Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1993 05:11:53 -1000 From: ilh@lcs.mit.edu (Lee Hetherington) Message-Id: Organization: MIT/LCS Spoken Language Systems Subject: axel Yesterday I managed to learn the axel. Within five minutes of my first controlled success*, I was axeling all over the sky, in both directions, and into landings. It seems incredibly easy once you know how to do it ;-) Some things I learned when doing the axel with my homemade Tracer clone in about 5-8mph wind: 1) A good stall is necessary. Any forward speed, and you tend to turn out of the axel. You don't have to hold it for any length of time, but it has to be a stall that you COULD hold. I was starting the axel with the nose pointing straight up. 2) Rocking the kite a little the "wrong way" first helps. This seems to give you a little more momentum when you rock it the "right way". 3) I was doing the axel with a quick push-pull (one hand pushes and one pulls) flicking motion, and putting my hands right back where they started. I estimate my hand motion to be about 6in. Previously I was seriously overdoing this motion and not being fast enough about it, usually resulting in tangled lines. 4) It's probably easier to learn relatively high, say 1/2 way up. Up there the kite is already in more of a belly-down position, and it tends to flip the wingtip over the lines easier. It also gives you more room to recover from the turtled tangled mess that sometimes results when you're learning the move. It's also probaby easiest to learn the move near the edge. 5) Sometimes it comes out as a flat, belly-down, rather slow spin. Other times it comes out as a kind of flip to the side, almost in place. I haven't put enough time (only five minutes) in to figure out how make it more or less flat. Thanks to Dave Butler, Steve Thomas, Jeff Burka and others for their descriptions of the move. It's one of those interesting, a kite- shouldn't-be-able-to-do-that kind of moves. Personally, I find my Tracer clone very easy to axel, at least in those relatively light winds. Hopefully my Katana will like axels too. I haven't really tried multiple axels, or axels from the ground yet. I can't wait to get back out and try more. *Note that I said five minutes from my first SUCCESS. I won't say how long it took before the first success. -- Lee Hetherington ilh@lcs.mit.edu = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1993 08:27:21 -1000 From: ilh@lcs.mit.edu (Lee Hetherington) Message-Id: Organization: MIT/LCS Spoken Language Systems Subject: Re: axel Sorry for the lack of description on the axel. It was discussed at some length in the last month or two here. I was just adding my own observations/tips and telling the world that I FINALLY succeeded with the axel after many, many failed attempts. It's an interesting trick. Take a look at the archives on ftp.hawaii.edu. You can ftp anonymously there into directory /pub/rec/kites. In the archives subdirectory, mbox.9308xx and mbox.9309xx should contain all the traffic over August and September. Look for articles by Dave Butler and Steve Thomas, or just search for "axel". (Todd, if you can't do this I'll try to dig up the copies I saved somewhere.) As far as building kites, give Hang-em High Fabrics in Richmond, VA a call at 804-233-6155. They sell everything you need for stunt kites or single-line kites, including some of the newer materials such as Icarex and SkyShark. I asked for Icarex swatches and got them two days later. When I ordered my Icarex, it came in two days. The service and prices are great. I believe they sell kite-making books too. Disclaimer: I'm just a satisfied customer who will do business there again. Lee (who just spent the last two hours axeling his Katana and Tracer all over the place*) Hetherington *Jeff, I hope you don't mind I borrowed your signature technique. -- Lee Hetherington ilh@lcs.mit.edu = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1993 04:55:50 -1000 From: swiftt3984@cobra.uni.edu Message-Id: <1993Oct13.095550.17911@cobra.uni.edu> Organization: University of Northern Iowa Subject: Re: axel Hi everyone! 1) I've only been flying for a year and love it! I just found this newsgroup about a week ago. I'm not very familiar with the names of a lot of manuevers and was wondering what Lee meant by an 'axel'. I did pick up that it must be some type of pivot turn and that I've got to push one hand and pull with the other as I attempt it. Any more clues/general descriptions? 2) Also, I'm interested in attempting to make a kite(s). There is only one kite shop anywhere near where I live (Cedar Falls, IA) and it is primarily a RC airplane shop and has no books on kiting. I do have Into the Wind and Catch the Wind catalogs. Could someone recommend some of the better kite making books. I guess I am interested in all types (dual-line stunters, fighters, single-line). Also, a good place to order supplies from if there are mail-order places that are better than the two I mentioned would be appreciated. 3) I've got a Spiderwing from Catch the Wind, a Trlby, and a Hawaiian Spin-off. My wife and I received the Spin-off as a wedding present from a group of my friends! The best present we got! :) I've also got a Hata made by Into the Wind (which I'm slowly getting better at controlling) and a 6' Delta-Conyenne (sp?) which I thoroughly enjoy. I've never flown a quad-line kite. I really enjoy reading all your posts. Thanks for any info you can provide me with! Todd Swift SWIFTT3984@cobra.uni.edu P.S. If this information is all contained in a FAQ somewhere you could just steer me toward that. I didn't find an FAQ in the list of posts. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1993 20:36:51 -1000 From: dbell@lobby.ti.com (Dick Bell) Message-Id: <931014003651@dbell.dseg.ti.com> Organization: Texas Instruments Inc Subject: Re: axel In article <1993Oct13.095550.17911@cobra.uni.edu> swiftt3984@cobra.uni.edu writes: >> Hi everyone! >> >> 1) I've only been flying for a year and love it! I just found this >> newsgroup about a week ago. I'm not very familiar with the names of a lot of >> manuevers and was wondering what Lee meant by an 'axel'. I did pick up that it >> must be some type of pivot turn and that I've got to push one hand and pull >> with the other as I attempt it. Any more clues/general descriptions? >> 2) Also, I'm interested in attempting to make a kite(s). There is only >> one kite shop anywhere near where I live (Cedar Falls, IA) and it is primarily >> a RC airplane shop and has no books on kiting. I do have Into the Wind and >> Catch the Wind catalogs. Could someone recommend some of the better kite >> making books. I guess I am interested in all types (dual-line stunters, >> fighters, single-line). Also, a good place to order supplies from if there are >> mail-order places that are better than the two I mentioned would be >> appreciated. >> 3) I've got a Spiderwing from Catch the Wind, a Trlby, and a Hawaiian >> Spin-off. My wife and I received the Spin-off as a wedding present from a >> group of my friends! The best present we got! :) I've also got a Hata made >> by Into the Wind (which I'm slowly getting better at controlling) and a 6' >> Delta-Conyenne (sp?) which I thoroughly enjoy. I've never flown a quad-line >> kite. >> >> I really enjoy reading all your posts. Thanks for any info you can >> provide me with! >> >> >> Todd Swift >> SWIFTT3984@cobra.uni.edu >> >> P.S. If this information is all contained in a FAQ somewhere you could just >> steer me toward that. I didn't find an FAQ in the list of posts. Todd, One great place to get supplies to build kites is "Kite Studio". They have just about every thing that you could want including a quarterly news letter with kite plans (the last one had plans for the Phantom) and most important is the new kite making video that they have produced. The video is produced with very good video and explaines most of the details of building just about any kite. The video with some of the more popular kite making books will get you some very nice kites. You can reach Kite Studio at (215) 395-3560. Ask Steve to send you his catalog and the video. You can't go wrong. Tell-em I sent ya. 8:> -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- The opinions expressed here are my own and not Texas Instruments ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dick Bell dickbell@netcom.com Dallas, Tx. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 04:25:01 -1000 From: eanv33@castle.ed.ac.uk (B A Wedgwood-Oppenheim) Message-Id: <4gv47t$98v@scotsman.ed.ac.uk> Organization: Edinburgh University Subject: axel I just did my first axel!!! I felt I should tell some one. Bruce = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 06:42:44 -1000 From: kichiwa@eskimo.com (Mike Eason) Message-Id: Organization: Not Much! Subject: Re: axel In article <4gv47t$98v@scotsman.ed.ac.uk>, eanv33@castle.ed.ac.uk says... > >I just did my first axel!!! >I felt I should tell some one. > >Bruce Coooooooool Dude. Have fun, -- Mike Eason or Media Specialist: Everett Community College, Everett, WA voice H:206-334-0362 W:206-388-9117 fax:206-388-9144 Newsletter Editor and Past President, Snohomish County Incredible Flying Individuals, SCI-FI Event Organizer/Committee Chair, Washington State Sport Kite Championships, 9/28-29/96 Whidbey Island Kite Festival, 9/28-29/96 - Casey Conf. Center, Coupeville, Whidbey Is. WA, USA = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 02:53:31 -1000 From: gf164@cleveland.freenet.edu (Philip J. Le Riche) Message-Id: <4h47kb$fdd@madeline.INS.CWRU.Edu> Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA) Subject: Re: axel In a previous article, kichiwa@eskimo.com (Mike Eason) says: >In article <4gv47t$98v@scotsman.ed.ac.uk>, eanv33@castle.ed.ac.uk says... >> >>I just did my first axel!!! >>I felt I should tell some one. >> >>Bruce I *think* I did one or two the other day. All I know is that one minute it was stalled and going all over the place, and the next I regained tension and found a 360 twist in the lines! What happenned in between, I'm not sure. Is that a crude axel?? - Philip -- ============================================================================= Philip Le Riche gf164@cleveland.freenet.edu (Malgre son nom, ce brave homme ne parle pas Francais) ============================================================================= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 05:52:24 -1000 From: mielse@euronet.nl (Emiel Stroeve) Message-Id: <4h4i4g$9m3@news.euro.net> Organization: Euronet Internet Subject: Re: axel eanv33@castle.ed.ac.uk (B A Wedgwood-Oppenheim) wrote: >I just did my first axel!!! >I felt I should tell some one. Hi Bruce, The question here is: can you do it again ???? happy axelling emiel Emiel Stroeve The Netherlands miel@knoware.nl -------------------------------------------------------------- <<< http://www.euronet.nl/users/mielse/index.html >>> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 03:44:33 -1000 From: KITEJAG@MOTHER.COM (John A. Gabby Jr.) Message-Id: <4h709s$5bj@pa.mother.com> Organization: Mother.COM Subject: Re: axel eanv33@castle.ed.ac.uk (B A Wedgwood-Oppenheim) wrote: >I just did my first axel!!! >I felt I should tell some one. >Bruce Careful Bruce...one axel leads to another, and then another, and another yet....before you know whats happened you'll be a full fledged axelholic and have to attend meetings and all that suff. Congradulations anyway! John Think Kindly Thoughts. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 07:59:27 -1000 From: rlarsen@kudonet.com (Hmmmmm) Message-Id: <4hfb1v$ak8@kudo.kudonet.com> Organization: KudoNet On-Line Services Subject: Re: axel In article <4gv47t$98v@scotsman.ed.ac.uk>, eanv33@castle.ed.ac.uk says... > >I just did my first axel!!! >I felt I should tell some one. > >Bruce Congratulations Bruce!... Now you have to start practicing that lexa or whatever you call the backward one. Rick = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =