by Zippy8 (Posted Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:38:42 GMT) Just waiting on the last three slackers to come across with some numbers. First place is sorted, squabbling between two over the order of the podium places, four more hovering around the VF mug for 6th place, then a bit of a gap to the backmarkers.
Also last call for anyone to throw their hat into the ring if they feel like giving running VF a go. Don't be shy now.
CALLAWAY — Clear skies and warm weather offered kite fliers a good opportunity to fly during the 20th annual Callaway Kite Flight Saturday and Sunday in Callaway.
Kite enthusiasts from 14 countries and more than 25 states turned out in central Nebraska this weekend to participate in the 20th anniversary of the Callaway Kite Flight.
hello all,
i have for sale a mk 2 hq beamer 7mtr its white under side with yellow top skin.
the kite is in very good nik no holes or repairs only two mud stains on it. the bag is a bit tatty but...
18:23Winter 2010 - Indoor Kite Sessions at Southampton» Fractured Axel
by sftonkin (Posted Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:23:45 GMT) In diary.
I'm thinking of getting a 12m 09 manta for a low wind (less than 10mph) buggy engine and also for landboarding when I get better. I have been using a 8m access XT recently and I'm now completely sold...
being an x windsurfer and one who used to bast down the speed strip at west kirby, yesterday on the smaller of my 2 race boards was a familiar sensation,
wind - was 20-28 mph kite 13mtr bandit,...
Hi Guys
I'm after a new landboard deck, pretty stiff for 14.5 stone rider, thinking along the lines of a leon robbins, Scrub pro 102 or trampa, let me know what you got.
Cheers:D
Hi im selling my slingshot fuel 15m LEI kite,
It is 2006 I think and comes complete with a very nice bar and lines.
The kite comes with the...
16:35Smaller kite for the winter? help needed» Kitecrowd
Hi All,
Need a bit of advice, im well into buggying and im not sure if my kites are a bit big for the windy Autum and winter months. Would it be a good idea to get a 2m as the next smallest kite i...
by Stan Doff (Posted Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:49:40 GMT)
Andy S wrote:
Saw some Kenny Everett Television Show again recently - how any of it made it to prime time telly defies belief. Why my Mum let me watch it is another marvel.
15:38Kate Gosselin's Labor Day Weekend Fitness - GossipCenter.com» kites - Google News
Kate Gosselin's Labor Day Weekend Fitness GossipCenter.com After "Pirates, Kites, and Turtles. Oh My!" airs first, fans will then be treated to "6th Birthday Surprise" which sees Kate's plan a special birthday ...
13:59Buggy: PETER LYNN XR BUGGY. for sale.» Kitecrowd
Hi There.
I have a p/l xr "uprated ", buggy for sale, in very good condition.
Youll have to Email me for pics, as i cannot get ths site to accept them, too many pixels!!
Price is only...
13:46COLOURFUL kites filled the air as they fluttered and dived above thousands of ... - Bristol Evening Post» kites - Google News
Found an app on my phone so I can upload a diagram :) I'm thinking it could be quite helpful to people if we all try and upload our configurations and the result you can achieve.
*Setup*
Image:...
Photos from the Kites Over Lake Michigan festival on Saturday night and Sunday at Neshotah Beach in Two Rivers.
10:36Kite-flying event draws people from 14 countries - Action 3 News» kites - Google News
Kite-flying event draws people from 14 countries Action 3 News Kites of all shapes and sizes took flight, including an octopus-shape kite measuring 88 feet long. The event is held just south of Callaway and has grown ...
A Pakistani professional kite flyer prepares special thread used in kite flying on a roadside in Lahore on the eve of the annual kite flying festival Basant.
by jaydub (Posted Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:27:18 GMT) That just about sums up why I've never bought any kites from the US and probably won't buy any from outside the EU.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Hunter Morton, left, watches with intense curiosity as kite surfer Andrew Hammerdorfer drops to his back to bring a gigantic surf kite down to take a break on a blustery day at Cotton Bayou beach access on Friday. In the top inset photo, Kimiko Wadriski secures the kite. In the bottom inset photo, Hunter asks Andrew about his amazing contraption.
Go fly a kite! Boston Herald Bostonians can expect a glorious Labor Day holiday with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s today. Tomorrow will bring better beach weather ...
It is a French invitation that our own globe trotting intrepid band of hobby kite flyers -- Team Mangalore just could not resist. Packing their bags for a 11-day French sojourn starting September 11 on an invitation from the mayor of Dieppe are members of Team Mangalore -- Sarvesh Rao, Dinesh Holla, Prashanth Kumar and Subhash Pai --who with their versatile kite collection are on a mission to ...
It is a French invitation that our own globe trotting intrepid band of hobby kite flyers -- Team Mangalore just could not resist. Packing their bags for a 11-day French sojourn starting September 11 on an invitation from the mayor of Dieppe are members of Team Mangalore -- Sarvesh Rao, Dinesh Holla, Prashanth Kumar and Subhash Pai --who with their versatile kite collection are on a mission to ...
i've been close to saying f*ck this, packing it in and selling all my kit because i was just not getting the hang of buggying! got very piss off but...
TWO RIVERS Saturday was cool with a shifting wind, but that didnt keep kites from flying and spectators from turning out to watch the show as the fifth annual Kites Over Lake Michigan got under way at Neshotah Beach.
10:13Kites take to the skies over Two Rivers - Herald Times Reporter» kites - Google News
ANTELOPE ISLAND -- John Barresi, member of IQuad kite team, decided to do a little warm-up drill for the crowd. read more
00:56Photos: Kites Over Lake Michigan in Two Rivers - Herald Times Reporter» kites - Google News
Photos: Kites Over Lake Michigan in Two Rivers Herald Times Reporter The 5th Annual Kites Over Lake Michigan was held at Neshotah Beach in Two Rivers on Saturday, Sept. 4 and will continue on Sunday, Sept. 5. ...
Manitowoc WI News - htrnews.com is the home page of Manitowoc WI with in depth and updated Manitowoc local news. Stay informed with both Manitowoc WI news as well as headlines and stories from around the world.
by Mark E Mark (Posted Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:12:53 GMT) I own Naim amplification - I just don't post much on their forum. All manufacturer forums are a touch 'dry' in my experience.
by tpatters (Posted Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:25:44 GMT) I think any of Ken's kites from Blue Moon would be perfect for this stage and are likely to last you a very long time in your flying (perhaps forever). They are solidly built kites that fly smooth as silk, handle like a dream, and also trick while at the same time being more neutral than many of the more popular tricksters. I like the Exile and Mantis best.
The Bristol International Kite Festival gets under way at Ashton Court Estate.
16:39Bristol International Kite Festival under way - BBC News» kite - Google News
Bristol International Kite Festival under way BBC News Displays include kite-fighting battles, routines flown to music, and air sculptures. The festival is also celebrating 100 years of aviation in the West of ...
by Infinitive (Posted Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:15:31 GMT) There is a handful of flyers up in Bristol, you'll be more than welcome to come fly with us on the Clifton Down
For beginner (or at least someone new to tricks), I would not recommend the Cosmic TC - it is an awkward kite and difficult to learn on. I'd say that the easiest kite to learn on is the Deep Space (and it's a lot cheaper than a Cosmic), it does as it is told and is easily recoverable both in the sky and on the ground.
11:14Benson Box of Tricks & Midi Sandpiper on Ebay.» Fractured Axel
by Just Kites (Posted Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:14:00 GMT) Hiya
We as a family are selling numerous kites from cheap and cheerful to Quality I still have an origional 6Ft Flexifoil Advertising Drum tobacco flown using the stick instead of straps down to a winnie the pooh kite if it flies we seem to buy it. Benson and Midi bought but as you can see from photo not really flown my pref is Flexi Foil
by Dromel (Posted Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:33:16 GMT) Came across this very unusual Cyborg kite 'on the other forum', and I have something with unusual kites ....
White-tailed kites and other arrivals TheDay.com White-tailed kites average about 14 inches long and have a 40-inch wingspan. They hunt by hovering over open land and are reminiscent of our more familiar ...
16:57In Kentucky, wind is for flying kites - Business Lexington» kites - Google News
In Kentucky, wind is for flying kites Business Lexington In Kentucky, wind is for flying kites. Our green energy future depends on solar energy and the use of our biomass resources. Tom Kimmerer, PhD, is senior ...
by Dromel (Posted Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:19:17 GMT) Beast II was indeed succeeded by the Cougar. I've never flown either, but as I said, I have a Beast II on order in Germany (need to sort out payment still).
As to the Little Beast (which has a wing span of 2.2m), it's a little pussy when the wind is low, and it does need a decent wind to take off (below 7-8mph you'll struggle getting it airborn). The fun starts when the wind goes above 12mph or so, and in winds above 15-16mph, the pussy wakes up.
Forget about tricks (though maybe Chris Goff can pull some out of the hat in relatively light winds), these kites are about pulling power.
Bud Taylor has a message for Edmontonians: go fly a kite. Taylor will be in town with The Kite Guys to head up the 18th annual Kites Over Callingwood festival Saturday in Callingwood Park.[...]
CAPE MAY — After an absence of nearly a decade, kites will return to the skies of Cape May when “Kites over the Cape” takes flight on Sept. 11. The family-friendly kite festival will bring big and small kites, national champion kite makers and fliers, and many free children’s activities to the beach between Decatur and Gurney streets for an aerial celebration of the 400th anniversary of Cape May ...
# design Serious, you ask? Serious, I say—just look at the collection of kites below, that were flown on a windy day back in 1957 at the University of Illinois ' Kite Derby Day . Each is more mathematical-inspired than the last. More »
Reminder from: Kites Yahoo! Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kites/cal whitmore bay kite festival Tuesday August 10, 2010 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (This event
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1897683/sensing_wind_speed_with_kites/ [and elsewhere....] Sensing Wind Speed With Kites Posted on: Wednesday, 28 July
Reminder from: Kites Yahoo! Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kites/cal whitmore bay kite festival Tuesday August 10, 2010 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (This event
Some on this list, may enjoy helping children learn how to make a kite. As a Montessori educator, I am always interested in hands on projects for children and
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell says his career has finally taken off after becoming the first European to win the US Open in 40 years at Pebble Beach.
Graeme McDowell becomes Europe's first US Open champion for 40 years as he holds off the pack including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to secure his maiden major title.
My kind of post. Way too much info for the normal mind. Thank you. ... From: Pat To: Kites@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 10:21 AM Subject:
Apparently Aeolus is the correct spelling for the god designated in Greek mythology as the ruler of the winds. They must have been into wind gods, though,
So what is Aolis? I've never seen that spelling of Aeolus. ... From: sf ballachy To: Kites@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 9:04 PM Subject:
Know Him? He is or was the Greek God of the winds. And I have a martin Lester "legs" kite I fly regularly, among many others. [Non-text portions of this
Hello: I bought a used TC Ultra several years ago and either lost (most likely) or didn't get (less likely, but possible) the standoffs. Anyone out there have
So you’ve got a kite, a buggy, a helmet and insurance, its time to have fun. Buggying is one of those mysterious things that it is initially really hard until it suddenly all falls into place. Patience at this point will be rewarded. Firstly figure out which way the wind is blowing then arrange your [...]
After purchasing a few kites and getting bored with static flying, the majority of people look towards using kites for providing traction as a way of moving forward. This guide will help to explain Buggying, from the basic concepts to gaining the skills required for racing. Once again, as with our first How To Fly [...]
Andy - have you tried the kite and boat yet? ... From: Mikey H To: Kites@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 9:49 AM Subject: Re: [Kites] A kite for
The Envy is brand new for 2010 and is designed as a Delta hybrid. It combines the popular delta shape with previous Liquid Force technologies to produce a ‘beyond delta kite that has alleviated all the previous problems that deltas suffer from. The Envy is designed to excel in all aspects of kitesurfing, it has [...]
Kites are cool. No longer are they limited to young children and have pictures of Disney characters plastered upon them. Kites have become extreme. The following guide will try and explain the concepts involved in learning how to fly safely and responsibly. By using this guide, you will hopefully increase your learning curve, develop your [...]
The Wind : If you are just starting out with power kites, or are just interested in recreational flying, a basic understanding of the wind and wind speeds may be enough to get by. However, if you’re interested in buggying or landboarding then a little more knowledge will be needed. Wind strength changes depending on [...]
Getting the Kite Out Once the lines are correctly attached to both handles, stake out the handles as previously described by inserting your stake though the loops on the brake lines. Make sure that the stake is secure. If its not, your kite will not be stable and will be likely to fly away. Head [...]
As I was initially starting out with four line traction kites, packing the kite away was something I could never quite get the hang of. I found that no matter how careful I was when packing, the next time I came to get the kite out it would be in such a mess and the [...]
Before you read my review, please consider that i have never written a kite review before, i have only flown 3 different kites, and the newbie bias is most likely present!! As a newbie to kiting, I did some research and found the Pansh brand to be the cheapest option available. Albeit, not the best, [...]
Having been using a skateboard style helmet for the past few years I decided to buy a second helmet. The skateboard helmet I’m going to use for Kite Boarding and after having one too many OBE’s in my buggy I decided that I should get a full face one. After looking on various websites I [...]
A windy day on the English Coast. Shot on a Sony HVR A1-E, edited using FINAL CUT with After Effects composting. The track is STRESS(auto remix) by JUSTICE. Tristan is a BKSA kite surfing instructor for kite surfing lessons at camber sands.
Check out this video showing off Premier Kites new venuter PremierRC..
They are using brushless motors and interesting gimble assembly to provide this interesting blend between RC flight and the beauty of single line kites..
More here PremierRc.com
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!
We had a great time building Rokkaku kites in Baddeck last month! I met some wonderful people and I learned a lot! The room was full of all skill levels, but I am pretty sure no one had built a kite before, so everyone was being introduced to the strange world of spinnaker [...]
Sun 23 August, 2009
21:58Flight of the Silver Dart Centennial - Rokkaku Workshop» Steadywinds.com
In celebration of Canada’s centennial of flight, this once in 100 years 2 day kite-making workshop is being offered to a limited number of participants on a first come, first served basis. Kite-maker Bill Wilson and fabric artist Anne Morrell will guide this workshop providing the inspiration and expertise required for each participant to [...]
Saint Honore 2009 Day1-1
Originally uploaded by wdrwilson.
Saint Honore was fantastic! The people are wonderful and put up with my non existent french skills. Friday was fantastic with near perfect winds. Saturday brought strong winds up to 50 km/h, but that didn’t stop AWITA [...]
Came across this cool video today. It’s great to see local flyers profiled.
Kite Surfing and Buggying on Conrad Beach - Nova Scotia, Canada - Watch the best video clips here
Okay been flying the Element again, in it's repaired state.
Changes, well the bridle is on Red - it has been very light winds. In
this set up the Element feels like a UL-STD rather than a STD. Saturday
when the wind was really low was harder work.
Last night I added a yo-yo line. Not for yo-yo's (it is a bit too
long and too far back for that) but to cut down tip-wraps when trying
to do new stuff. It really makes a difference on the frustration score.
Cascades have come together. It will do some really nice
variations, including french nose down jobs, but also 3/4 rotations
with diagonal slides or stalls between the next axel. Standard cascades
are more flip floppy. A lot of the time you have to make the kite fall
rather than stay in the middle of the window. Probably my bridle
settings.
Rolling up? Very very easy mate. Even in the more curved circular
flying style I prefer. The yo-yo line does help here as it makes rare
missed stops more recoverable. I have managed three wraps without any
problems. Seems very safe and locked in when wrapped.
When rolled up and locked 540's are lovely and don't pop out unless
you give the kite some input. More tricky stuff is beyond my flow at
the moment, but I am sure it will come.
Lazy Susan and Turtle stuff is great. Never got my .85 tuned for
these tricks how I wanted. This is more like a Transfer. Yes it likes
to spin. But I am being careful with these tricks as I have already
broken one spar!
Haven't held a fade with it yet, but backspins are great fun. Flat
and fast and the kite rises. Not tried cascading them yet. Just
spanking it.
The Element is really fun to play with just off the ground. It
loves low side slides, tip landings, coin tosses and variations. With
the settings I am on it likes to lift which is great for old-school
groundwork.
Flat spin tricks are lovely. Easy to pop a 540 on the kite anywhere
in the window, and often it will keep going helicopter style. Repeating
540's are surely built in, if I could remember the inputs. I am not a
540 facist, but the Element is lovely and flat in belly down rotations
with minimal effort. If that sort of thing makes you smile then this
kite will make you grin like grinny person on national keep grinning
day.
Cometes and axel on axel combinations. Well I managed 2 comete
blocks before I messed up the timing. Which is progress. The yo-yo line
helps with the practicing as tip wraps don't happen so much and you get
to fly another day. But comete syle tricks don't seem to be as
accessible as the yank and spank Fury or the float and gloat Deep
Space. I am sure it is a matter of tuning in, and others have found
cometes easy. I am probably just very rusty indeed. But this is
recreation right?
Some notes. After flying the Element I couldn't get anything out of
a Nirvana and struggled with the Pilot (hey Jack get your VF entry
in!).
Is Simples. Is a different style of kite.
Yan very kindly (I think) said that after watching me fly it he
could see the difference between trick flying and freestyle (can -
worms - open). So the Element can certainly be flown in a sloppier more
reactive relaxed style.
Is this the best kite I have ever flown? Who cares. It is the one I am flying at the moment.
The Element reminds me of 2 kites that fell between old-school and new-school flying. The Darkside and the Tribal.
Especially the Darkside Regen and the Tribal with a weight in it.
Have Chris and Carl got the balance right between 540's and fap-do-waps (or whatever the french are flying this week)? It is hard to say on first flight. Cascades are frustratingly not as expected. Tip-Wraps happen like they used to. Comete timing is different. Yet itYo-Yo's, Backspins, 540's and multiple axels like a dream.
Yes I have given in to Carl's advances and put down for the Element.
And it looks rather yummy in this video:
Mon 16 March, 2009
03:17More Chinese Centipedes - Juan Miguel Betancor» Steadywinds.com
I have posted some of Juan’s videos before, (the double start just a few posts ago). This time Juan has built a great Chinese centipede kite with a traditional Dragons head. Juan crafted all the pieces him self and the video walks through a series of photos of the build as well as some [...]
03:17Kitebuilder.com Fled Project - Video results..» Steadywinds.com
BitterJewler signed up for the Fled workshop and built a great looking kite. The Bee drogue is great! ( and it doesn’t spin like I predicted it would LOL)…
Barry Ogeltree (whatakite) on the kitebuilder.com forums offered to cut the fabric and prepare a kit for 50, yep fifty 75 sq. ft. John Waters Bulldog flow form style kites (10 ft wide!). Barry has a huge shop in Texas and has the man power and the space to take on a project like [...]
Harold Ames over at the kitebuilder.com forums posted a link to this video, I thought it was worth sharing. Really interesting to see how he balances each panel. The finished kite with the spinning eyes and a the color transition of the discs is great…
flying tent
Originally uploaded by fdrizo.
Not quite a tent, but it’s Nylon with a fiberglass frame… and it flys.
Apparently a tent took off in a brief gust and hit some power lines causing an outage at the Maker Faire.
See the whole story [...]
TreeHugger.com has an article about the US military hiring the Kite Ship “Beluga SkySails ” to transport Military equipment from Europe.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/us-navy-first-kite-power-ship.php
Basically it saves them a huge amount of money by reducing fuel consumption. Although not the primary motivator, the fact that the ship uses innovations to reduce costs was a factor in the [...]
I attended the Niagara International Kite Festival again this year, what a fantastic time. Meg Albers puts so much into this festival each year, and the kiting community shows up in droves to show their support. This year there were well over a hundred flyers from around the world. you can see the [...]
IMG_4215
Originally uploaded by dougish1954.
Ha I knew someone had proof. Looks like Doug Isherwood got a pic of me flying at the Buffalo train station.
Thanks Doug!
Boondock’s Tables - Fisherman’s Cove Dartmouth, NS
Originally uploaded by wdrwilson.
Fellow KAPper Rob Huntley from Ottawa and I spent Sunday KAPping around the Halifax area. We had good sessions at Fisherman’s Cove in Eastern Passage, NS and Peggy’s Cove. The wind was light at the [...]
Kite Stack
Originally uploaded by Meanest Indian.
Looks like the International Kite Festival held in India this past weekend was a big success. Over 31 Countries represented.
Check out the deshgujarat.com for some great photos and some more links to past events.
Even some great shots [...]
I just finished posting the final instructions for the Kitebuilder.com forums Fled workshop…
While I was writing the instructions for the workshop I was playing around with Google Sketch Up. Mainly to see if I could create a simple rendering of the fled for use as a colorizer. I ended up going a bit overboard [...]
Fled MKIII -2
Originally uploaded by wdrwilson.
Managed to get out at lunch today to get a few pictures of my newly constructed Fled MK III. I am working with Steve Ferrel from the kitebuilder.com forums to put together an online Fled kite building workshop. [...]
This is a really cool series of photos showing what it takes to build a custom kite-surfing kite.
Here is an example from a fantastic natural refresher drink called Dwarf8, http://www.dwarf8.com/ from Switzerland but based in the kite mecca of Europe, Tarifa, where best to have a custom kite? They ordered an 11m Sport 2 [...]
Aaron J. Whitcomb patented this arch kite in 1876. It describes "a folding kite which can be readily put together and taken apart, and which can be folded in small compass for convenience in transport."Full Patent.
In 1967, Fred A. Waldman patented his "Kite with Rod and Tackle Combination". "Kite fishing apparatus having a handle with forward and rearward reels serving to reel in and pay out independent lines, namely a fishing line and a glider-type kite line."Full Patent.
John Thompson patented this kite in 1880. It describes "a reversible kite is produced, and one that can be folded for carrying in the pocket, or more conveniently in the hand."Full Patent.
16:00The First Kite Surfing Patent - NL7603691» Kite Patents
In 1977 Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise patented, what is probably the first kite surfing patent. The Kitesurfing section of the Virtual Library of Sport adds: "In October 1977 Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise (Netherlands) gets the first patent for [KiteSurfing]. The patent covers, specifically, a water sport using a floating board of a surf board type where a pilot standing up on it is pulled by a wind catching device of a parachute type tied to his harness on a trapeze type belt. Although this patent did not result in any commercial interest, Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise could be considered as the originator of KiteSurfing."Full Patent.
16:00Terilli's Aerial Fishing System - US3462870» Kite Patents
Emil B. Terilli patented his Aerial Fishing System in 1969. "Kite fishing apparatus for use with a boat having a reel assembly. A buoy line is attached to the reel assembly and independent fishing lines are releasably attached to the buoy line. A buoy is connected to the buoy line and a kite line with a kiteis attached to the buoy. Means is provided for releasing the fishing lines from the buoy line." Full Patent.
16:00Stein's Hexagon Metal Kite Frame - US724402» Kite Patents
John H. Stein was granted this patent for his Metal Kite Frame in 1903. It describes "a kite-frame of metal which shall be light and at the same time possessed of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of the air thereon, the arrangement being such as to enable the ribs of the kite to lie together in the same horizontal plane when not in use, so as to render it compact for shipment."Full Patent.
This patent application of 2007 will expire at around 2027 if accepted. Stephan Wrage now of SkySails GmbH & Co. describes it as
a positioning device for a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element that comprises a profiled wing, is used as the exclusive, an auxiliary, or an emergency drive unit, and is connected to a watercraft via a traction rope. Said positioning device is provided with a winch that encompasses means which cause the traction rope to be taken in when a given first tractive force is not attained and/or when the flow is about to stop or has stopped abruptly and/or cause the traction rope to be veered when given a second tractive force and/or a given inflow velocity are/is exceeded.
Stephan Wrage is the chairman of the executive board and is in charge of sales, public relations, investment relations and business development of SkySails.
SkySails is another Kite 2.0 company. Today it made international news when it announced that "The 132 meter (433 ft) long MV "Beluga SkySails" will make its maiden voyage in January across the Atlantic to Venezuela, up to Boston and back to Europe. It will be pulled by a giant computer-guided 500,000-euro ($725,000) kite tethered to a 15-metre high mast."
Here a short video describing the Beluga SkySails project:
Josiah Shepard was granted this patent in 1867. Its object is to "provide a light and strong frame adapted to being taken apart and put in a small compass for transportation."Full Patent.
Harvey A. Sellers patented this kite in 1923. It describes "a frame comprising a plurality of sticks adapted to have a radiating crossing relation, a six sided foldable covering for said frame cut away V shape at the corners and having a single cord binder exposed at the cut away corners, said sticks being of such a length relative to the distance between the corners of the kite as to require the buckling of said sticks to engage said cord binder and each end of the sticks having a slit to receive said binder cord, and a non-removable elastic and flexible binder to hold the sticks when knocked down and at their crossing point when the kite is assembled."Full Patent.
In 1887, Hugo Woldemar Schubert patented what is apparently the first German kite patent. It shows a kite with some kind of whistle or music device. Full Patent.
Armando Roa patented this kite in 1917. It describes "a kite of rigid construction and of such form that by repeated pulling of the string thereof to one side or the other the kite may be directed laterally while in the air."Full Patent.
Sophocles Xenophon Pantsos a.k.a. Sophocles Xenophon Pantcheff, patented his "Assembling Frame for Covered Structures" in 1925. "The invention relates to frames for covered structures of the typecomprising compression members and flexible tension members [...]and has for its object a new, very simple way for securing together the compression and tension members and the covering of said structures, in such a manner as to provide an efficient fastening of the said elements, of a rapid and easy erection and dismantling, with a view particularly to combined strength and lightness."Full Patent. We have seen Pantcheff before, where he patented in the Hexagon kite.
Edward Massa patented this kite making technique in 1924. It promises "to provide a kite wherein the marginal edges of the body of the kite will be reinforced and so formed as to provide pockets to receive the ends of the sticks that hold the fabric or covering."Full Patent.
16:00Magenn Air Rotor System - US20060251505» Kite Patents
This patent application was submitted in 2005. If accepted it will expire by 2025. The patent application by Fred Ferguson of Magenn Power Inc. describes this invention as a "tethered wind turbine".
"In some embodiments, a system may comprise an airborne body extending horizontally along an axis between a first point and a second point, wherein the body is at least partially filled with a gas. The system may further comprise, for example, two or more vanes coupled to the body such that the vanes, when acted upon by a wind force perpendicular to the axis are operable to cause the body to rotate about the axis to generate a Magnus effect lifting force. According to some embodiments, the system may comprise one or more tethers coupled to anchor the body to a third point."
Magenn Power Inc. is one of a new breed of Kite 2.0 companies with kite-based technology.
Here's a video of this kite in action:
You can see some more videos of this kite here and here.
Note: This patent has not expired yet, in fact, it is just a patent application at the moment. If accepted it will expire at around the year 2025. Full Patent Application.
I'll be posting some more Kite 2.0 patents and patent applications to accompany this new trend in the world of kites.
Richard P. Lee patented his Fishing Kite in 1982. It a sled like soft kite: "This invention relates generally to foldable kites and in particular to an improved foldable kite adapted for use in fishing, including the clips and release pins used in a kite fishing system."Full Patent.
16:00KiteShip - Wind Power for Ships - US7093803» Kite Patents
David A. Culp was granted this patent in 2006. It will expire in 2026. The patent describes an
"aerodynamic wing to propel a broad range of transport means, principally sail craft. The wing provides a single layer kite structure capable of flying without surface discontinuity, bridles, or rigid or semi-rigid structure. All stresses within the wing are converted into pure tension and transferred through the wing surface outward to attachment lines. The wing shape defines a large diameter self-supporting rolled over leading edge of an airfoil and the wing profile approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity. The wing is useful to propel, or supplement propulsion to, transportation means."
Dave Culp is the President of KiteShip, "the leader in spinnaker replacement and kite-assisted ocean vessel technology".
KiteShip is another of the new brand of Kite 2.0 companies.
Here is a video of this kite in action:
Note: This patent has not expired yet, it will expire at around the year 2026. Full Patent.
William Babcock Curtis patented this "Kite Parachute" in 1961. It is probably the simplest possible kite line climber. "... the hook means being in angular relation to said member so as to be directed laterally of the kite string and disengaged therefrom when a wave motion is imparted to the string." Essentially, send it up, shake the line to create a wave, the hook will come off and the chute will drop down. Full Patent.
Charles B. Carroll, patented this simple but clever line climbing device in 1908. "The wind pressure against the bird will carry the roller up the string 2 and on to the plate 3. When the roller 6 is passed off the string 2 and off the end of the V-shaped plate 3, it will become dislocated and fall, and the roller 6 and the arm 8 pivotally secured thereto being heavier than the artificial bird will cause the device to assume a reversed position, in which the artificial bird will sail through the air and eventually fall to the ground." Full Patent.
A new breed of companies with kite-based technology are suddenly popping up around the world. The drive for green renewable energy, has prompted the creation of several companies for kite-based wind power generation and for hauling heavy sea vessels to reduce fuel consuption.
I guess you could call it the Kite 2.0 revolution.
Many of these companies have patented technologies, or applied for patents. Most of these patents and applications have not expired so the patents are still valid.
I will be posting some Kite 2.0 patents and patent applications to accompany this new trend in the world of kites.
If you want to see any specific patents (new or otherwise) please write them in the comments.
Arvid R. Holgerson patented his Water Kite in 1956. "This invention relates to fishing tackle, and more specifically to devices commonly known as fishing kites used by fishermen to cause the fishing line and baited hook to be floated out into the stream, eliminating the necessity of repeatedly casting in order to properly locate the baited hook connected therewith, for fishing. An important object of the invention is to construct the fishing kite which is preferably constructed of plastic material and so designed that the float and sinker which are carried by the kite, may be readily and easily reversed, adapting the kite for use in fishing from either bank of a stream. Another object of the invention is to provide a kite wherein the bridle may be readily and easily fastened on the body of the kite, the kite being so constructed that the bridle may be adjusted to change the angle to which the kite may be carried into the stream."Full Patent.
Christian J. Hardekopf patented this arch kite in 1873. It describes "a kite of such formation as can be taken apart in six pieces and rolled up in a small bundle, carried from place to place by any one, and put together in a few moments. The kite is water and weather proof. The kite is firm and compact, and cannot be injured as the common kite can be."Full Patent.
Marcus P. Exline patented this kite in 1916. It describes "a light metal frame structure whose members may be adjusted with relation to each other and in some cases detachable so that the entire frame is of the knock-down type, to produce a kite whose upper and lower portions are hingedly connected so that the face of the kite may be stretched in a single plane as usual or dished or humped if desired, and to provide a peripheral element which may posses design features or outlined panels that could be covered or faced in different colors."Full Patent.
Alfred B. Cabrera patented this kite in 1930. It describes "a kite of an especially light yet strong structure, and of a construction particularly adapted in manufacture to lend itself to a variety of different configurations."Full Patent.
16:00Automatically Releasing Apparatus for Kites - GB190219137» Kite Patents
Cubitt Archibald Stannard patented this line climber in 1903. "A device is arranged to release automatically a parachute &c. at a predetermined point on a cord or wire attached to a kite or captive balloon and to operate automatically the shutter of a photographic camera attached to the device at the time of releasing. After the parachute has been released, the camera returns to the lower end of the cord or wire ready for further use."Full Patent.
This is the second offering from Jest of Eve kites, following on from the Trident in its various guises. So, is the Jest of Eve Talon an improvement?
Bryan Beasley gives it a good thorough spanking.
Build Quality.
Mark (Mr. Jest of Eve) has been gaining something of a reputation over the last 12 – 18 months as that of a quality kite builder, and rightly so. The Talon will go some way towards cementing this reputation. The stitching and construction is excellent. The kite is beautifully made and lovingly constructed with some of the best materials around. Component parts are the PC31 Ripstop Polyester sail with Mylar reinforcing along the trailing edge, Skyshark P200 and Skyshark Black Diamond Nitro leading edges, 7pt lower spreaders and Structil for the spine and other bits.
Design and Technology
The sail graphics for the Talon are amongst the most striking on the market. There seems to be endless scope for colour themes, 3D effects and personal preferences. There have been a few Talon made already with a simply stunning, sophisticated look to them. It wouldn’t take much however, to add some fun and zest to the outlook. A word of caution though, the colouriser (found through the Jest of Eve website) can easily eat up several hours of your time. You have been warned.
A lower Aspect Ratio has been used in comparison to the Trident, so many of the over steer, pitchy ‘issues’ have been addressed, and the whole effect is one of a much more balanced kite.
Technologically speaking, there’s nothing ground-breaking here. Roll bars and covered leading edges come as standard, and there’s a bit of ballast to help with the manoeuvrability. The Trident came with some neat little cones fitted to the roll bars to help stop the lines slipping during wrapped moves. This has been improved further with a ‘Slip Catch’. This is a small protrusion from the yo-yo stopper fitting (where the roll bars fit into the leading edge), and it seems to work pretty well.
Flight Characteristics
Enough of the arty stuff, how does it work?
Well, pretty nicely. There’s not too much pull and the sail catches the wind effectively enough, so little wind is needed to get the thing working. The 3 point active bridle makes it pretty responsive and it holds a line quite well. So well in fact, that I would suspect that a scaled up version would make a passable precision kite.
Precision however, is not really what the Talon is all about – so let’s talk freestyle.
All of the basic positions are easily accessible. There’s a stable fade, solid if not deep turtle, easy pancake with the flick of the wrists and recovery is predictable. Axel based stuff is sharp with stabby inputs, and flat and soft with a more delicate approach. Combining the 2 makes for some delightful combinations of Cascades, Cometes and Taz Machines, with multi-spins flat and smooth. Similar can be said of 540’s and Slot Machines. Aggressive inputs give really quick spins, whilst smoother, more controlled action does offer a really pleasing ‘Old Skool’ Style.
Backspin moves and combos are very tidy, and lead into one of the very finest Barrel Rolls I’ve seen. Just get it spinning, apply some pressure to the active hand, and keep it there. Pull harder for a fast roll, lessen the tension for a slow one. Release and catch whenever you’re ready. Sweet.
Turtle based spins are not the Talons’ forte, but they are a lot more achievable than the previous Jest if Eve design. Lazy Susans (with multi-spins from a single input), Rolling Susans and Inverses come at a snap, as do Insanes and Rolling Cascades, but whilst reversing these moves (ala Cynique / Insane L/R) are perfectly do-able – there just not as easy as most of the other moves. This is down to the depth and stability of the Turtle and the pitch characteristics, which brings us on to…
Roll-ups are a pleasure, as many as you like, real quick and concise, or slow, smooth and flowing. This inbuilt pitch also enables Yo-Fades and Crazy Copters, and all of the variants to come quite comfortably with the right inputs.
To compare and contrast…
There seems to be a wealth of fantastic kites available to the serious and recreational flier alike just now, so how does the Talon compare. Well to start with, this is as well, if not better made as any. Bar none. It’s right up there with ‘Benson’, ‘CR’ and ‘Sky Sport Design’. The price for a bespoke, boutique kite is about right, and whilst there are cheaper, mass produced, options available, the Talon certainly represents value for money for what it is.
In flight, the Talon flows like a Benson ‘Deep Space’. It’s nothing like as crisp, but more spin friendly and pitchy than a CR Fury .85, or RSky Nirvana. It’s not all French in its Turtle bias, but backspins and Barrel Rolls like a dream.
All told, the Talon is a really accomplished freestyler, with a sleek and silky transitional style punctuated with a sharp and defined aspect. Just this reviewers’ opinion, but ‘sweet’ indeed.
It seems that Powerkiters are having trouble finding places to fly. Often when they get booted all sport kites get booted too.
These folks are doing something positive. They aim to:
"Have Kitesports expressly listed in the Single Payment Scheme, Cross
Compliance Guidance list for Permitted Activities as a Group A
(Permitted Without Restriction.) activity."
Available from Kites4U in the UK here is the blurb:
Finally there is a true Quad Line Kite that can do more. Much more!!!
Capable
of performing all the tricks in the book, the Knockout is a true
competetion-freestyle-trickable framed 4 line kite of a new dimension.
Competition Revolution flyers watch out.
The KO is handmade and not mass produced
Wingspan: 240cm
Height: 85cm
Weight: 240-300g depending on frame
Wind: 1-5 Bft / 20mph
Lines: we recommend climax Protec for ultimate response and control
UL 50daN - STD 70daN - Strong 100daN
Quad handles: use 30-40cm long handles with your KO.
Available in frames:
Ultra Light for light winds 2-6mph
Standard for normal winds 6-15mph
Strong for strong winds 15-20mph
The KO is based on a new construction concept that gives this kite breathtaking flying characteristics.
The
KO has a double leading edge that gives you the capacity to forcefully
fly forwards and backwards. No other 4 line kite can do this that well.
The KO retains its shape no matter whether you adopt a radical and agressive style, fly tricks or enjoy a relaxed flying style.
The KO allows you to expand your horizon when it comes to trick flying with a 4 line kite.
List of performed tricks with the KO (why not add a few more):
The Current Chasing Kites Eyesight arrived today and I had the opportunity to take it out for a fly for an hour over lunch in slightly lumpy 3-7mph winds.
First thing to say is that this kite works. It feels right.
The Eyesight at factory settings is keen to jump into the sky, and combines drive and pull from it's deep sail.
First thing I did on take-off was fly to the top of the window, and straight into a yo-yo. I was just trying to get a feel for how much weight to add. As far as I am aware this is not a weighted kite unless the weight is hidden in the spine or in the velcro tail somewhere. I am not sure it needs any extra weight. So I put mine away.
Now I am not a combo king, I am a sloppy flier, but I was flying Jacobs Ladders, Backspin Cascades (the kite backspins nice and flat) and other bits and pieces without too much trouble. I am sure a Tricks Party flier could make the Eyesight sing. The Lazy Susan is not as accessible as say the L'Atelier Transfer and its kin, but it is certainly there in a way that can't be said of kites like the Fury. Axel's take some setting up, unlike something a bit more Old Skool like the Eolo_Tribal and the kite prefers to Cascade nose down, but doesn't lose huge lumps of air and height doing so. The Comete felt nice and flowing, not Fury easy but not hard work like some other kites.
Ground work seemed fairly straightforward. Flap-Jacks, Superstarts and other odds and sods (puntastic) off the green stuff. I had no major tipwrap issues, although this kite does have yo-yo stops and two cable ties which I get caught up in whatever I fly from time to time.
I managed to Yo-Yo 540 the Eyesight without unwrapping a couple of times. The kite clearly wraps nice and tightly.
The Eyesight at first flying is kind of on off. When it is driving it is driving, when it is stalled it is stalled; Sideslides from a 540 are default at the edge of the window. However the stallability can result in the Eyesight dropping out the sky from a Turtle, and it the kite is not as solid at the edge as some. I must say I enjoyed adjusting my flying for this. Some tricks sometimes need a walk forward to keep the kite stalled right and other times a little legwork is needed in the opposite direction to recover the kite too.
The construction quality is hard to describe, and best done in detail. But for now I will say that The Eyesight is nicely put together with lots of workshop touches, good knot work and stitching, but not the standards of the top Western workshop kite builders.
And I love flying a giant robot head. Worth every penny. And hopefully with some more time with the kite and some other hands on the straps there will be a full detailed review up soon.
This is the final prototype of the Mohawk XS, everything has been finalized. The kite will be on sale very soon.
All the "light" clips (obviously sunny and daytime) the wind was 2-6km/h.
All the "dark" clips (obviously stormy and windy) the wind was in excess of 35km/h.
I made sure there were spots where you can scrub the video and see obvious signs of the wind speed.
It is the exact same kite, with the exact same setup. No bridle,
tailweight change of any sort. Same flier, same beach. Same lines (80lb
80ft with 5ft leaders on handles, and 4ft leader lines on the kite).
First video music is The Faint - Southern Belles in London Sing
Second video music is Deathcab for Cutie - Sound of Settling
Flown at northshore beach, St. petersburg, Florida. Here.
Wind from the east on "light clips", wind from the north east on "dark clips". So you know where the window is
kHiTe has always been keen to support smaller craft based designers and
manufactures. So we tracked down Robert Randolph, the wind beneath Air Oeuvre's wings (website) to talk about his craft and his art.
First up Rob, thanks for the interview, I guess that when you
are not kite flying you are a busy man. So to start at the beginning,
how did you get into sport kite flying?
My brother bought a foil. I'm not exactly sure why he bought it, or
what gave him the idea, but there it was a symphony 2.3. I watched him
fly it and then I flew it, and I was hooked! My first thought was, "I
wonder if I could make something like that." He bought a phoenix, and
an addiction which I prompty broke while practicing multilazies, which
was the first trick I really started to learn. It went from there with
GREAT obsession, flying everyday from dawn to dusk for months.
For me there was one kite the expanded my ability - the Mullin
Area 51. Sadly I sold it last year, but strangely I now mostly fly Andy
Preston's Tribal a kite from the same era and the same design school.
Is there a particular kite that influenced your flying and later
designs?
Absolutely. The Level One Genesis and the L'Atelier Transfer Xt.s.
I've put a lot of time on the Genesis. I stopped counting after I hit
1500 hours on my main Genesis! It was flown literally everyday from
dawn to dusk for 6 months. I used to go out to the park and bring my
laptop to abuse the Wi-fi. I would fly then hop onto one of the major
forums during a break and go back to flying. When I received my first
Xt.s I became enamored with multilazies and related tricks. I remember
a few days of flying well into the night working on them. Man I love
that kite! You can really see the influence of the Genesis and Xt.s in
our designs.
There was a period of time where I flew the Sea Devil a lot too. I
really did get bored with it though, and honestly, I can't really
manage to put it in a category of kites that influenced me too much. It
was a tool for me, and a good one at that.
What was it that made you want to jump the gap between flier and designer?
I tinker with everything. My main attraction to flying was the idea
that I could make one myself. I figured I needed to learn all the
tricks first in order to be able to move on to design, but I jumped the
gun a bit haha. I can't help to tinker with everything I find.
Previous to this I ran a pretty successful recording studio, and
all I ever did in my spare time is tinker. I've built my own guitar
amps, mic preamps, a 1176 clone, and various other things. I also
released a few VST plugins for audio recording software as well. I
collect video game consoles, as well as play them constantly, and I
love to tinker and mod those as well. Right now when I'm not working on
kites, which is pretty rare, I've been working on converting some of my
VST's to LADSPA, though with little progress so far.
Even some of the big name manufactures have problems with
quality, yet people keep coming back for more. Is there still a market
for Workshop built hand crafted kites?
There will always be a market if you create it. We offer a complete
warranty on the sail including user damage. If someone is not fully
satisfied we have little problem with giving refunds as well. Anyone
can make a sport kite, and anyone with a good amount of spare time and
a few brains can design a good one. The difference is the level of
assurance and service they get. We're always working on it and feel
we're doing good. I know our orders are starting to go over our
capacity to produce and ship them!
How do you feel about the myth of the 'Polyvalent'; the idea of one kite that does everything well?
I don't think it's a myth if you quote the idea properly. A
polyvalent kite is a kite that can do everything, not necessarily well.
I just don't think that a push towards that is what is going to push
the kiting community forward. I think it makes products bland and
somewhat watered-down. At some point if you want to impress the idea of
performance upon people you have to create a product that excels in one
area at the expense of others. When that occurs, someone will see the
bar set higher and create a NEW breed of polyvalence that pushes
everything to that new level. Right now I think too many companies are
afraid to push the bar out of fear that they wont be the ones to come
up with something that exceeds that new level of performance.
We notice that your website offers the most comprehensive
performance break down for kites we have ever seen. I tried this in a
limited form way back in the dark ages of kHiTe, but I kind of gave up
because reviewers could never quite work out what a perfect 540
actually was. What was the thinking behind your breakdown?
I figured something along those lines would occur, so we decided to
break it down into "ease" and "beauty". The idea is that a trick that
is particularly easy may not look particularly good, and vice versa.
The definitions are based on what I feel is common sense. A 540 is
impossible to really do a clean 540 flat spin on a kite. The kite will
enter and exit earlier than 540. It is really just a loose descriptive
name because the trick closely resembles it. I think a good 540 starts
flying down, exits nose up as late in the spin as possible, and the
belly stays parallel to the ground for the entire spin. Someone else
might think differently, and that is fine with me.
There are some tricks like the multilazy that I think are fairly
loose in terms of beauty. A flat multilazy maybe theoretically nice
looking, but Mayet doing a multilazy on an Xt.s is anything but "flat".
It is absolutely one of the nicest looking things I've seen a kite do
though. There are a lot of instances like that in which I think the
person doing the reviewing has to buck up and just say what they think
regardless of what someone else may say.
I think it also helps that my brother and I are the ones who design
the kites originally. We know everything the kite was made to do, and
we have more flying on the kites than anyone else. We outsource some of
the rating occasionally to some of our sponsored flies and "local"
fliers as well who get to fly kites constantly during the prototype
phase.
I reckon there is a big difference between Freestyle and
Technical Trick flying. Freestyle for me is more flowing, more
horizontal, less predictable, more reactive, more oldskool. True
freestyle kites have that sort of feel to them that they might surprise
you from time to time. It is more a scale than a fence to be either
side on. As a flier and a designer where would you find yourself on the
scale?
Hmm. Im certainly right in between. I am concerned with the ability
to do tricks "on demand" and little more. How I fly depends on the wind
and what tunes are playing through my headphones. Some days I might
combo for an hour without breaking into flight, and some days I might
not do a trick except every few minutes. I really don't care much about
style though, I'll leave that to someone else to figure out.
Your new kite - where does that fit in the marketplace?
I guess it's not so much "new", as redone. The Mohawk has been
available for a while now, but we took all the feedback we received
from the first incarnation and made a new kite with the same concepts.
The mohawk is a trick trainer. It is a kite made to help fliers learn
the 'latest' and more modern tricks easily. With the new Mohawk we made
it perform some of the old school stuff much better and be a bit nicer
in general flight.
Simply put It is just a trick kite. Placed in some sort of scale of
style of tricking you can put it completely opposite of wherever you
put the Jest of Eve Trident. I have a funny feeling that the new Mohawk will
be the exact same in regards to the new Jest of Eve Talon as well, but I haven't
had the blessing to fly one yet.
The new mohawk will have a slightly different name as well, that we have not decided on yet.
And what were you looking for performance wise compared to your previous designs?
It needed to pull more, cascade well, wapdowap and fly well in low
winds above everything else. I guess essentially we took the old Mohawk
and added a teaspoon of Benson Deepspace, sauteed it in some Nirvana UL and
served it on a plate of Kick-Ass.
That was really cheesy. Dont hurt me.
We also focused on making the crazy copter spin much easier,
quicker pitch, better axels and more well-suited to multiple yo-yo's.
Last question. If you had one piece of advice for any kite flier what would it be?
Don't care so much about what other people are doing. Too many
people are concerned with being on some sort of level as other people
rather than enjoying kiting for what it offers and developing their own
style and derive their own type of joy from it. Kiting would move
forward so much quicker if people stopped focusing so hard on learning
how to comete and perhaps learning to do a trick that is really more
interesting to themselves.
For some reason these videos were removed (in an entire thread) from the GWTW forum (Edit thread is now back here). They are from a Chinese manufacturer, and are available here: Sport Kite Thailand
The above kite is 3,300.00 THB which equals about £50.43
The Eyesight video is the pick of the bunch I guess. A fantastic sail panel layout on this striking kite makes it prime material for a kHiTe review.
The V8 354ps Quattro would set me back almost 40k, but it is certainly nippy with a 0-62 time of 5.1 seconds. However the V6 oil burner looks the better value, 40 mpg combined and still hitting 62 in under 6 seconds. Heavens knows where the S5 comes in price and performance wise.
Real kite, Real kite fliers however in the video. Pics here.
Initial impressions suggest that the Jest of Eve Talon is a far more balanced freestyle kite than the Jest of Eve Trident. The pitchiness of the previous design is still there, but a more flowing character opens up smoother 540 and Axel based tricks.