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World class team tips


     Here  are some things to think about for the would be  world 
class teams.   There is a lot of Geometry and Physics that can be 
applied   to  the  construction  of  your  routines.    When  the 
principles  of these disciplines are properly applied the  judges 
will  be  given the illusion that every thing is  in  its  place.  
But,  if  these  principles  are  overlooked or  not  taken  into 
consideration it is possible that even though you as a flyer  see 
the  picture you are trying to create,  the judges see  something 
entirely different.

     Realizing  that  some of the important judging  factors  are 
Spacing,  Timing,  and smoothness and well as straight lines, the 
following geometric and physics principles apply:

          1.   The  opposite  sides of a parallelogram are  equal 
length and remain parallel for all interior angles.
     CONSIDER THIS WHEN DECIDING WHERE OR NOT TO STAGGER THE LINE 
LENGTHS OF THE MEMBERS.  EQUAL LENGTH LINES MAY MAKE IT EASIER TO 
MAINTAIN  SPACING.   (ASSUMING THAT YOUR BODIES STAY PUT)   There 
are  tradeoffs that need to be considered with using equal length 
lines.   i.e.   increased  chance of buffeting from the  kite  in 
front.

          2.   Parallel  lines in space appear parallel from  any 
angle of view.
     IN  THE  CASE  OF LARGE TEAMS (6 OR  MORE),  I  THE  DESIRED 
PICTURE  IS  PARALLEL STRAIGHT LINES THEN ALL KITES IN  THE  SAME 
LINE NEED TO BE ON THE SAME EXACT PATH.  i.e.  2 points determine 
a line,  the 3rd point may or may not be on the line.

          3.   Any  3 points in space determine a plane.   A  4th 
point may or may not be on that plane.
     THE PLANE FOR THE KITES IS SPHERICAL.    i.e.  Four kites in 
diamond formation fling a large full sky circular pattern may get 
distorted if all kites are not on the same plane.   Consideration 
should be given to line lengths and body positions.

          4.   Multiple  objects equally spaced on a flat  planar 
surface will appear equally spaced from any angle of view.
     PATTERNS WHICH ARE INTENDED TO REPRESENT BOXES OR RECTANGLES 
WILL  GET  DISTORTED  AS THE PASS ACROSS THE WIND WINDOW  IF  ALL 
KITES ARE NOT ON THE SAME PLANE.   IF THEY ARE ON THE SAME  PLANE 
THEN  THE ONLY CHANGE WILL BE THE APPARENT LENGTH OF THE SIDE  OF 
THE BOX.

          5.   Each  individual  team members kite is on its  own 
spherical planar surface.
     IN  ORDER TO STAY ON THE SAME FLAT PLANE AS THE OTHER  KITES 
THE  FLYER  WILL NEED TO MOVE AROUND ON THE GROUND TO  COMPENSATE 
FOR THE CHANGES DUE TO THE SPHERICAL PLANE.



          6.    The   circumference  of  a  circle  is   directly 
proportional to its radius.
     TIMING PATTERNS SUCH AS FULL PINWHEELS CAN BE PERFORMED MORE 
EASILY  IF THE KITE ON THE SHORTER FLYLINES FLYS THE LONGER PATH.  
THE KITE ON THE LONGER FLYLINES WILL BE ON A LONGER RADIUS TO THE 
FLYER  AND WILL THEREFORE BE FLYING ALMOST THE SAME  DISTANCE  AS 
THE  KITE ON THE SHORTER LINES BUT THE ILLUSION IS THAT THE  KITE 
ON  THE SHORTER FLYLINES IS FLYING MUCH  FARTHER.   CONSIDERATION 
MUST  BE  GIVEN TO THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE  JUDGES.   i.e.   The 
picture to the flyers may need to be slightly distorted in  order 
to present an appropriate picture to the position of the judges.

          7.     Apparent    distance   traveled   is   inversely 
proportional to the range of observation.
          8.  Apparent speed is inversely proportional to the 
range of observation.
     THESE  TWO PRETTY MUCH GO TOGETHER AND SHOULD BE  CONSIDERED 
WHEN DOING TIMING MANEUVERS.   IF ONE KITE NEEDS TO PASS IN FRONT 
OF ANOTHER, THE ONE ON THE SHORTER FLYLINES CAN GET THERE SOONER.
i.e.  The cascade team compulsory is an example where this may be 
a consideration that would help.  If the first kite to break from 
the  top is the shorter flylines then it will reach the bottom in 
less time than the others to travel that same apparent  distance.  
Getting  to  the  ground quickly will give it more  time  to  cut 
across the bottom in front of the others.

     There  is more but at this point I don't have a feel for how 
much interest there is on the network for these subjects.
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