Date:	Tue, 9 Nov 1993 22:38:45 -1000
From:	vdhamer@prl.philips.nl
Message-Id: <9311100838.AA20775@ist1.prl.philips.nl>
Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Subject: Re: Cicada design question (& sequel to Dutch stunt kite book)

In reply to Tom Jackson's (tom@minster.york.ac.uk) question:
> ..planning to make the Cicada kite (Phantom clone) from the
> Dutch Stunt Kite book - "Stunt Kites to make and Fly"...
> The design suggests a bend at the end of the leading edge spar
> (which is 165cm long) of 13cm from the straight position.
> It has been suggested to me that a more appropriate bend would
> be about 7cm.

Because I happen to know one of the authors and 'cause he is not on
Internet (gasp!), I called him to check about the Cicada design.
Results:
* As published, the leading edge spar should actually bend 15cm. The
  smaller Gizmo has a bend of 13cm. In other words: no printing errors.
* The author (Nop Velthuizen) personally knows about 10 people who
  have built the design as published. Only known problem is that in
  one or two of these cases the spars seem to cause a vibration at
  high wind speeds (Nop suspects that this may be caused by an 
  off-center boring of the rods themselves). Here in Holland the Cicada
  (or Cicade as it is known here) is a fairly common sight at kite
  fests or on the beach.
* In the sequel to "Stunt Kites to Make and Fly" (due in spring of '94)
  there will be a new design which also has curved leading edge spars.
  [Warning: **start of advert**]
  The book will be comparable to its predecessor and will contain a set
  of new designs, information on competition flying (STACK/AKA), info
  on buggies and will be (loosely?) bundled with a PC floppy containing
  a program for printing 'actual size' kite patterns on a printer and
  a second program (developed by myself) in which solo and team flight
  patterns can be developed, and simulated on the computer screen. The
  latter program will also have a (complete?) set of STACK compulsory
  figures as well as several complete routines from major teams.
  [**end of advert**]

Peter van den Hamer
vdhamer@prl.philips.nl


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