Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1993 13:45:56 -1000 From: grantm@syacus.acus.oz.au (Grant Mc) Message-Id: Organization: Australian Centre for Unisys Software, ACUS Subject: Sleds in high and nasty winds On Sunday I was out helping other AKS members celebrate the AKS's 15th birthday. The winds were strong , gusty and from all directions. Canopies were being collapsed in flight. One spectator commented on the lovely array of stunt kites and the skill being exhibited by the flyers, not realising they were all single liners! Being very concerned about losing one of my more expensive creations, I put up a Scott Sled (two circular holes), pattern from Jim Rowlands book "Kites to Make and Fly". Well what a flyer! It was the only well behaved kite on the day that didn't need a tail or stabilizers on the line. It's only a small kite but one I would recommend that everyone have for those days when all other kites are taking a dive or when some little kid comes up and asks you if he/she can fly one of your kites. Always having fun and giving fun to others, Grant. Grant McCauley Australian Centre for Unisys Software (ACUS) Internet: grantm@syacus.acus.oz.au AUSTRALIA Ph: +61 2 3901333 Fax: +61 2 3901391 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1993 10:30:54 -1000 From: mark@murder.demon.co.uk (Mark de Roussier) Message-Id: <750396654snx@murder.demon.co.uk> Organization: damage Subject: Re: Sleds in high and nasty winds In article grantm@syacus.acus.oz.au (Grant Mc) writes: > On Sunday I was out helping other AKS members celebrate the AKS's 15th > birthday. The winds were strong , gusty and from all directions. Canopies were > being collapsed in flight. One spectator commented on the lovely array of stunt > kites and the skill being exhibited by the flyers, not realising they were all > single liners! > > Being very concerned about losing one of my more expensive creations, I put up > a Scott Sled (two circular holes), pattern from Jim Rowlands book "Kites to > Make and Fly". Well what a flyer! It was the only well behaved kite on the day > that didn't need a tail or stabilizers on the line. It's only a small kite but > one I would recommend that everyone have for those days when all other kites > are taking a dive or when some little kid comes up and asks you if he/she can > fly one of your kites. > A Graul Sled was the first kite I built for myself, and it worked first time ! But it does have a few features that are less than useful. It flys at a very low angle - you have to let out loads of line to let it clear any downwind obstacles. It tends to fly to one side or the other. No amount of bridle shifting or rebalancing has fixed this, one simply has to acustom oneself to watching a tilted kite ! It has a very abrupt failure mode if the wind is too strong - it folds up the middle and drops out of the sky like a stone, opens up again when it hits the ground, and starts skittering around , occasionally just taking off again of its own accord or with a gentle tug. Mark de Roussier ************************************ Final thoughts, as breath is taken, Fall to rhythm, and the Edge of pure obsession, Resting in that wind blown cradle, Nothing moves, the world is still... ************************************ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1993 22:58:31 -1000 From: salanne@convex.csc.FI (Simo Salanne) Message-Id: <1993Oct12.085831.2090@nic.funet.fi> Organization: Finnish Academic and Research Network Project - FUNET Subject: Re: Sleds in high and nasty winds In <750396654snx@murder.demon.co.uk> mark@murder.demon.co.uk (Mark de Roussier) writes: >oneself to watching a tilted kite ! It has a very abrupt failure mode if >the wind is too strong - it folds up the middle and drops out of the sky like >a stone, opens up again when it hits the ground, and starts skittering around > There is a trick, which helps to prevent some of the collapsing: Connect the trailing corners with a line, a few centimeters/inches shorter than the canopy width of the sled. It keeps the leading edge more taut. It still can collapse, but not so often. Smooth Winds Simo.Salanne@csc.fi P.S. I afraid some body has patented the trick in U.S., so don't try to sell it there! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1993 10:28:49 -1000 From: mark@murder.demon.co.uk (Mark de Roussier) Message-Id: <750482929snx@murder.demon.co.uk> Organization: damage Subject: Re: Sleds in high and nasty winds I don't understand how it's supposed to affect the leading edge, but I'll give it a go - it'll use up a few ripstop scraps. :) Mark de Roussier ************************************ Final thoughts, as breath is taken, Fall to rhythm, and the Edge of pure obsession, Resting in that wind blown cradle, Nothing moves, the world is still... ************************************ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =