Date: Thu, 26 May 1994 22:22:07 -1000 From: cassidys@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Steve Cassidy") Message-Id: Organization: Unknown Organization Subject: Balloon material A swift question... A friend (and no, for reasons which will become obvious I am not posting his net.address!) has suffered a slight tree intersection problem in his semi-dirigible airship. Such was the nature of momentum, the fractal dimension of the tree and the angle of attack that the envelope of the airship suffered rather badly. He now intends to turn the remains into a *small* non-dirigible hot air balloon - which means that he has just a few (hundred) square metres of ripstop-like-stuff left over. Someone has already told me that this would make very poor kite material, because it's heavier gauge than normal kite ripstop - what I want to know is, are they right, and if so, can one make (say) a specially high-wind kite out of the stuff? = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 11:40:41 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Balloon material cassidys@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Steve Cassidy") writes: >A friend (and no, for reasons which will become obvious I am not posting >his net.address!) I've been trying to work out who this could be, but I've drawn "un blanc" >which means that he has just a >few (hundred) square metres of ripstop-like-stuff left over. >Someone has already told me that this would make very poor kite material, >because it's heavier gauge than normal kite ripstop - what I want to know >is, are they right, and if so, can one make (say) a specially high-wind >kite out of the stuff? If it's the saim as normal baloon ripstop, it should be OK for large soft kites. Martin Lester uses ballon-grade Carringtons for all his legs, even the small ones. Aside from big soft kites, I'd consider a Bernoulli device - what colour is it? (We'll try to think of something that's basically spherical in that colour) Andrew -- Yes Karen, some of us *do* care! Netiquette-of-the-day: Take care to attribute quotes correctly. You can FTP the kite FAQ's from ftp.hawaii.edu (directory /pub/rec/kites/faq) The FAQ's have lists of kites, kite stores, kite questions, kite books & plans. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 00:13:21 -1000 From: mw00378@lime.sbil.co.uk (Malcolm White) Message-Id: Organization: Salomon Brothers, Ltd. Subject: Re: Balloon material In article 8yI@cix.compulink.co.uk, cassidys@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Steve Cassidy") writes: |A swift question... | |A friend (and no, for reasons which will become obvious I am not posting |his net.address!) has suffered a slight tree intersection problem in his |semi-dirigible airship. Such was the nature of momentum, the fractal |dimension of the tree and the angle of attack that the envelope of the |airship suffered rather badly. He now intends to turn the remains into a |*small* non-dirigible hot air balloon - which means that he has just a |few (hundred) square metres of ripstop-like-stuff left over. | |Someone has already told me that this would make very poor kite material, |because it's heavier gauge than normal kite ripstop - what I want to know |is, are they right, and if so, can one make (say) a specially high-wind |kite out of the stuff? If this was the Cameron Airship that I read about ( which I believe it was :-) ), then the ripstop fabric would be approx 65 grams per square metre with a hard polyurethane coating. This gives the fabric a slightly 'crispy' feel. Nowadays soft poly coating is used ( general concensus is that the older hard coating keeps the fabric in better condition and color ). Both Cameron and Thunder Colt use a heavier ripstop for the tops of their balloons ( reg names Hyperlast and HTN90 respectively ) and thi hs in at 85 grams per square metre. This material copes much better with UV and heat decay. This fabric is much slipperier that regular ripstop. Hope this helps! Regards, Malcolm. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 02:58:00 -1000 From: cassidys@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Steve Cassidy") Message-Id: Organization: Evaluation Services Subject: Re: Balloon material > what colour? He was alleging that it's yellow & black. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =