon the wind was around 16mph, maybe too much but what the he'll let's see how it goes. Left the kite in the bag, run the lines out, stake handles, pulled kite from bag, immediately sprang out and sat there. Picked up the handles, let the brakes off...  three feet up and back down.  s!h!t maybe still too much brake on the Z bridle, give it another go.  Three, four feet, I'm now looking at the handles moving skyward and my new PL killers stretching out in front of me.... please hold, then calm the kite drops back to ground in to the only muddy patch for miles around. I always religiously wear killers, the once I didn't ended up with the electricity ppl being called out and 400 ppl with no power but that is another story.  I managed to skirt around the center of the window, but there really was no place to rest. 1/2hr and my arms are screaming.  Packed up and checked in to my hotel, first job get the kite out to dry, omg it stank, that muddy pool must have been the aftermath of an elephant eating a local curry! So into a nice warm bath it went, the joys of a kite hobby. Now nice and clean and dry.

I'm Working down in Hertfordshire in a large town called Stevenage. I always have a kite or two in the car, so finished work and headed for the local park. Although the park is a good size it's in the middle of a large sprawling town and the wind that goes through it is spawned by the devil himself.
Using my faceometer I reckon the wind was around 16mph, maybe too much but what the he'll let's see how it goes. Left the kite in the bag, run the lines out, stake handles, pulled kite from bag, immediately sprang out and sat there. Picked up the handles, let the brakes off...  three feet up and back down.  s!h!t maybe still too much brake on the Z bridle, give it another go.  Three, four feet, I'm now looking at the handles moving skyward and my new PL killers stretching out in front of me.... please hold, then calm the kite drops back to ground in to the only muddy patch for miles around. I always religiously wear killers, the once I didn't ended up with the electricity ppl being called out and 400 ppl with no power but that is another story.  I managed to skirt around the center of the window, but there really was no place to rest. 1/2hr and my arms are screaming.  Packed up and checked in to my hotel, first job get the kite out to dry, omg it stank, that muddy pool must have been the aftermath of an elephant eating a local curry! So into a nice warm bath it went, the joys of a kite hobby. Now nice and clean and dry.

Z-Bridle fitted, wind was a bit all over from nothing to around 8mph.
First take-off, no brake input at the handles massive wing collapse, only the middle third of the kite was inflated, the wing tips just hung down.  Pulled the bottom of the handles back and hey presto it jumped in to shape. 
Made a big adjustment at the brake leaders on the kite moving the Z bridle towards the kite by about 10cm
Second take-off ... you guessed it massive back stall, it only just lifted.
Moved the knot away from the kite by 5 cm to split the difference and it's almost there, felt like it's got just a touch too much brake at the moment, didn't make another change due to time, so just did a bit of flying, reckon I'll back it off another 1cm before taking it out again.

Zooming in on the couple of pics I took confirmed the feeling I got, the D bridles (last set before the TE) are running slightly slack due to the brake pressure but it's not much.  

Z-Bridle fitted, wind was a bit all over from nothing to around 8mph.
First take-off, no brake input at the handles massive wing collapse, only the middle third of the kite was inflated, the wing tips just hung down.  Pulled the bottom of the handles back and hey presto it jumped in to shape. 
Made a big adjustment at the brake leaders on the kite moving the Z bridle towards the kite by about 10cm
Second take-off ... you guessed it massive back stall, it only just lifted.
Moved the knot away from the kite by 5 cm to split the difference and it's almost there, felt like it's got just a touch too much brake at the moment, didn't make another change due to time, so just did a bit of flying, reckon I'll back it off another 1cm before taking it out again.

Zooming in on the couple of pics I took confirmed the feeling I got, the D bridles (last set before the TE) are running slightly slack due to the brake pressure but it's not much.  

The Z-Bridle, firstly why use it:
Some single skin kites need some brake input to keep the kite inflated, flying without one, you need to hold the handles with your hands below the top power line to keep a power to brake balance. While flying static, you get "in tune" with the kite and start to fly instinctively applying/releasing the brakes without thinking just based on what the kite is doing. Now jump in a buggy or on a board and this can become a pain as your eye is no longer always on the kite.  The other thing is try an NPW style kite on a bar without a Z-bridle and you will have your work cut out! Turn left and the tension is applied to the lhs bridles releasing the rhs and obviously that includes the brake which can cause the rhs to start collapsing.
This is how I make mine, I make it in two separate pieces, I'm sure there is a calculation to work out how big the Z bridle should be, this is a copy of one I made for my 5m2 kite and works a treat so I guessed it's not going to be far off for my 3m2.  
I'm using 3mm dyneema "static" line which has a breaking load of 370Kg
I start by cutting and burning the ends of 4 pieces of line: Two 128cm long and two 64cm.

I then mark 27cm down from each end of the long pieces and just one end on the short.
I take the end down to the mark and that give me a 13.5cm long loop, I start sewing the loops 4cm from the end.

The longer pieces now have a loop on each end, I put the two ends together then move till I have one leg 2cm longer than the other, I run a couple of stitches to hold it in place.
  
Double stopper knots are now tied to the ends (checking each pair of lines are the same), the long leg will be the brake line (from knot the diagonal): 

 
And now fitted to kite leaders (power lines on the rhs), you can see now releasing the brakes at the handle/bar end will give slack lines but the Z-bridle will maintain some tension to the brake bridle:

Tuning:
I always tune on handles first, holding your handles now as you would a foil (fingers each side of power line), fully release the brakes:
If the kite doesn't lift or climbs then back stalls: the brake connection needs moving further away from the kite, if there is no more leader, then move the power side closer to the kite.
If the kite lifts and there is some collapse: the brake connection needs moving closer to the kite.
Once you get to the point where it is only slightly doing one or the other, then it only needs a 2mm to 5mm per change. 

The Z-Bridle, firstly why use it:
Some single skin kites need some brake input to keep the kite inflated, flying without one, you need to hold the handles with your hands below the top power line to keep a power to brake balance. While flying static, you get "in tune" with the kite and start to fly instinctively applying/releasing the brakes without thinking just based on what the kite is doing. Now jump in a buggy or on a board and this can become a pain as your eye is no longer always on the kite.  The other thing is try an NPW style kite on a bar without a Z-bridle and you will have your work cut out! Turn left and the tension is applied to the lhs bridles releasing the rhs and obviously that includes the brake which can cause the rhs to start collapsing.
This is how I make mine, I make it in two separate pieces, I'm sure there is a calculation to work out how big the Z bridle should be, this is a copy of one I made for my 5m2 kite and works a treat so I guessed it's not going to be far off for my 3m2.  
I'm using 3mm dyneema "static" line which has a breaking load of 370Kg
I start by cutting and burning the ends of 4 pieces of line: Two 128cm long and two 64cm.

I then mark 27cm down from each end of the long pieces and just one end on the short.
I take the end down to the mark and that give me a 13.5cm long loop, I start sewing the loops 4cm from the end.

The longer pieces now have a loop on each end, I put the two ends together then move till I have one leg 2cm longer than the other, I run a couple of stitches to hold it in place.
  
Double stopper knots are now tied to the ends (checking each pair of lines are the same), the long leg will be the brake line (from knot the diagonal): 

 
And now fitted to kite leaders (power lines on the rhs), you can see now releasing the brakes at the handle/bar end will give slack lines but the Z-bridle will maintain some tension to the brake bridle:

Tuning:
I always tune on handles first, holding your handles now as you would a foil (fingers each side of power line), fully release the brakes:
If the kite doesn't lift or climbs then back stalls: the brake connection needs moving further away from the kite, if there is no more leader, then move the power side closer to the kite.
If the kite lifts and there is some collapse: the brake connection needs moving closer to the kite.
Once you get to the point where it is only slightly doing one or the other, then it only needs a 2mm to 5mm per change. 

Weather not ideal, wind gusting 5 to @12mph. Lines on staked down and it looks... tiny in the field.

 
Two things I've tried this time: 1 - higher AR, 2 - adjustable wing tips.
How did it fly? It's feisty, from take-off went straight up to just short of the zenith, wind dropped right down and so did the kite, wing tips folded in and it slid out of the sky.  More wind and up it went again, it's fast through the window, really sensitive to input with either just handle or handle/brake.  Did a few figure eights and swooping, sent up to the top, right hand pull and in to a down turn, 3 o'clock the power's raising 4,5 its getting faster and piling the power on, by 7 I'm being pulled forward. Moved my hands under the power lines to keep a little brake tension.
Issues at the moment: Wing tips, I'd kicked them back, but too much, I did shorten them whilst out but think they need more.
Really pleased with the first flight, different kite altogether than the others, didn't overshoot, which surprised me, could be the wind or new location I'd tried, fast and more "snatchy" than the others, feels raw.
   

Weather not ideal, wind gusting 5 to @12mph. Lines on staked down and it looks... tiny in the field.

 
Two things I've tried this time: 1 - higher AR, 2 - adjustable wing tips.
How did it fly? It's feisty, from take-off went straight up to just short of the zenith, wind dropped right down and so did the kite, wing tips folded in and it slid out of the sky.  More wind and up it went again, it's fast through the window, really sensitive to input with either just handle or handle/brake.  Did a few figure eights and swooping, sent up to the top, right hand pull and in to a down turn, 3 o'clock the power's raising 4,5 its getting faster and piling the power on, by 7 I'm being pulled forward. Moved my hands under the power lines to keep a little brake tension.
Issues at the moment: Wing tips, I'd kicked them back, but too much, I did shorten them whilst out but think they need more.
Really pleased with the first flight, different kite altogether than the others, didn't overshoot, which surprised me, could be the wind or new location I'd tried, fast and more "snatchy" than the others, feels raw.
   

Weather not ideal, wind gusting 5 to @12mph. Lines on staked down and it looks... tiny in the field.

 
Two things I've tried this time: 1 - higher AR, 2 - adjustable wing tips.
How did it fly? It's feisty, from take-off went straight up to just short of the zenith, wind dropped right down and so did the kite, wing tips folded in and it slid out of the sky.  More wind and up it went again, it's fast through the window, really sensitive to input with either just handle or handle/brake.  Did a few figure eights and swooping, sent up to the top, right hand pull and in to a down turn, 3 o'clock the power's raising 4,5 its getting faster and piling the power on, by 7 I'm being pulled forward. Moved my hands under the power lines to keep a little brake tension.
Issues at the moment: Wing tips, I'd kicked them back, but too much, I did shorten them whilst out but think they need more.
Really pleased with the first flight, different kite altogether than the others, didn't overshoot, which surprised me, could be the wind or new location I'd tried, fast and more "snatchy" than the others, feels raw.
   

Weather not ideal, wind gusting 5 to @12mph. Lines on staked down and it looks... tiny in the field.

 
Two things I've tried this time: 1 - higher AR, 2 - adjustable wing tips.
How did it fly? It's feisty, from take-off went straight up to just short of the zenith, wind dropped right down and so did the kite, wing tips folded in and it slid out of the sky.  More wind and up it went again, it's fast through the window, really sensitive to input with either just handle or handle/brake.  Did a few figure eights and swooping, sent up to the top, right hand pull and in to a down turn, 3 o'clock the power's raising 4,5 its getting faster and piling the power on, by 7 I'm being pulled forward. Moved my hands under the power lines to keep a little brake tension.
Issues at the moment: Wing tips, I'd kicked them back, but too much, I did shorten them whilst out but think they need more.
Really pleased with the first flight, different kite altogether than the others, didn't overshoot, which surprised me, could be the wind or new location I'd tried, fast and more "snatchy" than the others, feels raw.
   

Weather not ideal, wind gusting 5 to @12mph. Lines on staked down and it looks... tiny in the field.

 
Two things I've tried this time: 1 - higher AR, 2 - adjustable wing tips.
How did it fly? It's feisty, from take-off went straight up to just short of the zenith, wind dropped right down and so did the kite, wing tips folded in and it slid out of the sky.  More wind and up it went again, it's fast through the window, really sensitive to input with either just handle or handle/brake.  Did a few figure eights and swooping, sent up to the top, right hand pull and in to a down turn, 3 o'clock the power's raising 4,5 its getting faster and piling the power on, by 7 I'm being pulled forward. Moved my hands under the power lines to keep a little brake tension.
Issues at the moment: Wing tips, I'd kicked them back, but too much, I did shorten them whilst out but think they need more.
Really pleased with the first flight, different kite altogether than the others, didn't overshoot, which surprised me, could be the wind or new location I'd tried, fast and more "snatchy" than the others, feels raw.
   

Weather not ideal, wind gusting 5 to @12mph. Lines on staked down and it looks... tiny in the field.

 
Two things I've tried this time: 1 - higher AR, 2 - adjustable wing tips.
How did it fly? It's feisty, from take-off went straight up to just short of the zenith, wind dropped right down and so did the kite, wing tips folded in and it slid out of the sky.  More wind and up it went again, it's fast through the window, really sensitive to input with either just handle or handle/brake.  Did a few figure eights and swooping, sent up to the top, right hand pull and in to a down turn, 3 o'clock the power's raising 4,5 its getting faster and piling the power on, by 7 I'm being pulled forward. Moved my hands under the power lines to keep a little brake tension.
Issues at the moment: Wing tips, I'd kicked them back, but too much, I did shorten them whilst out but think they need more.
Really pleased with the first flight, different kite altogether than the others, didn't overshoot, which surprised me, could be the wind or new location I'd tried, fast and more "snatchy" than the others, feels raw.