Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 17:05:06 -1000 From: ciuffo@rainbow.rmii.com (Aaron Ciuffo) Message-Id: <4hgb12$5j3@natasha.rmii.com> Organization: Rocky Mountain Internet Inc. Subject: Dark Star System... So, has any one seen/heard/played with this new(?) Dark Star System? It is suposed to have all sorts of adons that increase wind range, increase stability, and one that helps keep the kites speed constant as it moves across the window... Just got the Into The Wind '96 catalog. The Dark Star is a "feature" attraction.... Aaron C = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 08:31:46 -1000 From: jim@oasis.icl.co.uk (Jim Cheetham) Message-Id: <4hi1ai$pm1@eccles.dsbc.icl.co.uk> Organization: ICL, Bracknell, UK Subject: Re: Dark Star System... Aaron Ciuffo (ciuffo@rainbow.rmii.com) wrote: : So, has any one seen/heard/played with this new(?) Dark Star : System? It is suposed to have all sorts of adons that increase wind : range, increase stability, and one that helps keep the kites speed : constant as it moves across the window... Well, DarkStars have a fair range of addons. I have the gauze air brake, which lives on the standoffs and then connects to the bottom of the spine. There is a solid brake, I believe in the same configuration, a cruise control which keeps stability when the wind gusts/drops, and a lightwind solid addon that extends the sail area and gives a deeper sail (I think) But I don't use 'em, because I haven't needed to ... The basic kite is flexible enough for me :-) Well, perhaps that's a little unfair. I know the solid air brake has been used to allow the kite to perform in the 38mph area (the frame bends, but it is made of epsilon, after all, so that's no real issue). The light wing I'm not convinced about, I don't think it would be tremendously effective, but if you're not buying a UL or SUL then it may make the difference to the DarkStar you need. The cruise control is liked by team flyers, like Lynn at Team Air Circus. She has my DarkStars at the moment, and claims that the sail on one has stretched. I haven't seen it myself yet, but I find it pretty unlikely. They are well built things, that take good advantage of their epsilon carbon frames. I believe that Ray Bethel flew them for endurance records. I usually fly mine as a stack - easy to configure, and when things are adjusted right, the stack axels cleanly, too. Have a look at www.guernsey.net/~jim/kites/collect.html#darkstar It doesn't actually tell you much more, but it does have a picture :-) -- _____ ceci n'est ____ _ pas une _ _ email (__ __) o ______ ( __)( )_ ___ ___ _( )_( )_ ___ ______ (____) (_)(_)()(_) (____)(_)_)(__=)(__=) (_)_(_)_)(___)_(_)()(_) www.guernsey.net/~jim +44 1344 472537 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =