Hi all. I need help on how to self launch and land an SLE kite. I don't know if it's the same as for C kites.

The main risk in launching a SLE is the bridle getting twisted around a wing tip. Make sure that you lay the bridles out down wind of the kite and make sure that your safety leash is attached to a flagging point on one of your lines.

Whilst I have done many self launches and it has not happened to me, a few friends have had some dramas with tangled bridles.

As stamp said, do a search, this topic has been extensively covered. The one I use is where you set the kite up lines upwind, bridles downwind, turn the kite until your far side wingtip is catching some wind, place a small amount of sand on top of the other wing tip. Walk until your lines are perpendicular to the wind, pull your back line that is facing the wind and voila - a self launch.

Please don't go off this post alone, read all of them and go to some of the links to video clips.

Thanks for the reply guys.

I suppose my initial question was: To launch an SLE, is it more like launching a BOW or a C kite or is there a method specific to SLEs?

If it is like a C kite then NO PROBLEMO! Have done 1000 of them.

If it is like a BOW kite then as suggested I made a topic search and found what I needed.

Cheers

I guess it depends on the specific kite.

By defintion a hybrid has characteristics of both C and Bow kites. The more swept back the wingtips are (more bow style), the more the kite will lend itself to the bow launching technique flying it off using the back line.

If the kite has little sweepback (more C style) then the technique you used on the old C kites should work better.

There's only one way to find out - Try both techniques on a light day with someone to help you out.

It's a flow sle, so yes there is a bridle system.
Sorry to sound stupid but what do you guys call a flagging ring?

I used mine today...
Launched in about 25kt winds - with a mate launching for me, bridle got hooked over wing tip, started to loop, pulled the quick release and I was OK.

I always launch with my safety on the flagging line and then move it down to my normal riding position.

There is an easier technique that requires 1 x sandbag, doesn't require you to drag your leading edge on the ground and has no risk of the bridle getting caught. I'm going to try get out tomorrow afternoon and get a video of it. Works well for launching and landing.