Subject: Phantom-Bantam - Spar question Message-ID: <1992Sep26.195643.27578@news.Hawaii.Edu> From: kevin@sparc1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Kevin Mayeshiro) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 19:56:43 GMT Organization: University of Hawaii Does anyone know what type/size of spars are used in the Phantom-Bantam? Has anyone ever replaced these spars to make the kite perform better? (Overall? In light winds?) Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Kevin -- Kevin Y. Mayeshiro Internet: kevin@Hawaii.Edu #include = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Subject: Re: Phantom-Bantam - Spar question Message-ID: <15743@umd5.umd.edu> From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Date: 28 Sep 92 02:53:58 GMT Organization: University of Maryland at College Park In article <1992Sep26.195643.27578@news.Hawaii.Edu> kevin@sparc1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Kevin Mayeshiro) writes: >Does anyone know what type/size of spars are used in the Phantom-Bantam? >Has anyone ever replaced these spars to make the kite perform better? >(Overall? In light winds?) Any information would be greatly appreciated. Both the Phantom and the Bantam are sparred with Beman 5.5mm pultruded graphite. This is some of the finest pultruded graphite on the market. Very light and very stiff, though also a bit brittle (certainly not as bad as Advantage 2-wrap). You could theoretically lighten the Phantom by using a lighter graphite, either wrapped (Advantage 2-wrap) or pultruded (probably one of the small-diameter AFC sizes like .1960"). The Advantage would be stiffer and lighter than the Beman, but more likely to break in less than ultralight conditions. Advantage also has a great dislike for ground contact. In addition, it's questionable as to whether the weight advantage would outweight the cost, and if the modification is even necessary! I fly my stock (beman) Phantom in winds of ~1mph, so I've never felt a need to respar it. A friend of mine has built a couple of phantom knock-offs with AFC .1960" frames. They fly quite nicely in extremely light winds, but the .1960 is a bit flexible for a full-sized kite and distort as the wind picks up a bit. Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | "Show what you are / Be strong, be true | | | Time for you to / Be who you are." | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | --Happy Rhodes | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: mss@endor.uucp (Marty Sasaki) Subject: Re: Phantom-Bantam - Spar question Message-ID: <1992Sep28.132030.21012@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Sasaki Kite Fabrications Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 13:20:30 GMT In article <15743@umd5.umd.edu> jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) writes: >In article <1992Sep26.195643.27578@news.Hawaii.Edu> kevin@sparc1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Kevin Mayeshiro) writes: >Both the Phantom and the Bantam are sparred with Beman 5.5mm pultruded >graphite. This is some of the finest pultruded graphite on the market. >Very light and very stiff, though also a bit brittle (certainly not as >bad as Advantage 2-wrap). If you did decide to move to the Advantage 2 wraps you would probably end up with almost no weight change. The sticks themselves are about 1/2 ounce lighter for the set, but yo will have to go to larger vinyls and the Advantage T is a little heavier. Clearwater sticks will probably get you a little weight advantage. As Jeff mentions you can try smaller pultruded graphite. AFC 1960 and 1880 sticks are lighter and probably stiff enough. You can also try Beman 5.0mm sticks. Advantage makes a smaller stick as well. I think it is 3/16 inch 1-1/2 wraps. It's the stuff that is used in the Tandem's battens. The lighter sticks are more flexible. This will change the way that a kite flies so don't be surprised if the performance, except in lightest wind, actuall decreases. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Marty Sasaki Sasaki Kite Fabrications mss@das.harvard.edu 26 Green Street phone: 617-522-8546 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =