Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 04:56:40 -1000 From: cmonck@aol.com (CMonck) Message-Id: <3m8sj8$gtc@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? I've been thinking about getting the 125 sq.ft flowform, but I'm not certain what type of line to use, or the best method of anchoring it. I have a rig attached to the tie-downs on my '72 Karmann Ghia Converitble for a stratoscoop 3, but I don't want to lose my rear bumper in a sudden gust. Are there any big kite enthusiasts who would like to share their methods ? Thanks ! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 08:30:58 -1000 From: cjsigal@netcom.com (Chuck Sigal) Message-Id: Organization: Berkeley Buggy Bums Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? In article <3m8sj8$gtc@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, CMonck wrote: >I've been thinking about getting the 125 sq.ft flowform, but I'm not >certain what type of line to use, or the best method of anchoring it. I >have a rig attached to the tie-downs on my '72 Karmann Ghia Converitble >for a stratoscoop 3, but I don't want to lose my rear bumper in a sudden >gust. Are there any big kite enthusiasts who would like to share their >methods ? Thanks ! I'll forward your question to Bob Anderson. I'm sure he'll have some opinions on the matter. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in | | human history--with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila. | | Mitch Ratcliffe, Technology Review, April, 1992 | | Chuck Sigal | | Albany,CA,USA Voice/Fax:01.510.527.3547 e-mail:cjsigal@netcom.com | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 13:11:42 -1000 From: kth2o@aol.com (KT H2O) Message-Id: <3m9pje$oef@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? If your flying on sand it's very eazy to bury a "dead man". A 2x4 or 2x6 a couple of feet long with a rope attached works great. On grass in light wind use a "dog stake" one to anchor one for back up. Put a small amount of slack between the two stakes and tie off. In greater wind use more stakes in the forward position and a couple in the rear for back up. For super heavy pullers I've seen six stakes in a row with a metal bar run through ... tie off in the middle. If you use your car as an anchor use a tow rope (1500lb) and hook it to the frame on both sides to form a "V" and a carabiner in the center. Thanks - Karen & Tim ........... End of Line KT H2O@aol.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 9 Apr 1995 19:34:07 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? kth2o@aol.com (KT H2O) writes: >If your flying on sand it's very eazy to bury a "dead man". A 2x4 or 2x6 >a couple of feet long with a rope attached works great. On grass in light >wind use a "dog stake" one to anchor one for back up. Good idea, but beware... (possible UL follows - this is a FOAF...) Guy ties *big* single-liner to a lump of telegraph pole sticking out the beach... Kite rips the pole out the sand and he chases it across town, cheque-book in hand... Andrew -- New to rec.kites? START HERE! | To: www@kfs.org send an email message like this->| Subject: service /-\ () >< () |\/| () >< () /-\ | http://www.kfs.org/kites/welcome/index.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 06:35:45 -1000 From: sasaki@netopd.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <3mbmp1$43a@netope.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard OIT Network Services Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? At one of the Black Ships Festivals a large Hagaman parafoil lifted a telephone poll off of the ground and carried it about 20 feet. This was really exciting... At a few AKA National Conventions held on the beach, deep holes were dub and tires that had been tied together were buried. Another thing to do would be to use a largish sand anchor. These things actually bury themselves deeper in the sand with increased force. Use your car to make sure that the grip is solid, then attach your kites... -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 90 Melrose Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Arlington, MA 02174 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-646-1925 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 12:41:17 -1000 From: wru@access3.digex.net (William A. Rutiser) Message-Id: <3mcc6d$se4@access3.digex.net> Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? Some years ago, I witnessed something like this at Sandy Point State Park, (West end of the Cheseapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland). A large kite was tied off to a telephone pole size post set in the sand. The post came out, headed for the concession stand and the power lines beyond it. A bunch of people jumped on the post and managed to stop it. There was a lot of good luck in this incident. No one was seriously injured. A few minutes before, I saw a slightly built man testing the pull on the line by supporting his entire weight on it. The line barely deflected. The same rule of thumb that gives 1 ounce per square foot at 5 mph gives 1 pound per square foot at 20 mph. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 12:01:51 -1000 From: lord@eskimo.com (David Lord) Message-Id: Organization: Eskimo North (206) For-Ever Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? In article andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) writes: >Xref: eskimo rec.kites:14823 >Newsgroups: rec.kites >Path: >eskimo!openwx!news.sprintlink.net!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!wendy.ibmpcug.co. >uk!kate.ibmpcug.co.uk!tug!andrew >From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) >Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? >Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation >Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 05:34:07 GMT >Message-ID: >References: <3m8sj8$gtc@newsbf02.news.aol.com> ><3m9pje$oef@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >Lines: 16 >kth2o@aol.com (KT H2O) writes: >>If your flying on sand it's very eazy to bury a "dead man". A 2x4 or 2x6 >>a couple of feet long with a rope attached works great. On grass in light >>wind use a "dog stake" one to anchor one for back up. >Good idea, but beware... (possible UL follows - this is a FOAF...) >Guy ties *big* single-liner to a lump of telegraph pole sticking out the >beach... Kite rips the pole out the sand and he chases it across town, >cheque-book in hand... >Andrew >-- I agree with Andrew. A fellow i knew had such an experience. When i asked him about it he refused to talk about it but a witness said that the large parafoil managerd to pick up a log the kite was tied to. The wind came up unexpectedly, lifted the log and the log managed to destroy a couple of chimneys on some beach houses before it landed. It was funny to everybody except the beach house owners and the parafoil owner. Dave Lord = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 09:54:06 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? sasaki@harvard.edu writes: >At a few AKA National Conventions held on the beach, deep holes were >dub and tires that had been tied together were buried. > >Another thing to do would be to use a largish sand anchor. Best thing I've seen on the beach is just bags. Either a bunch of post-bags or a big bulk-gravel bag. Nice features include: - nice failure mode. Overload caused them to drag across the beach. Just get a couple of people to sit on the bags to hold 'em still while you tie some more on. Unlike a stake (or telegraph pole...) breaking free and flying through the air. - mobile. If the wind changes you can drag 'em round to where you want them - no sharp or hard bits for people to hurt themselves on - Easy to store & transport (at least they are once you've tipped the sand out...) On the other hand, they just don't have the same street cred as turning up with a dumper-truck to anchor to... Andrew -- New to rec.kites? START HERE! | To: www@kfs.org send an email message like this->| Subject: service /-\ () >< () |\/| () >< () /-\ | http://www.kfs.org/kites/welcome/index.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 19:15:28 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? lord@eskimo.com (David Lord) writes: >The wind came up >unexpectedly, lifted the log and the log managed to destroy a couple of >chimneys on some beach houses before it landed. It was funny to everybody >except the beach house owners and the parafoil owner. Of course there was a certain fellow from NZ who had to go one better... He tied to a fence-post on a wire fence. The kite pulls the post out of the ground. The wire holds. It pulls the next post out, then the next, etc... Andrew -- New to rec.kites? START HERE! | To: www@kfs.org send an email message like this->| Subject: service /-\ () >< () |\/| () >< () /-\ | http://www.kfs.org/kites/welcome/index.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 09:14:42 -1000 From: coreykite@aol.com (Coreykite) Message-Id: <3mh8r2$ipa@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? I fly large kites 440 feet upwind from a freeway. I fly on a beach. I use somewhat less sand weight than the break-strength of the line. A large MLD bag with 200 lbs of sand, a 350 lb test line, approx 350 feet long. Wind dies? Kite comes down on the beach. Wind kicks up? Drags the sand bag. I can catch 200 lbs of sand. Also relieves tension on the line just a bit. Line failure is a catastrophic failure. Especially if you are in one of the cars going by. What? Plan on the worst case. Then you can deal with the small stuff. I also carry 30-40 feet of hollow nylon stap to throw around a suitable anchor (or group of friends). aoxomoxoa coreykite@aol.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 19:05:34 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Big Flowform - How to Anchor it ? coreykite@aol.com (Coreykite) writes: >I also carry 30-40 feet of hollow nylon stap to throw around a suitable >anchor (or group of friends). (andrew makes a note to be more careful to watch what Corey is up to at ALL times) -- New to rec.kites? START HERE! | To: www@kfs.org send an email message like this->| Subject: service /-\ () >< () |\/| () >< () /-\ | http://www.kfs.org/kites/welcome/index.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =