From: mgleeson@angelo.amd.com (Mike Gleeson) Subject: Novice questions Message-ID: Date: Wed, 13 Jan 93 14:23:58 EST Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Santa Clara, CA Hello! I didn't find an FAQ, and so I was wondering if someone could answer my stunt kite questions. 1) What kind of line do you recommend for light, medium, and heavy winds? I was thinking of 5-10 mph to 35-40 mph winds. 2) Any tips on repairing/replacing the soft tubing used to hold the horizontal struts in place? My preference has always been duct tape, but I want to keep the kite as light as possible. 3) Do you have a preference for tails? I'm curious to find out if people use them, and if so, do you vary the length or width to fit various wind conditions. Thanks! Mike Gleeson mgleeson@brahms.amd.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: sc5@prism.gatech.EDU (CSEPLO,STEPHEN P) Subject: Re: Novice questions Message-ID: <80130@hydra.gatech.EDU> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 93 09:15:17 EST Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology In article mgleeson@angelo.amd.com (Mike Gleeson) writes: > >I didn't find an FAQ, and so I was wondering > Yeah, what did happen to the FAQ? If any body has a copy, send it to me and I'll start keeping it. It would be nice to have a starting point. >1) What kind of line do you recommend for light, > medium, and heavy winds? I was thinking of > 5-10 mph to 35-40 mph winds. OK, it depends on the type of kite your flying. Most sport kites can use 80 lb. line in th 5-10 range. If you get in the 35-40 range you will need 150 lb. line for most 3/4 size kites. Of course if you're out with a Flexi, a Peel, a stack of Hawaians, a Quad, or somesuch combination, you will have to go to something like 300 lb. Of course the kites will need to be able to take the wind and you will get pulled along nicely in those types of winds. For less than 5 mph, try some 45 lb. > >2) Any tips on repairing/replacing the soft tubing > used to hold the horizontal struts in place? My > preference has always been duct tape, but I want > to keep the kite as light as possible. Go to the hardware store and buy some new plastic tubing. Then punch a hole in it. The best way I've found is to use a short piece of copper tubing in a drill. It will cut through the tubing and creates a perfect hole to run your spars through. >3) Do you have a preference for tails? I'm curious > to find out if people use them, and if so, do > you vary the length or width to fit various > wind conditions. Tails? Who flys with a tail, unless it is for some special effect. Don't need 'em with wings, foils and Rev's. -- The Mad Hata "Hey, Mon....Tako Kichi!" = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Subject: Re: Novice questions Message-ID: <1993Jan15.173019.3770@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Date: Fri, 15 Jan 93 12:30:19 EST In article , mgleeson@angelo.amd.com (Mike Gleeson) writes: >I didn't find an FAQ, and so I was wondering >if someone could answer my stunt kite questions. The FAQ is coming! >1) What kind of line do you recommend for light, > medium, and heavy winds? I was thinking of > 5-10 mph to 35-40 mph winds. This really depends on the size and type of kite, what you are trying to do and whether you are crazy or not. I have 50, 80, 135, 150, 200, and 300 pound line in bag. Heavy pulling kites (large kites, or foils) need stronger line. Light pulling kites, or kites in light wind can use lighter line. The wear and tear on the lines also has an impact. If your lines are in good shape, you can use lighter lines. If your line has abrasion damage or nicks, then go with heavier lines. It also depends on what you are using your lines for. For team flying, I try to use the heaviest line that I can and still get good performance out of the kite. I do this to decrease the speed of the kite (the effect is small, but noticeable), and to protect against line cutting while doing wraps. >2) Any tips on repairing/replacing the soft tubing > used to hold the horizontal struts in place? My > preference has always been duct tape, but I want > to keep the kite as light as possible. Replace the tubing with new tubing. For graphite sparred kites, I use a leather punch to punch a hole in the tubing. For larger holes, the Mad Hata's suggestion of using a piece of tubing for a drill bit works well. There are many types of tubing that can be used to replace the original stuff. I've used rubber vacuum tubing and fuel line, both from auto supply stores, with good results. The rubber doesn't get stiff in extreme cold, which is great for New England winter flying. Rubber can leave a black mark in high heat, at least that's what I've been told. I've never had problems with it however. You can get plastic tubing with fiberglass or metal reinforcing fibers in the walls. Another good choice, although it is expensive, is Tygon. Tygon is tougher than the vinyl usually used and is more flexible in the cold. >3) Do you have a preference for tails? I'm curious > to find out if people use them, and if so, do > you vary the length or width to fit various > wind conditions. Stunt kites don't need tails, but a tail does add to the spectacle of stunt kites. Folks that fly tails usually keep them the same length, shortening them only if they want to fly in lighter wind than the kite with tails will fly in. There is a growing group of flyers in the Boston area that fly Dynakites in long trains. Dyna-kites are diamond kites with tails. One fellow, Hank Manseau, has a stack of 25 color masters (the large ones) with 100 foot tails. Hank, when the airspace is clear, will fly this stack on 300 foot lines. Everyone stops and watches the kites, they are really spectacular and can be seen from quite a distance. When he does this, I will often fly a Katana in and around his stack. The Katana is fast enough that I can circle his kites and mess with the tails. This is great fun! -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu Network Operations Division 26 Green Street 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =