Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 05:05:10 -1000 From: Jon@das.harvard.edu, Laqua@das.harvard.edu Message-Id: <48fjv6$qt5@data.interserv.net> Organization: InterServ News Service Subject: Kite Aerial Photography Questions With winter being here in Minnesota, my kite flying days are over until at least next March. I am collecting the materials I will need for Kite Aerial Photography. I will be lofting a Fuji point and shoot camera, so I am estimating my cradle will be 1-2 pounds. I have a couple of questions for folks who have the experience I lack: As I look over my Into The Wind catalog, what type of kite should I start out with? Is one type of kite better for KAP (Delta Conyne vs. Delta, for example)? Is kite size important? What size kite will give me sufficient lift? In order to fly in the broadest possible range of winds, I would like a kite that will fly in as little wind as possible, yet still loft the camera. I will also be upgrading the cradle as I gain experience, so the kite should be able to loft a 3-pound payload eventually. I subscribe to the Aerial Eye, and have learned a lot, but lack the kite flying experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Jon Laqua jlaqua@research.westlaw.com "Off the keyboard, thru the router, past the hub, over the bridge, down the line, around the world... nothing but Net!" = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 15:06:03 -1000 From: amirault@laraby.tiac.net (Richard Amirault) Message-Id: Organization: The Internet Access Company Subject: Re: Kite Aerial Photography Questions Tse-Sung Wu writes: >I'm also very interested in getting into this (I would be approaching >from photography- I've limited experience in kites). >I would like to try KAP for travelling and hiking, and so I was thinking >of a parafoil or flowform, or anything else that packs up nicely. >Anyone care to comment on how good a flowform would be for lifting 1-3 >pounds reliably and safely? I understand the advantage of Detas and DCs >is that they can glide down gently should the wind die. Are there other >kites with similarly 'non-catastrophic' drop modes? ------------------------------------------ The winds seldom die THAT suddenly. A Flowform would be a good choice, but it all depends on the load you're lifting and the speed of the wind thats blowing. To rely on just one kite, will limit you. -- Richard Amirault N1JDU Boston, Massachusetts USA amirault@tiac.net "Go Fly A Kite" = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 10:21:25 -1000 From: Tse-Sung Wu Message-Id: Organization: Doctoral student, Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Subject: Re: Kite Aerial Photography Questions I'm also very interested in getting into this (I would be approaching >From photography- I've limited experience in kites). Have you seen Cris Benton's KAP web page? It's a very nicely done notebook of his experiences with KAP, but at the moment has little on kites. (http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/~cris/kap/) All I've heard in addition is what you've read in Aerial Eye. I would like to try KAP for travelling and hiking, and so I was thinking of a parafoil or flowform, or anything else that packs up nicely. Anyone care to comment on how good a flowform would be for lifting 1-3 pounds reliably and safely? I understand the advantage of Detas and DCs is that they can glide down gently should the wind die. Are there other kites with similarly 'non-catastrophic' drop modes? Tse-Sung _________________________________________________________ Tse-Sung Wu Dept. of Engineering & Public Policy, BH-129 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA voice: +1 412-268-3005 fax: +1 412-268-3757 internet: tsesung+@CMU.EDU WWW: http://www.epp.cmu.edu/~tw1u/wu.html Green design at CMU: http://www.ce.cmu.edu:8000/GDI About EPP: http://www.epp.cmu.edu/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 20:50:19 -1000 From: cris@ced.berkeley.edu (Charles C. Benton) Message-Id: <48rt47$n7r@agate.berkeley.edu> Organization: University of California, Berkeley Subject: Re: Kite Aerial Photography Questions Tse-Sung Wu wrote: >Have you seen Cris Benton's KAP web page? It's a very nicely done >notebook of his experiences with KAP, but at the moment has little on >kites. (http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/~cris/kap/) I've recently added a page that starts to address kites and has a few comments on my limited experience with delta conynes, rokakus, and flowforms. See: http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/~cris/kap/kites.html Charles C. Benton Berkeley, CA http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/~cris/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 09:10:17 -1000 From: pdjnjvt@hacom.nl (Peter de jong) Message-Id: Organization: HACOM Internet - Amersfoort - The Netherlands. (033-4808707) Subject: Re: Kite Aerial Photography Questions cris@ced.berkeley.edu (Charles C. Benton) wrote: >I've recently added a page that starts to address kites and has a few >comments on my limited experience with delta conynes, rokakus, and >flowforms. See: > http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/~cris/kap/kites.html Hi Charles I saw and liked it. I particulary looked at the Sanjo Rokkaku section because I think it's one of the most stable and forgiving kites I've seen. You mentioned you had to adjust it for flying in high winds: most of the time unstability in such conditions come from the fact that the longeron bows backwards. On my Sanjo I have 3 lines extra: one ajustable from the bridling point ( ring ) to the middle of the longeron ( has to be adjustable lenght if you want to move the ring ) and I have the top and bottom bridle extended to the middle of the spars ( just the right length with bowed spars ). This has 2 advantages; The longeron can't bow backwards and because of the bridle extending to the top " crossing" I can easily stack it; I simply attach the second Sanjo to the back of the first at this "crossing point". Using a 5 and a 7 yd Sanjo either alone or stacked you are prepared for all conditions. - For the record; my kites have a height/width ratio of 2 : 1,5 ; don't know if stacking works with other dimentions - You mentioned tails for stabilizing. Try a drogue: it does not look as good but it adds less weight and its effect is variable by changing the length of the line. I understand you are more into photography than kites but have you ever used " old " camera's ? I flew my kites for a professional photogapher who saw my little collection of old camera's and wanted to try an old kodak 8 x 13 ( about 3 x 5 inch ) camera from 1920 or so. Worked perfectly. ( that's how I trust my Sanjo ! ) I use an old ( 1950 ) Zeiss "pocket" camera ( 6 x 6 cm ), because of it's weight and large size negatives. Hope these remarks are of any interest ( who knows ) and CU on rec.kites or somewhere over the rainbow.... Greetings from Holland Peter de Jong A&F Custom Kites Werkhoven NL - and yes, I still wear wooden shoes most of the time - = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =