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Backward flight: what makes quad-line flying

This lesson is part of the Cramayailes indoor 4-line school, restored by QuadKites.org. The text is Thierry Bressure’s, in the first person, translated from French. The video commentary is in French.

Prerequisite: 360.

The figure

Section titled "The figure"

One of the two characteristics specific to quad-line flying is being able to fly backward.

Watch the figure: backward flight

The lesson

Section titled "The lesson"

What sets quad-line flying apart from dual-line flying is that the pilot dynamically controls the angle of the wings under pressure. In that sense it is the culmination of the kite, where design is driven by function. By changing the wings’ angle of incidence, the pilot can fly backward.

Backward flight lesson by Cramayailes

Key takeaways from this video — Backward flight lesson

  • The simplest method is to start backward flight from a 360 already in flight: brake the upper wing, release the lower one a little, then hold both brakes.
  • The pilot keeps describing a circle without interruption throughout the maneuver, then practices chaining backward 360s.
  • Backward flight needs more pressure than forward flight. Incidence is adjusted with the thumbs placed on top of the handles: too little and the kite does not move back, too much and it flips over.

Transcript — Backward flight lesson

  1. The main characteristic of quad-line flying

    0:00

    We are going to cover backward flight, which, for a quad-line kite, is really the main characteristic.

  2. Starting from a 360 already in flight

    0:21

    The simplest method is to start backward flight while the kite is already flying. To do this, we get into a 360, a rotation, we engage backward flight, we hold on the brakes, and we go into a backward 360.

  3. The pilot keeps describing a circle

    0:46

    The pilot’s circular movement is uninterrupted throughout the maneuver.

  4. Braking the upper wing, releasing the lower one

    0:56

    We brake the upper wing, we release the lower wing a little, the kite goes into a rotation, we brake the upper wing, we pull both brakes and the kite goes into backward flight.

  5. Chaining backward 360s

    1:13

    Once the kite is in backward flight, you need to keep flying backward 360s to learn to manage the brakes and compensation in this position, which is new for kiters.

  6. More pressure than in forward flight

    1:26

    Backward flight needs a little more pressure than forward flight. Look closely at the shape of the wing: you will see that the kite is nicely curved. I really put the wing under pressure when I fly backward.

    Indeed, in backward flight, the leading edge is nothing but spinnaker cloth.

  7. The clap of the sail when pressure returns

    1:54

    You will notice the characteristic “clap” the sail makes when I put the wing back under pressure at the moment of the rotation.

  8. Adjusting incidence with the thumbs

    2:54

    If getting pressure comes from a more energetic backward movement, adjusting incidence is obtained very precisely by using the thumbs. You have to put the thumbs at the top of the handles, to get maximum sensitivity for managing the wing’s incidence.

    Not enough incidence and the kite will not move back; too much incidence and the wing will flip over and the kite will fall.

Video page: transcript, series and other uses

Movement

Section titled "Movement"

As with the 360, the pilot describes a circle by moving backward in the direction opposite to the kite.

Control

Section titled "Control"

This lesson belongs to the beginner level of the learning path. The goal is to put the revo into backward flight from a forward 360.

With the kite well stabilized in a 360, increase speed to give it a little more inertia, then brake the upper wing hard and even let go of the lower wing. The kite should almost go into a slide while making a centered rotation to turn 180°.

Once the kite has made its half turn, you must put the revo back under pressure for backward flight. To do this, you absolutely must brake the upper wing!

To find the right brake dosage again, you can also release the lower wing (which was being braked) as you come out of the half turn, so that both wings are in forward flight. Immediately apply simultaneous braking on both wings: a nice “clap” is then heard, adding expressiveness to the maneuver!

Autonomy

Section titled "Autonomy"

This lesson closes the novice progression path and marks the pilot’s autonomy. You are now able to:

  • take off with or without a support;
  • fly while changing direction;
  • land and catch the kite without a support;
  • fly a simple figure: the loop;
  • fly backward, which is characteristic of quad-line flying.

What comes next

Section titled "What comes next"

Well done! More figures and lessons to follow… Meet at the first lesson of the intermediate level: backward flight, leading edge on the ground.

Last updated: — restored Thierry Bressure's backward flight lesson, with the figure reference