Date:	Thu, 14 Apr 1994 03:18:56 -1000
From:	stvric01@uctvax.uct.ac.za
Message-Id: <1994Apr14.151857.206520@uctvax.uct.ac.za>
Organization: University of Cape Town
Subject: Interesting Problem


Hi

This is not strictly a Kite problem but anyway - it is related - so please
read.

Here is an interesting problem:  I want to build a mobile (yeah like for
kids) of a bird that will "fly" when hung in front of a fan!

This is meant to be an improvement on the regular type - the ones that have
a string hanging from the birds' belly, that you pull to initiate the "flying".

At the moment, I am looking at the wing pattern of a humming bird with a view
to (hopefully) getting the mobiles' wings to pivot and so follow this pattern.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.... Email preferred as I don't get 
get to read this group much.

-Thanks in advance
-Richard

Email: stvric01@uctvax.uct.ac.za

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                  Overheard in the passage one day.....
         "... and then I'll whip out my Hewlett Packard and ..."
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Date:	Mon, 18 Apr 1994 07:43:31 -1000
From:	lord@eskimo.com (David Lord)
Message-Id: <CoGuKM.Kr9@eskimo.com>
Organization: Eskimo North (206) For-Ever
Subject: Re: Interesting Problem

In article <1994Apr14.151857.206520@uctvax.uct.ac.za>,
stvric01@uctvax.uct.ac.za writes:
> 
> Hi
> 
> This is not strictly a Kite problem but anyway - it is related - so
please
> read.
> 
> Here is an interesting problem:  I want to build a mobile (yeah like
for
> kids) of a bird that will "fly" when hung in front of a fan!
> 
> This is meant to be an improvement on the regular type - the ones that
have
> a string hanging from the birds' belly, that you pull to initiate the
"flying".
> 
> At the moment, I am looking at the wing pattern of a humming bird with
a view
> to (hopefully) getting the mobiles' wings to pivot and so follow this
pattern.
> 
> Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.... Email preferred as I
don't get 
> get to read this group much.
> 
> -Thanks in advance
> -Richard
> 
> Email: stvric01@uctvax.uct.ac.za
> 
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>                   Overheard in the passage one day.....
>          "... and then I'll whip out my Hewlett Packard and ..."
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
 
 
I tried to email this response but it was sent back adress unknown.
Anyway, if you try to use a fan as a wind source for a kite mobile you
should be aware of the fan output. The wind coming from the fan is a
twisting turbulent vortex that is totally unsuitable for a kite of any
kind. The vortex rotates in the same direction as the fan blades and
plays hell with a kite. It can be fixed to a great extent by attaching a
set of eggcrate type vanes to the fan to straighten the air flow. I have
not tried a squirle cage blower but from its design it should be a vast
improvement. I hope this helps.
                                             Dave Lord


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