Kite Lines - Vol.2 No. 4 - KiteLife

much debate among the Kite Linesstaff, and an imaginary debatewith John Spendlove, we decidedto print a version that incorporateshis concept but allows for morecategories and also a bit more leewaybetween them . For example,different types of kites, thoughthe same in their longest dimension,can vary decidedly in theirimpression of size . We hope publicationof this chart will stimulatediscussion and possible futurerefinement .ROBERT S . PRICEBurtonsville, MD . Physicist, leaderof the Maryland Kite Society andbuilder of large box kites .One system of classifying kitesis by manageability, and in thissystem there are two sizes of kite :one that a single person can managein most circumstances andone that requires more than oneperson . To manage a kite I meanto launch it, fly it and recover it .If the kite is sufficiently powerful,it can lift or drag the flier andthus become unmanageable . Myfeeling is that an 8-foot long boxkite is a comfortable size for oneperson to manage . A 16- or 18-foot wing-spread delta is probablyalso in this class .Another system of classifyingkite size is by structure. One categoryof kites would include thosekites made with simple, solid sticksof common wood . Another categorywould include those withhollow wooden or bamboo spars .There are kites with exotic materialspars-aluminum tubing, fiberglass,etc. Of course, there aresparless kites, too, such as theParafoil .The main reasons for buildingkites larger than one person canhandle are to make the flyingoperation a cooperative, teamaffair, to develop lift for a specialoperation (such as a man-lift), orto make the kite visible at a greatdistance .The lift goes up as the square ofa linear scale factor while the requiredsection modulus of thecompressive members goes up asthe cube of the scale factor . ThisBob Price showing off one of his elegant hollow-spar boxis why hollow spars become desirablein larger rigid kites .I don't see why there is any particularlimit to the size of a kitethat could be made to fly-it isjust that landing and launchingwould become very difficult . It ismore reasonable to fly en-trainusing smaller kites .RICHARD S . ROBERTSONAustin, TX. Leading Texas kiterand the father in a family of sevenactive kiters .I would really have missed anenjoyable phase of kiting if Ihadn't made large kites . Making alarge kite that will fly just as wellas a small one is a real challenge . Iremember some years ago when Imade an 18-foot turkey vultureaccording - to Hod Taylor's plans . Ientered it in the Largest Kite eventin our contest and it wasn't aslarge as some that were entered,but it flew as no other kite aroundcould fly . The wings flapped andthe kite found its flying positionand stayed there . The spectatorsenjoyed watching the vulture flymuch more than the kite that won .Flying a large kite is like catchinga big fish . The pull of the lineis both thrilling and challenging . Igenerally tie the line to a car, treeor backstop, but if the wind is notRichard Robertson's well-made eagle and centipede kites .kites.too strong, I just "hang on ."One of the thrills of a large kitelike my 100-foot centipede is theoverwhelming spectator interestand desire to participate . Ask foreight volunteers to help you launchit and you end up with 25 .ALBERT F . RIEDERERCornwells Heights, PA . Winner ofLargest Kite award at the GrandNational Kite Festival, Ocean City,MD, September 23, 1978 .What really got me into largekites was one year at the BenFranklin fly in Philadelphia . Somestudents from Drexel Universityhad a Bermuda kite made withhalf-inch pine bolted with 1/."bolts and with 60 to 80 feet oftail . It took up the entire quadrangle. I couldn't believe somethinglike this would fly . I decidednext year I had to fly a large kite .I had flown Eddys since I was sixyears old . A buddy and I got theDan Lirot plans for a 30-foot deltaand built it and flew it-and itreally got into our blood . Everytime I flew it it was as if it werefor the first time . It drew a crowdand it totally involved the children. You get a million kids aroundyou. I only spent $20 to $25 on itat the time .It's awe-inspiring . It does drawattention, it draws interest to thetotal love of kites . Also biggerkites are easier to fly once you getit together . But just the look ontheir faces is something to behold .You don't even look at the kite!You look at the spectators . That'sthe reward .EDWIN L . GRAUELRochester, NY. Kite designer andexperimenter .While I have always felt thatgiant kites made more sense thanvery tiny ones, I have never felt acompelling urge to spend muchtime on making or flying the monsters. The four big ones I havebuilt were made purely to determinehow large these kites couldgo and still be handled satisfactorilyby one person .But the interesting thing is thatonce these big fellows are in theair, they invariably attract moreattention and more discussionthan similar kites in smaller sizes .It has been my observation,both as a judge and as a competitor,that large kites almost invariablywin the prizes in most kitingcompetitions (except for thesmallest kite classification) . It'spretty tough to let the big kites,representing many hours of work,go away without a prize, evenwhen things aren't exactly equal .So, if a purpose of kite flying is towin awards, the larger the kite thebetter.There are at least two other advantagesin making and flying giantkites. First, the larger the kitethe more forgiving it is in over-