Kitebuilder.com - Fly... with a little help from your friends.

powder_pig · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:27 pm Post subject:

OK, I'm confused...wasn't part of the contest to get it to fly without a tail? Not disputing your win here but taking a still after throwing it in the air isn't getting it to fly...I don't think. Wink

_________________
Ron

It's sunny and windy in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter...this must be what heaven is like.

nckiter · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 1161 Location: USA NC Apex

Well, I finally had a chance to get this one out the park today. and it does indeed fly without a tail Very Happy

Front

Back

Sky shots

_________________
Kip Clement
Apex, NC
Quads and SLKs

Fore Check · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:45 am Post subject:

*very* nice looking, Kip. It looks like you did the battens pretty much how I had it drawn up - fold the main sail to make a tunnel, sew then ends shut with the batten inside when you finish the edges of the sail.

Describe the flight to us! Good? Take a video?
_________________
Simon

Discovering Something that Doesn't Exist...

Radix Lecti Rex

nckiter · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 1161 Location: USA NC Apex

Thanks Simon,
Yep, I tunneled the sail for the battens and sewed the ends shut as I applied the edge binding. I slipped a short length of batten material in each tunnel as I closed the top ends and then came back and hot cut the tunnel open just below the top edge binding. I did this in case I should ever need to replace a broken batten.

Winds were typical, variable 0 - 10 mph, gusts to 15, squirelly, shifting directions, and with holes like swiss cheese. When the wind would shift the kite would lean in the new direction, swing across the window and then stabilize until the next shift. When it hit a hole in the wind it would just slowly sink if it made it to the ground it would relaunch if I didn't let it lay flat. It seemed to like the 5 - 8 mph winds the best although I never felt it was in danger at 15.

I was rather surprised at the amount of pull it generated over about 7 - 8 mph. In the higher wind it had the expected sail deformation but in the lower wind held it's shape quite well. Both of the flight picts were in about 8 -10 mph. A smart flyer would do well to remember his gloves Embarassed

Flight angle was very steep! I'm guessing 75 - 80 degrees.

BTW I used that Tarbuck knot for the bowline, Seems to work very well. I think I'll be using it more.

This was a valentine present for the wife, I was shocked at how well received it was by her. She's not a flyer, just puts up with me. She says she is going to be joining me more on the beach now when I'm flying Very Happy

_________________
Kip Clement
Apex, NC
Quads and SLKs

mototrev · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject:

A different method with a great result!

_________________
Trev-(R)

As my wife often says: "Trev- Go fly a kite!

nckiter · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 1161 Location: USA NC Apex

So that's two so far, who's next? I'd like to see some other interpetations Very Happy

_________________
Kip Clement
Apex, NC
Quads and SLKs

mototrev · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:04 am Post subject:

Thanks Steve!
A nice surPRIZE arrived today....won't be needing an red RSN for awhile.
_________________
Trev-(R)

As my wife often says: "Trev- Go fly a kite!

stevef · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2023 1:46 am Post subject:

Bumping this up! Let's run this contest again! Now open to our Facebook kitebuilders.....

More info here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/41064157503/permalink/10158702912392504/
_________________

Steve Ferrel
Measure once, buy twice!

www.kitebuilder.com - Go Build a Kite! |