Kite Lines - Vol.1 No. 2 - KiteLife

unlike any other style or variant Iknow (with superficial resemblance inpattern only to French pear-top variantin Pelham .*) . Description follows :Flexible peripheral structure : Thebasic structure is composed of fourtapered flexible fiberglass tubes (flyrod) connected in the shape of an oval .Nylon fabric is stretched within theoval, unencumbered by any compressionmember. This allows the oval tochange shape under variable flightstress . Collapse of this shape is restrainedfrom outside the oval .Flexible lashing : The fabric is attachedby continuous loose-lashing, aswith a stretched tarp or trampoline .This allows the necessary self-adjustmentand equalization of pressure asthe flight stresses change and the kiteconfiguration alters .Independent dihedrals : The liftingpower is not restricted or diminishedas it would be if the wing had a builtinpositive or negative dihedral forstabilization . The two dihedrals operatefrom the independent verticalmember. Also, each dihedral serves adual function, the upper as bridle,the lower as the force restraining thecollapse of the oval . These forces inturn keep each dihedral taut .Paraboloidal flight configuration : Infull breeze, the kite flies horizontallyon the wind, the line nearly vertical .The drogue becomes operative in restrainingoverflight . The foil is fulland bulged upward . The dihedralsplane and become lift surfaces . Avacuum forms on the top side . Thewing tips are forced up and back (thestructural members being more flexibletoward the tips) . The kite assumesa partial paraboloidal configuration(saddle-like) . Though it seems contradictory,the lifting shape becomes aconcave, positive dihedral .About my approach to kites, I simplymake and fly them for my pleasureand the pleasure of my friends . We gocamping on the more isolated beachesof California and fly the large onesas a kind of art-happening natureconnectioncelebration . Then we builda big fire, cook dinner over it, drink alittle wine, sleep under the stars, andstart over the next day.