Kite flying

[pianojuggler]

Any other nylon aviators out there?

What are you flying?

Have you designed or made any of your own kites?

Any favorite CGs for kite flying?


I have most of what I need for a 6-foot French Military... all I need is the time to make it.

1995 E320 Waggin
1992 Coleman Roanoke

[CaliforniaScot]

I love kites! Getting my kids into it just recently. Nothing fancy here. Just a few deltas and one parafoil that I get up real high and leave alone. No CGS flying though. All the campgrounds we go to have Big Big trees...23 Suzuki XL- 71994 Jayco 86 Deluxe

[TooManyTents]

I'm not a kite owner, but had very good luck flying a kite at Nehalem Bay State Park (on the beach, not the bay side).  Wind was blowing from the north, so I got sand-blasted on the back and sunburned on the front, then sat in the shade for two days.Dave - 23.5 Coleman Utah

[pianojuggler]

Cannon Beach, Orygun has the reputation of being the best kite-flying beach in the country.  Pretty much any beach CG should be good.  Cape Disappointment has a LOT of beach AND the Long Beach Kite Museum.Parafoils are great -- no sticks to break.  And there are some really nice 2- and 4-line parafoils out there, now.  I have three Prism Stylus (first generation) that are nice.  I also have a SeattleAirGear Winddance that is a little fussy to set up, but is very responsive once it's dialed-in.  The best part is that they pack down to a very small package (a Stylus is about the size of a large paperback novel).I've pondered getting a hand-crank sewing machine so I can make repairs or modifications while camping (without a hookup).I used to have directions for making a "Scott Sled" kite out of a paper grocery bag and some masking tape... those are great for kids... it's always more fun to fly something you made yourself!(edit) I found these instructions, but it doesn't have the hole in the middle which makes the kite more stable.  Still, this is something kids can make in ten or 15 minutes and fly for hours....http://members.aol.com/GEngvall/k_sled.htmlHere's basic measurements for the usual Scott Sled:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_sled1995 E32 Waggin[popgreen] 1992 Coleman Roanoke

[CaliforniaScot]

Are there any kites that could hoist my video camera? that would be fun.23 Suzuki XL- 71994 Jayco 86 Deluxe

[pianojuggler]

quote:Originally posted by CaliforniaScot
Are there any kites that could hoist my video camera? that would be fun.

Yes... most definitely.  A large single-line parafoil would be a good choice.  I have seen some that can easily lift over 1 lbs, and it's a very stable flyer.  They aren't the easiest kites to make yourself... you have to be pretty skilled with a sewing machine to make one.  But they are readily available in kite stores and on the web."French Military" kites are also good lifters and much easier to make... only requires straight stitching.  Other box kites are stable, but require a pretty good wind to fly, especially if you want to lift something.  A FM is like a cross between a box kite and the traditional diamond, so it's stable and doesn't require a whole lot of wind.There was an incident a couple of years ago where a physics professor from UW was killed at a kite festival.  Some of his students had designed and built a really big kite, and as it was launching, the professor got his foot caught in the line.  He was lifted 1 feet up, then his foot slipped free of the line, and he fell back to the ground.  It was a real tragedy, especially for the students who were there trying to reel him back down.But it does point out that big kites can lift quite a load.Before airplanes really took off, some armies were experimenting with using kites to lift scouts to do battle recon.1995 E32 Waggin[popgreen] 1992 Coleman Roanoke

[Ed Nelson]

My wife and I just got back from a 6-day, 2-campground stay on the Oregon coast. Lots of kite shops and flyers!I have a small kite that I have yet to fly, or even remember to pack...I will fly it eventually!

[DC DesertRat]

We've been flying kites for nearly 30 years. The best places to fly are the Washington Monument grounds in DC and the Oregon coast. For a really fun kite experience try the Fort Worden Kitemakers Conference in Port Townsend WA

 

[cliffcor]

I always travel with my 3 Wind Dancer, Dual Line Parafoils. Also always have a long weekend on the beach, usually Grayland SP in SW Washington.

[bdhoun]

I'm really interested in the 2 line sport/stunt kites.  I picked up a cheap one a couple years ago which kind of hooked me.  Now, I'm waiting for a my "real" one to show up in the mail.  A Prism Hypnotist.  Now, I just need to learn to fly the tricks.

Just wish I was retired.  Too many hobbies and not enough time.  Road cycling, geocaching, stunt kites, and would really like to start with R/C  planes.