Hoodoo

http://www.upi.com/T...78931337626219/ U.S. News Army tests blimp-kite hybrid 'Helikites' A "Helikite" combines the properties of a blimp and a kite. (Image Worldview999 via Wikipedia) Published: May 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM FORT BENNING, Ga., May 21 (UPI) -- For military bases too small to keep blimp-like aerostats, the U.S. Army is testing "Helikites," a half-kite, half-blimp aircraft for low-level surveillance. An aircraft that combines the properties of a blimp and a kite, and carries communications and surveillance equipment, is among the pilotless flying equipment currently being tested at the Army base at Fort Benning, Ga., Stars and Stripes reported Monday. Since many of the American military bases in Afghanistan are not large enough to accommodate and maintain the large aerostats that hover over battlefields and enemy lines, sending back photos and other information, "We are looking at small, more tactical aerostats that can be used at those small bases, " said Maj. Peter Moore, product director at the Fort Benning-based Rapid Equipping Force. The Helikite is among the small aerostats being tested to learn how long launch and recovery operations take, how they perform in windy conditions and how long training programs for operating personnel will take, the newspaper said. Helikites range in size from a model 6 feet long capable of lifting cameras and communications equipment, to an aircraft 24 feet long that can lift as much as 30,000 pounds of equipment, said Sandy Allsopp, owner of the British firm Allsopp Helikites, which makes the aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and the British Army. Read more: http://www.upi.com/T.../#ixzz1vc1OGOdG

I met a guy with the initials RJ who had the nickname hedgehog...didn't care for him either. They are dirty animals.

I am working on the stalls. But I think I need to start playing with the weights a little. I can get a stall to sweep just a bit and I can stall it from the top of the power window all the way to a landing. But I have to time it right as the kite rocks its way down. BTW the kite is a NTech French Kiss (great bargain). As far as "getting into" tricks, the turtle and lazy susan just came natural. At this point it's hard for me to watch a training vid at home and work on it in the field. But after last nights flight, I came back home and watched some vids to try and learn what I was doing. Some of the other tricks made a little more since because of what I saw happening during my flight. Practice Practice Practice...I'll get there. Hoodoo First Class? Coach?...na...I fly kites!

I was bored this morning and decided to try and fabricate my own banner pole. http://kitelife.com/forum/gallery/image/4573-/ http://kitelife.com/forum/gallery/image/4572-/ It's an old tent pole zip tied at the bottom for more support. And the stake is an aluminum tube. On the stake, using a grinder, I formed a sharp edge at the bottom to make it easier to stick in the ground. At some point I may wrap the whole thing in tape or something to make it look a little better. But it works. Hoodoo First Class? Coach?...na...I fly kites.

I had some very nice winds this evening so I decided to go fly for a bit. Being new to trick flying, I have little experience in the names of the tricks. I'm able to stall it in the middle of the power window and land it safely. I'm able to sweep within inches of the ground across the window. And the spins, figure eights, etc. But today I was bored with that. So I flew it up essentially vertical, slacked the lines so the nose few away from me, and let it float into a (fade?) While on its back flying away from me I tugged on the right line and it spins on its back. After the nose rotates clockwise once, I even the tension and continue "normal" flight. I was able to do this with some consistency. My question is what is the name of this trick? Is it a trick...well it is to me. I will try to get my wife to shoot some video of it and will post later. Hoodoo Laughing while flying?...yeah I just get use to swallowing bugs.

A: According to the National Climatic Data Center's list of annual average wind speeds, the windiest U.S. city is Dodge City, Kansas, with an average speed of 13.9 mph. Other windy cities include Amarillo, Texas (13.5 mph) and Rochester, Minn. (13.1 mph.). The windiest "big" cities are New York City (LaGuardia Airport) and Oklahoma City, which both have an average annual wind speed of 12.2 mph. The "windy city" of Chicago isn't as high on the list as you might think. It's average annual wind speed is 10.3 mph. So next time you're cruising across I-40 stop in (Amarillo) and fly for a bit. Lucky me:) Source: USA Today ((Answered by Doyle Rice, USATODAY.com weather editor., June 23, 2005)

IT's HERE...IT'S HERE http://kitelife.com/forum/gallery/album/321-/ MAN it's going to be hard to stay at work today.

Does anybody have any information/reviews of the Vortex/Maxima? I'm waiting on one to arrive in the mail and just wanted a little more info. All I could find on the interwebs was this pic. http://www.foreverflying.com/Vortex-Chart99.jpg

Other than local hobby shops, with a limited supply at best, the only shop I've purchased from is Wind Power Sports. Mainly because of a clearance sale on a New Tech French Kiss. The only glitch we had was after ordering I did not receive a tracking number. I rarely order things through the Internet so after a day and a half I called him. Corey Jensen answered the phone. He explained he had just returned a fest and was swamped with orders. He asked "are you new to the sport"? I answered yes and no. I flew a dual line Skynasaur back in the late '80's but had gotten out of it. His response was "well do you have a minute"? I said "yes" and it's lucky I have unlimited long distance . We talked for about 20 min. on kites and life. The conversation ended with his statement I'll ship it out this afternoon. The tracking number would come once it was in the UPS sys. With a smile of anticipation I hung up and continued with my workweek. So ordered online on a Monday and talked to him on a Tuesday. Friday rolls around and I had yet to receive a number. I had also ordered some skybond for a kite I purchased from Troy Gunn but did not want to fly until I had the line. I really didn't want to bug Corey by calling again. Especially after being the penny pincher purchaser. (a clearance kite and free shipping) Anyhoo...I had to know...ring...ring...ring...Wind Power Sports, this is Corey. Me: yes, I was just calling to check the status of an order. What I thought was funny is he didn't ask for an order number. He asked what did you order from me? I told him and he looked up the status. "Well" he said "it looks like it's on the truc...nope it says delivered". "Yes, well I better take off work early and get my butt home then". He laughed and asked if I had any questions. I don't remember my first question but his reply was "do you have a minute"? Again thank goodness for unlimited LD. He is a hoot. For 30 min. we talked about line types, sleeving, wind properties, single/dual/quad lines and life in general. The 2 local hobby stores have little kite knowledge and thus not very helpful. Sold it to me and said have fun. I flew kites years ago so I didn't need much help. But I could see where a first timer could get discouraged without a little training, verbal or otherwise. I've taken a couple of friends out to fly and some pick it up naturally and some need coaching. I had a very acceptable kite purchasing experience with WPS. Provided you have time to talk:). BTW the wind was about 10mph yesterday. WOW these are the first full size stunt kites I've owned...what a difference.

One down...hundreds to go. A coworker of mine was tired of me obsessing over kites. Friday at lunch he said "ok let's go buy a kite. The only kites available in this town are at two hobby shops. And the pick'ns are slim. He purchased a New Tech Hunter. A decent beginner kite if you ask me. He flew his hunter while I flew a French Connection. After a short hour he said "I think I already have my monies worth." Yea! Creating new fliers one muggle at a time.