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All Firebees benefit from longer brakelines but there is a point where this can be a hindrance due to drag on the line and poor response when trying to turn using the brakes. The 6.5 being the biggest available at the moment displays this the most. (See pics of the new sizes 1.0 , 4.0, 5.5 and 8.5m here blueskyltd)

The best way to transform Firebees into awesome well behaved kites is this:

POWERINGS

On the kite where you attach the brake lines there is a thick cord that then attaches to the bridles with several knots along its length. Untie all these knots. Now make some POWERINGS. Any smooth metal ring will do I use brass curtain rings. Tie these with a short piece of cord (approx. 10cm for the 1m, 15cm for the 2m, 20cm for the 3m, 25cm for the 4m, 30cm for the 5.5m, 35cm for the 6.5m, 40cm for the 8.5m) to your power lines just ahead of the bridle, run the brake line through the ring. This is easier to understand from the above picture. Click on it for a close up view.

You will notice the difference this makes straight away the kite will want to fly faster and higher. Also it will sit on the floor better and take off with less fuss.

Now the brake lines may need shortening back a little. The kite will develop more power (is this possible I here you say) and fly faster across the power window also upwind performance will be transformed.

When you have your harness on and are nicely set up in your buggy and the bee is hovering to your side pulling for all its worth try puting the brakes on a tiny bit and you can squeeze that final drop of sweet honey power out of your bee.

If flying in gusty conditions on the edge of the window it is likely that the kite will overfly or luff try to hold the kite back a little with a small amount of brake. Also what could be happening is you are overflying due to the speed of the bee. If I am flying with the bee in my harness doing figure of 8s the kite can get so fast it will overfly real easy if I am not careful and then the kites top edge suddenly tucks forward and the whole kite goes limp and starts falling out of the sky. Do not panic this is usually recoverable with swift alternate pulls on the handles, imagine doing some boxing, also as you will have some forward speed in the buggy, use this to take up the slack in the lines.

Why does it work?
I am not sure exactly why it works but I can tell you my theory. When the bee is flying without the rings drag and gravity make the brake lines sag and pull down flattening out the aerofoil shape, with the rings the brake lines are held in a constant position and parallel to the main lines. This means the bee is always in a shape to create power and move forward, the more it moves forward through the air the more it pumps itself full of air and keeps the ideal aerofoil shape. A side benefit is the brakes are more responsive as the rings are acting like a pulley and there is less slack in the line.

This is still an experimental solution so your input will be welcome let me know how you get on.
marcus@stratus-design.co.uk