Kitebuilder.com - Happy New Year

[Stan]

Just received my North American Fighter Kites book from Bruce Lambert.
If you have any interest at all in fighters, this book is a terrific value at $20 including postage. 400 well-written pages in the main book, and almost that much additional material. Check the NFKA site for sample pages and order info.

I just got back from Joann's with a pack of mulberry paper for the Bruhzilians I framed last night, and have a rainy afternoon to play kitemaker.

Stan

[CJQ]

[Stan]

Yes, Dave Young's Bruhzilian, a modern version of the Brazilian pipa kite.
They really are fine little kites, sort of like a buka that can re-launch.
Here's an old shot of my first one.



Stan

[Don Lord]

[Stan]

Just a typical Orcon kite with some feltpen decoration.
It's a little over a foot wide and has a bamboo spine with two 050 Carbon bows. The perimeter line induces dihedral, and a typical 3 point fighter bridal allows tuning.
They perform almost as well as an Indian, and can be tuned for rapid turning and response, or for stable (yawn) flight. The upper point of the spine allows it to be re-launched from nose-down position, unlike a buka. It flies in the lightest breeze, and can fly 360s around the flier.

Complete info at:
http://www.fighterkites.org/plans/DaveYoung/Bruhzilian.html

I realize few here have been infected by the fighter bug, but Bruce's book is a real deal!

Stan

[knotronda]

Fighters, fighters, did someone say 'fighters'?

Yes, I also fly fighters. I'm going to go way back in my kite fliying history and tell you about an adventure we had flying fighter kites in Pioneer Square in Downtown Portland, Oregon. The updrafting thermals from the heat of the highrise office buildings was a real challenge. In the midst of all the flying, one kiter placed his fighter on the ground to help someone else and we were all so busy flying our kites that no one noticed the thief who came out of the crowd and stole the kite and line holder.

Anyone else got a good story?

knot(ty)ronda

[Stan]

My friend Victor Heredia made the popular Vic's Fighter. His kiteshop was in the downtown area, and he would fly fighters and stick them to skyscraper windows on the upper floors, blocks away. He was one day asked to quit, so he found other diversions.

I had one cut by a passing car as I was sticking it to a lamppost, and have lost many of them when gusts snapped the lines. I got fairly skilled at dunking them in the ocean and re-launching until one day on long lines, I forgot it wasn't Mylar, but tissue. I retrieved a bare frame from the water.

Fighters are really popular here, and sometimes there are a dozen in the sky at sunset. Some of the experts are amazing to watch.

Stan

[KiteSquid]

I bought the book on CD, because I am an information junkie but currently do not have any plans to build one...

But some day soon....

Great info in there!!!!!!!!

I do fly a fighter or two but I am a novice at the small ones, but give me a Rokkaku and you are in for a battle...

As far a brqagging rights go, I cut Dave Gomberg's line TWICE at nationals 2003. Once in the team battle and once in the idivadual battle.

BTW, I was flying on Mint Death line..... if you wanted to know.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesn’t he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

P.P.P.S. All information provided is for hobby use. None may be used commercially.

[Stan]

The appeal of these fighters is in the flying, not the display.
Many fliers who've expressed no interest in them eventually got hooked,
especially after they try a well-tuned Orcon kite.
The more they resist, the harder they get hooked!

Stan

[KiteSquid]