What Is the Wind Range of My Revolution? Tips and Tricks to Increase Your Wind Range by Revolution Kites

Transcript

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   Two parts to wind range

   0:00

   I'm Joe Hadzicki, inventor of the Revolution, and people often ask me what the wind range of their Revolution is. Let's take a couple of minutes and explore the possibilities. We're about to push your wind range to a whole new level. Wind range is actually a tricky question. There are really two parts to the answer. Number one: what is the wind range of your Revolution model? And number two: what is the wind range of the Rev pilot? Understanding these two aspects will turn you into a wind range expert.

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   Model limits and crashes

   0:43

   For a single-line kite, this is a straightforward question. The light-wind conditions are just enough to keep your kite in the air, and the high-wind conditions are when the pressure gets so powerful that your kite spins out of control or actually snaps under pressure. You really don't have a lot of control over this, but with the Revolution you have total control. This brings us to the first key Rev skill that will push your upper wind limit: speed control. The force on your Rev is strongly affected by speed. In fact, you can explode a graphite shaft by accelerating too quickly in high winds. But by far the most limiting factor in your wind range is being able to stop a crash.

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   Stopping a crash

   1:21

   How do you stop a crash? Learn how to use your brakes; check out the link in the description below. So for example, what's the wind range of the Reflex XX Full Sail? Well, for me, an experienced pilot, I can fly from zero to over 25 miles an hour. I've actually flown the XX Full Sail in over 55 miles an hour without breaking it. This isn't a boast. It just happens to be that if you understand the control, can control the speed of the kite and avoid crashes, the wind range is huge on these kites.

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   Pilot experience matters

   1:54

   But for a new pilot, you're probably flying more in the six to ten miles an hour range. If you fly higher than that, it gets a little out of control because you don't quite have the touch. In the lower conditions, you're over-controlling; again, you're just not adjusting the angle correctly to take advantage of the wind. But with about a half hour of experience, you'll probably drop that range down to four miles an hour and maybe up to 12 miles an hour as you develop your technique. Your Revolution can be flown in a wide range of wind conditions, including extremely light conditions. Don't get me wrong, the equipment you're using definitely makes a difference, whether it's a 1.5 model, the larger XX, a vented version, or even one of the speed models. But without basic skills, your wind range is going to be strongly affected.

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   Traveling with two sails

   3:34

   For example, I usually travel with the Reflex XX Full Sail and the Reflex Super Tarantula, fully vented. This way I can fly comfortably in winds from 0 to 25-plus miles an hour. Now, you're probably not flying your XX in zero-wind conditions on your first outing, but develop those skills a little bit and you'll be flying in light conditions in no time. Check out the video on light-wind flying techniques to take your light-wind skills to a new level.

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   Choosing a model by wind

   4:02

   As far as the different Rev models go, here's a basic rule of thumb. If you've got a full sail, one of the 1.5s, the RX, the even larger XX, also the Tarantula and the speed model, you want to start out in winds of about 8 to 12 miles an hour to get a feel for the wing. If your basic wind conditions are above 10 to 12 miles an hour, you're going to want to start out with a vented model, for example a Tarantula or maybe a Super Tarantula, or one of the vented 1.5 models, for example the New York Minute. You can get a two- or three-vent version for those higher wind conditions.

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   Light-wind conditions

   4:35

   If your conditions tend to be on the light side, below 10 miles an hour, my first choice is always the Reflex XX Full Sail, or if you're just trying to test the waters a little bit, maybe the Reflex EXP. Let's take those skills up to the next level and make your wind window huge. We'll see you on the field.