Pocket Flyer Pilot's Guide
Pocket Flyer Pilot's Guide
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Welcome, and congratulations on your selection of a new Pocket Flyer - we hope you'll love it as much as we do! In this guide we've put together all the info, tips, and tricks you'll need to get the most out of your new kite: From assembly and launching instructions to maintenance and customer support, we've got you covered! Read through to get the full story on your new kite, or use the table of contents to jump straight to a specific topic.
Not finding the answers you need? Contact our team at info@prismkites.com and we'll get back to you ASAP. We look forward to making your flight a success!
Smooth winds,
The Prism Team
Safety Information
Safety Information
As a pilot, you - and only you - are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you when you fly. Read these instructions thoroughly, and make sure you understand how to properly use your kite before launching. Below are some important notes to keep in mind in order to ensure a safe flying experience:
Make sure your flying space is clear before launching. Kites can move quickly and unpredictably, and your kite or its line could seriously injure anyone in their path if something goes wrong.
Never wrap your flying line around your hands. In a gust, the wind can cause your kite to pull hard enough to for the line to cut you seriously. Always hold the line by the winder.
Parts Overview
Parts Overview
1 - Tail
2 - Air Inlets
3 - Bridle with Flying Line Attachment Point
Setting Up Your Kite
Setting Up Your Kite
Because the Pocket Flyer doesn't have any parts that require assembly, getting ready to fly is fast and simple. Just take the kite out of the bag and lay it out flat on the ground, then clip your flying line to the attachment loop and you're ready to launch!
Managing Your Flying Line
Managing Your Flying Line
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Avoiding Common Mistakes
IMPORTANT: The flying line that comes with your kite requires proper care and handling to ensure its longevity. Used correctly your line will last many years, but if mishandled you'll risk breaks, tangles, and even the loss of your kite. We've outlined the most common issues flyers encounter with their line below, along with information to help you avoid making these mistakes yourself. Replacement flying lines are not covered under your kite's warranty, so be sure you read and understand the information in this section before you start flying.
Broken Flying Line
The included line is sufficiently strong to support your kite when flown within the advertised wind range (5-25 mph), but if those speeds are exceeded your line may break. To prevent this, avoid launching your kite in winds near the very top of the recommended range. Wind speeds are variable, and flying at the maximum wind speed will leave you vulnerable to breakage if conditions suddenly change or an unexpected gust of wind comes along. Wind speeds are also generally stronger higher up in the air, so if you notice ground level speeds near the upper limit it's best to wait until conditions calm a bit before launching.
Breaks can also occur when attempting to tug your kite free of something it's become tangled in. Stay away from trees and other obstacles when flying to avoid getting stuck, and if you experience an unplanned landing, check to be sure your line isn't caught on anything before re-launching.
Lastly, keep a safe distance from other kites when flying. Lines made from different materials can damage each other when they get tangled in flight, so leave enough space for your neighboring kite flyers when choosing a spot to fly.
Tangles & Knots
Tangles and knots can be hard to fix, but luckily they're also very easy to prevent. Just remember this - the flying line should always be either completely stored on the included winder, or it should be making a straight line from the winder to the kite. Avoid dragging your flying line on the ground, spooling it into a pile at your feet, or taking 'shortcuts' when winding it up at the end of your flight, otherwise you're likely to end up with a tangled mess as your reward.
Useful Knots
Useful Knots
Double Overhand Loop
Used to finish the end of your flying line.
Blood Knot
Can be used to join two pieces of line if your flying line breaks.
Lark's Head Knot
Can be used to connect your flying line to the line attachment point on your kite if the clip goes missing.
Choosing a Flying Location
Choosing a Flying Location
Choose your flying spot carefully to avoid turbulent wind. Like whitewater in a river, wind that flows past obstacles like trees, buildings and hills becomes gusty and choppy and can make launching your kite and keeping it in the air difficult or even impossible.
The best place to fly is an open beach or field with wind blowing in from off the water. If you have such a place available, it's worth the extra travel time to get there because you'll have a much easier time launching and flying your kite. If you have to fly inland, look for wide open fields with no trees, buildings, or hills for at least a quarter mile upwind.
Wind becomes turbulent as it tumbles over and through obstacles, making it harder to launch and fly your kite. To get the best flight experience, fly well upwind of any obstacles that might cause turbulence.
Launching
Launching
For your first flight, we suggest flying on a day when the wind is between 8 and 12 mph. Once you're ready for take-off, try one of the launch methods below to get flying:
Long Line Launch
(Best for beginners and light or turbulent winds)Long Line Launch
Have a helper walk the kite downwind 20 to 30 paces while you let out the line. With the nose pointed upward, pull in some line to launch and the kite will climb into the sky. If you don’t have a helper, prop the kite pointed up against a log, a stump, or some handy object and pull it into the air from 75-100 feet upwind.
In light winds the kite may be reluctant to climb. Pull in line to help drive it upward, then let line out whenever you feel wind pressure on the sail. Often the wind is stronger and steadier higher up, so if you can coax it higher above the ground there may be enough wind to fly.
Solo Launch
(Easiest in moderate to strong winds)Solo Launch
Stand with your back to the wind and hold the kite with nose pointed up until it catches enough wind to go aloft. Let out line slowly as the kite goes higher, and pull in a little if the wind slacks off. As the kite gains altitude you’ll be able to let line out more quickly. The kite may be a bit squirrelly when it’s close to you but will get more stable as you let out line.
Retrieving Your Kite
Retrieving Your Kite
In light or moderate breezes, simply wind in your line a little at a time to retrieve your kite. You might need to pause occasionally if pulling line in causes the kite to climb or loop.
In stronger winds or with a harder pulling kite, it's better to “walk the kite down" before winding the line back onto the winder. The Pocket Flyer comes with a carabiner attached to the bag that you can use to make this easier. Just have a friend hold your winder or tie it off to an anchor, then hook the carabiner over the line and walk toward the kite, holding onto the bag until you’ve brought the kite safely back to earth.
Packing Your Kite Away
Packing Your Kite Away
When you're done flying for the day, you'll want to pack your kite back into the included bag to keep it safe and tangle-free while it's stored away. Here's how we recommend packing your Pocket Flyer:
Lay the kite flat on the ground, face up.
Lay the bridle on top of the kite's sail.
Fold the tail into a neat stack on top of the sail and bridle.
Fold the kite in half, bringing the bottom edge of the sail up to the top edge.
Starting from one side, fold the sail over itself in segments until you have a neat package that will fit into the bag.
Note: One of the nice things about soft kites is that you don't have to fold them perfectly. Just keep your bridle from becoming tangled and avoid crumpling the kite up as much as possible, and you should be ok.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
If you're having trouble with your kite's flight performance, check below for answers to the most common problems that come up. Not seeing your issue listed below? Reach out to our support team at info@prismkites.com and we'll be happy to help you get it sorted out so you can get back in the air.
Kite is weaving back and forth, looping, or is having trouble staying airborne
Kite is weaving back and forth, looping, or is having trouble staying airborne
Obstacles disturbing the wind, creating turbulence
If your kite is not flying smoothly, the first thing to consider is the possibility of upwind objects (buildings, trees, etc) creating turbulence. As wind flows over and past obstructions it starts to churn and tumble over itself, similar to whitewater in a rock-filled river. If the wind becomes too turbulent, your kite will have a difficult time staying in place, and may even crash. Letting out more line can help your kite rise above turbulence close to the ground, but if you continue to have trouble you may want to try flying in another area with fewer obstructions upwind.
Too much wind
Every kite has a wind range that describes the upper and lower limits of how much wind it can handle. When flown in more wind than the kite is designed for, the sail may have trouble allowing the wind to flow across and off of it evenly, causing the kite to fly erratically. Wind speed readings offered by weather apps and local news reports are often generalized for a large geographical area, so be aware that the conditions where you are flying may be quite different from those reported. If you are using a portable wind meter or visual indicators to determine the windspeed yourself, consider that the wind speed is often faster up in the air than what can be measured at ground level - when ground level wind speeds are near the top of the suggested wind range for your kite, there is a strong possibility that it will be overpowered by stronger winds once it reaches altitude.
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance
Maintenance
The materials in your kite are durable and designed for a long life with minimal maintenance. Here are few tips to keep it healthy:
Give your kite a pre-flight inspection before you launch to be sure everything is properly set up, the sail is intact, and the flying line isn't worn.
Beach sand is abrasive and will wear on lines and kites alike, so do what you can to dust off the sand after a session at the beach. Compressed air or a soft brush work great if you have them, and a freshwater rinse is a good idea if your kite has been swimming in salt water.
Keep your kite out of hot car trunks and avoid using solvents to clean the sail as they can dissolve the adhesives in the seams. Warm water and a little dish detergent on a soft sponge works best for cleaning kites.
Keep your kite out of the sun when not in use to prevent the sail from fading or becoming brittle.
Repairs
Repairs
Sail tears are rare, but can happen if your kite lands in a sticker bush or needs to be yanked free from a tree. If this happens to you, don't despair! Our favorite repair tape is made specifically to make permanent, nearly invisible repairs to torn sails.
Support
Support
Our Warranty
Our Warranty
We’re confident you’re going to have a great time with every product we make. We guarantee that your new kite will arrive ready-to-fly and defect free, with all parts and accessories included. If you run into any issues upon inspecting your new kite, let us know and we’ll do what it takes to make things right.
Need Help? Get in Touch!
Need Help? Get in Touch!
For help with general inquiries, repairs, or warranty issues, please contact us at info@prismkites.com. We’ll respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. To ensure fast service please include any relevant information in your email so we can get started helping you right away. This could include the model of your kite, the name of a part you are looking for, or your mailing address if we need to send something your way. We look forward to hearing from you!
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