Subject: Ultralight, slow, precise...) 
Distribution: world
Organization: Haveland-Robinson Associates
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 00:37:20 +0000


In article <1992Jul22.021247.1152@usenet.ins.cwru.edu> ap856@cleveland.Freenet.Edu writes:

>>In article <1992Jul15.034440.352@usenet.ins.cwru.edu> you write:
>>>I used the $450 on a peel which is comming in tomorrow but I have no idea
>>>what color it is.  I cursed my friend when he let me fly his because it was
>>>such a great experience that I just had to order one.  No light puller,
>>>this.
>>
>>Watch it!
>>
>>I borrowed a 5m peel in a force 5 wind (!) a couple of weeks ago from the UK
>>importer.  (He had seen me flying my stack of flexies)  These things pull
>>like stink, but in addition, they are slower than stacked flexies, so they
>>spend much more time in the power zone during launch.  Also, if the thing
>>collapses at the edge, it falls back down into the power and re-inflates -
>>so you are back to being dragged across the field again.  On top of this,
>>I understand that because of the way that the bridle is wired, if you have> had
>>enough and drop one handle, it will stay inflated and fly circles in the> power
>>zone.
>>
>>So... It's loads of fun, but find a *big* field if you fly it in a serious> wind.
>>
>>(All I did was launch it and do one spin and I travelled over 500' of field)
>>
>>Andrew
>>
>I don't know what a force 5 wind is but in about 10mph the peel is a beast!

*terrifying* :)

>Yes, I got the thing this past friday and took it out on saturday.  It's
>black and red, exactly what I would have ordered if the color choice was
>mine.  And I got it for $401 out the door.  Not bad.  But yes, this thing
>pulls like nothing I have ever experienced before and you are right about
>it being slow and spending lots and lots of time in the power zone.
>
>A friend with a peel is thinking of trying to rig up a safety of sorts. 
>The idea he told me about is to tie a line to the center bridle point and
>run the line back to a belt that would be around your waist.  If you get
>into trouble you drop both handles which would fold the kite in two because
>the center could not travel but the ends of the kite could.  It sounds like
>it might work but I'm going to let him try it first.  I'll keep you posted.
>In the mean time, my peel is a light wind kite.
>
>john

Ooh.. I'm *so* familiar with that!  I *love* the 5m Peel - a friend lent me
his brand new one a couple of months ago for me to evaluate.  He wanted a
report before he risked breaking *his* legs...

The island I live on is in the middle of an estuary, is very flat and on
the windy east coast of England.  I have a 10' flexi which I'm also very
fond of, but took the Peel out for its maiden flight.  With the help of
my wife and one of her friends we got it in the air with 300' of 2x300lb
Spectre and Skyclaws.  The wind was also 4-5 and as I rushed across the
ground to meet them face down :) I shouted for them to sit on me...
I promptly turned into a toboggan and carried on going a little slower...
They fell off and I felt the acceleration as I was suddenly airborne.

One thing with the Peel on shorter lines is that the amount of lift when
directly above is still considerable, a little upward gust and you're
treading air, you just hang on while you accelerate and you come back down
gently.  I like to fly it on 500 feet - that gives gorgeous graceful strokes
across the sky that take ages.... just watch out for the planes though..

It really isn't for the faint hearted on a windy day, and ideally needs a
team of footballers and steel hawsers to put it through its paces in a gale!

I just wish they could be stacked... :->

Andy
~~~~
PS.  The safety line is a neat idea - essential when you're steaming into
the power lines through the spaniel shit... :-)

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