Custom build

Ed showed me a pic of one of yours or Sandy's - damn nice son!!

I had to zoomed in big time ... g-thong kite ?, because it looks like there is no mesh on it, correct ? (laughing) ... what is the wind speed to fly that one ?

Built along the lines of Alden Miller's "Vickie" - no mesh, just made of strips of fabric! You can find "Vickie" on FB under pix on Alden's page!

14 minutes ago, DeafThunder said:

I had to zoomed in big time ... g-thong kite ?, because it looks like there is no mesh on it, correct ? (laughing) ... what is the wind speed to fly that one ?

This was in Santa Cruz the other day. It was blowing about 10-15 mph. That is the maiden flight of the one I made for myself. 

Here's the ones I made for Terry and Sandy.

Alden's version

I tried to match their B pros.

10 hours ago, Reved said:

It was blowing about 10-15 mph.

UNBELIEVABLE !!! ... the vertical section ... is it double fabric sleeve where you put a rod inside of that sleeve ?

I was thinking of 40+ mph ... do you mind to show us the video of it (flying) ?

I thought seriously about a sleeve for the vertical rod, but decided it wasn't needed. 

I was kinda surprised myself that it flew in such light winds. Sorry no video of the kite flying. I'll work on that. Maybe Terry and Sandy will take some video when they go out to maiden their kites today.

Glad to see you're still doing really nice work on those!

Kelly

without the weight of the mesh material, the kite can fly despite having almost no sail area available for lift.  With light wind skills honed properly you can fly it down to single digit speeds (but a steady breeze is necessary).

A big wind you ask?,... well folks acquire this kite for exactly that reason.  How high do you want to push it,... FINE!  It will work for you then too.

I just can't justify the cost for so little material, it's almost the same figure as a shook mesh, given a choice I'd take one of those instead knowing I'd be abusing it in a steady 40 MPH howl.

Really like the image of Alden's kite showing the lines clearly.  The droop shows the light pull of the kite & the lower lines sagging more show the kite is flying mainly on the top set at that moment.  Maybe about time to step back & give a pull to make the next turn.  When flying four line foils it looks the similar much of the time.  They are generally flown on the top set of lines with the brake lines drooping a bit.  A bit of even tension on the brake lines will usually cause the foil to back down as they don't really like to hover.  A Revolution type kite is a single skin and willingly rewards the flier with a nice hover.  Foils need forward speed to stay inflated & keep flying.  I flew kites for some time before I payed much attention to the lines & what they could tell you.  One of the more dramatic things I have seen is when I have flown the large Power Blast Revs.  At times, when the wind is light, I will be crossing the window at medium height with the leading edge vertical and actually flying the kite on only one line as the brake lines are slack & the lower leading edge line is slack to give the kite enough angle to maintain it's position without dropping.  The PB series kites are stiffer kites and will behave quite differently lighter framed Rev 1, 1.5 & 2 kites.  Perhaps the new Reflex is more like that also.  Know Eye Deer but hope to get one soon.  

Just some thoughts from out here in the field, SHBKF

On 7/11/2016 at 8:55 PM, RevRookie said:

Glad to see you're still doing really nice work on those!

Kelly

Thanks Kelly. It's good to be back on the machine creating new things to fly. Any custom work on your sewing bench lately?

On 7/9/2016 at 8:55 PM, DeafThunder said:

UNBELIEVABLE !!! ... the vertical section ... is it double fabric sleeve where you put a rod inside of that sleeve ?

I was thinking of 40+ mph ... do you mind to show us the video of it (flying) ?