Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1993 00:15:25 -1000 From: terryh@ukcsd.uk.sun.com (Terry Heatlie - Sun UK - Tech Support ) Message-Id: <25a5bt$gop@uk-usenet.uk.sun.com> Subject: "3-point" bridle adjustment Folks, A friend of mine has a small (1.3m span) dart-style kite, which has twin lines. Each line is attached to a bridle which has three parts. One goes to the outer end of the front spreader, one to the tail end of the spine, and one to the outer end of the rear spreader. My friend has never managed to get this kite to fly. I went flying with him once, and we ended up breaking the kite. I have now repaired it, and would like to set it up properly. Sadly, I don't know what effect changing the lengths of the various parts of the bridle is meant to have. So far, I have moved the attachment point of the flying lines up and down (ie along the spine), without changing their spanwise position. I have had behaviour that goes from an unstable kite which instantly turns nose-down and crashes (too far towards the tail, right?), to a kite that flies incredibly flat to the ground, won't climb, and veers off out of wind and crashes after a few moments (too far towards the nose, right?). I haven't had anything inbetween, even though I made very small adjustments (3mm at a time). Does anyone have any tips they can share so I can get this accursed thing to fly properly? Regards, Terry Heatlie. PS, I have made my friend a kite which *does* fly :-) T. terry.heatlie@uk.sun.com (internet). terry.heatlie@sun.co.uk (JANET) Disclaimer: all my own work (except this disclaimer, which I nicked). *** I want to go to 'Frisco bay, drink my liquor and spend my pay *** = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1993 10:11:35 -1000 From: sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <1993Aug23.201135.19780@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Subject: Re: "3-point" bridle adjustment In article <25a5bt$gop@uk-usenet.uk.sun.com>, terryh@ukcsd.uk.sun.com (Terry Heatlie - Sun UK - Tech Support ) writes: >So far, I have moved the attachment point of the flying lines up and >down (ie along the spine), without changing their spanwise position. >I have had behaviour that goes from an unstable kite which instantly >turns nose-down and crashes (too far towards the tail, right?), to >a kite that flies incredibly flat to the ground, won't climb, and >veers off out of wind and crashes after a few moments (too far towards >the nose, right?). I haven't had anything inbetween, even though I >made very small adjustments (3mm at a time). > >Does anyone have any tips they can share so I can get this accursed thing >to fly properly? Hard to tell without knowing the brand name of the kite and such. Different kites require different adjustments. It is also entirely possible that the bridle is just wrong on the kite. Sometimes a small change in the bridle will render a kite unflyable. Your best bet is to take the kite back to the shop where you purchased it, and ask the proprieter to give you a hand. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1993 03:52:21 -1000 From: reich@cod.nosc.mil (Ronald S. Reich) Message-Id: <9308241352.AA01797@cod.nosc.mil> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: Re: "3-point" bridle adjustment Date: 23 Aug 1993 10:15:25 GMT From: terryh@ukcsd.uk.sun.com (Terry Heatlie - Sun UK - Tech Support ) Subject: "3-point" bridle adjustment >My friend has never managed to get this kite to fly..... >So far, I have moved the attachment point of the flying lines up >and down (ie along the spine), without changing their spanwise >position...... Too Many kite builders overlook the importance of a balanced frame. There is a critical relationship between the center of gravity of the frame and the center of pressure of the sail. The brut force approach to solve your problem would be to experiment with changing the weight of the top spreader. At first impression from your description I would think the top spreader is too heavy. Hope This Helps, Ron Reich = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =