Misc Questions
From FoilDesign
Where can I find more information about depower systems?
See Universal depower system. There are also various power systems described in the Files section for the Foil Design List on Yahoo.
My first kite
See Foils To Build
What's the simplest power kite?
See Nasa Wing
I want to build a kite like the FlexiFoil Blade
No one has copied the Blade exactly. The Gamma is a good kite for a buggy, but poor for jumping. The Dominator II is a good kite for a buggy, but not good for jumping.
I want to build a buggy kite
Try the Gamma,
I want to build a kite for jumping:
Try Gamma with a deeper profile and tow point further forward? Or the Willi Wing.
I want to build a LEI kitesurf kite:
Please see the Leading Edge Inflatables page.
I want to build a Peter Lynn Arc:
See Sled Kites
Kitesurf ram air sleds :
- Fat Wing (need link)
Buggy ram air sleds :
Dont Patents make it illegal to make these sort of kites?
Patents can be copied for personal use only.
Is there any software available for designing kites?
Where can I get cheap quad handles?
You could try building them. The following method was posted to Foildesign recently:
Materials:
- 3/4" schedule 40 pvc pipe. Be sure not to use a thinner-walled pipe, or your handles may flex (or worse) under heavy pressure.
- Heavy cord for line attachment (I used a lawnmower starter rope).
- Propane torch
Cut two sections of pipe, one for each handle. Make them as long as you want. Longer handles mean more leverage for the brakes, but your hands have to pull harder. The handles I use are about 12" long, but I think that is considered kind of short.
Drill holes through the pipe approximately 1" from each end. Make the holes just a bit larger than your cord. Also make sure that the holes at each end are lined up the same way.
Now to bend the handles, use the propane torch to heat up the pipe where you want to put the bend (5 1/2" from the top rope on mine). You MUST keep the torch moving over the pipe, and keep the pipe rotating. You want to heat things up evenly, not burn a hole in the pipe. It will take a minute or two, but you will know when things are hot enough; the pipe will become really soft and bend on its own. Now, just take the pipe off the heat and bend it to the right distance (I have no idea what the "right" distance is). Be sure that when you bend the pipe, your line attachment holes are pointing the same direction as the bend. (Otherwise, when flying, the handles will try to twist in your hands - no fun).
Let the pipe cool. It will become has hard as it was before.
Now, thread your rope (or whatever) through the holes. Tie a good strong knot on the back side of the handle, and of course leave a short tag end for safety's sake. Knot the rope immediately in front of the pipe to keep your lines from sliding back. Now tie a knot at the end of the line. I will assume that you know to make all the lines the same length (12" should be more than enough).
You're ready to fly! If you want you could a knot in the middle of each rope to adjust for flying line stretch, or while working out the kinks in the bridle.
Also, if you're lucky enough to live in or near a ski resort, go and ask the chairlift drivers if they've got any broken ski poles. Seriously. By the end of the season, we tend to have a pile of them. Get two with matching handles (For my hands, Rossignol are good), cut off the broken bit to leave a good length, apply a bend as required, drill, remove the straps (don't be tempted to use them as they are, they will leave the kite totally powered up if you let go) and away you go. Good for small kites (the alloy isn't too strong, so they will bend with bigger kites), nice handles, and a total materials cost of approximately zero.
For bending alloy pipes without too much distortion, do it cold, but stuff the pipe full of sand first.
