diff --git a/src/common.jl b/src/common.jl
index 5ff9c3e..6685246 100644
--- a/src/common.jl
+++ b/src/common.jl
@@ -213,8 +213,13 @@ function update_system(kv::AKV, state::SysState; scale=1.0, kite_scale=1.0, ned=
         quat[]     = Quaternionf(q0[2], q0[3], q0[4], q0[1])  # the constructor expects the order x,y,z,w
         kite_pos[] = 0.8 * 0.5 * (kv.points[s*3+4] + kv.points[s*3+5]) + 0.2 * kv.points[s*3+3]
     else
+        if ned
+            q0 = quat2viewer(state.orient)                        # SVector in the order w,x,y,z
+        else
+            q0 = state.orient                                     # SVector in the order w,x,y,z
+        end
         # move and turn the kite to the new position
-        q0 = state.orient                                     # SVector in the order w,x,y,z
+        # SVector in the order w,x,y,z
         quat[]     = Quaternionf(q0[2], q0[3], q0[4], q0[1]) # the constructor expects the order x,y,z,w
         kite_pos[] = Point3f(state.X[kv.set.segments+1], state.Y[kv.set.segments+1], state.Z[kv.set.segments+1]) * scale
     end