C-Quad 3.2 Packup

This is my method of packing up a 3.2 C-Quad based on a) reading the manual, b) asking lots of people, and c) trying it out on the flying field. As far as I can tell (but I haven't yet tried it) this method should work with all the C-Quads.

My Packup Method

  1. Land the C-Quad in the recommended way (i.e. leading edge up), the secure the handles using a peg.
  2. Take the kite and lay it flat (front down) over the lines - in a strong wind you might have to put something onto the kite to stop it flapping away.
  3. Take each pair of lines and secure each pair using a Velcro cable tie - simply pass the tie through the loop ('soft' side down) and wrap round a couple of times.
  4. Do the same on the other sides pair. The reason for the cable ties is to try and prevent the lines become intertwined whilst the kite is in storage.
  5. Pick up the kite by the centre of the leading edge - it won't take off so long as it's horizontal to the ground. Secure both the left and right pair of lines onto the central vertical spar, near the leading edge - wrap the Velcro around a couple of times to hold the lines and bridle secure.
  6. At this point - make sure you have the bag with you!
  7. Now the hard bit! Take hold of both ends of the leading edge and all the vertical spars in one hand (for me it's my right hand) to make a circle with the kite with the leading edge to the ground. But make sure that 2 of the vertical spars are on the right hand side, and 1 is on the left.
  8. Stand just to the right hand side, with your right leg just behind the circled kite (hand getting stiff?)
  9. With your left hand grab hold of the point opposite the right hand - should be more or less in the middle of the leading edge.
  10. Now gently bring your left hand up towards the right hand - the kite will start going into a kind of oval/figure of eight shape. With your left hand push away the leading edge (i.e. push it towards the back of the kite) whilst still bringing the leading edge towards your right hand (which is now getting stiff, right?). If this is done correctly you will find the circled kite from above kind of folds in on itself and looks like below (it's just 2 circles on top of each other). You should not have to force things - I have heard that most leading edge breakage's are caused by forcing it away. A tip here is to use your body to help do the 'push' to collapse the kite in on itself. A further tip is if you have small children and they have one of those pop up play tents you should find this easy - it's exactly the same.
  11. Once you have collapsed the whole kite you keep to hold the whole lot in one hand - this is quite hard to hold it all at this point without a spar popping out again (hand getting even stiffer?).
  12. Finally stuff the kite into the bag (you did bring it with you didn't you?) as shown.
  13. The key points in my method are that:
    1. You insert the kite leading edge down/hand holding kite up, and
    2. All the bridle lines end up on the same side in the bag - usually in my case they are to the back of the folded kite.
  14. On the subject of the trailing bridle lines - they can (fairly) safely be stuffed into the bag so long as it's on the opposite side from the handles.
  15. Finally close the bag, leaving the flying lines coming out of one side.
  16. You are now ready to wind up the lines and place the handles and lines into the bag.

Comments

  • As said in the introduction - be consistent!
  • Some people don't like having Velcro cable ties anywhere near their flying lines or kite due to all these little hooks. I have to say I haven't had any problems & both the flying lines and bridles still look OK (and I have had the kite since December 2001) - it's your choice!
  • You really need to practice the whole thing at home, if possible, it's a lot harder when there is a strong wind on the field.
  • Strangely I find that normally the setting up & putting away goes smoothly except when I take the kite out at home to dry it off or something. I find I have problems the next time I put the C-Quad up - I think it's to do with the handles and flying lines going on the wrong side.
  • The C-Quad 3.2 has 3 vertical spars - therefore when you form the circle you have to have 2 spars on one side and 1 on another. With the 4.2 and higher there are 4 spars - therefore 2 on each side. Friends have told me that the 4.2 is slightly easier than the 3.2 to pack away because of this. I wouldn't know.....