If my memory serves me right, this monster is far from the most pleasant to trick around. It’s built for old-school precision- and team flying. Not to be whacked about doing all sorts of übercool tricks. So how is the ATF going to handle the 2-point landings and half axels in our routine?
Today I wanted to find out and with better, much better, wind conditions I hit the field with a complete set of team kites, equipped for any wind.
It was a bit bumpy, dropping down to 3’ish m/sec and occasionally picking up to 10, maybe 11 m/sec. And as expected, lower down low and higher high up.
I was kind of pleasantly surprised though. The ATF coped reasonably well with these conditions. But how about the landings and half axles?
First, 2 pt landing this kite is really difficult! Close to perfect timing and brutal input is required to get the ATF hit the ground with both tips simultaneously… and stay there on the ground. Really putting your flying skills to the test.
There are also a lot of snag points on the kite so getting it back into launch position after a crash landing is also very difficult. It’s so easy to have one or both flying lines snagged on something and you’ll need to walk to the kite to fix it. When the ground also is covered by some …. interesting vegetation, things are getting even more difficult.
However, I did manage to 2-point land the kite a few times, but like said, only when I got the timing and input at least 98% right!
Half axeling follows the same line, but then, not quite. You must still find the sweet spot between technique, timing and brute input to get it right. And remember to give much slack in your lines allowing the kite to rotate.
…and herein lies the real challenge! As mentioned, there are a lot of snag points on this kite and allowing the required slack in ballistic winds isn’t exactly a walk in the park!
But I managed to get in quite a few half axels too, but I fear that all four of us getting those half-axels right, simultaneously and in the right position in the wind window, well, that would take some practice!
But hey! That’s part of the game, isn’t it?
