Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1993 09:57:19 -1000 From: ces1at@surrey.ac.uk (Andy Tate) Message-Id: Organization: University of Surrey, Dept Chem & Proc Eng,UK Subject: Indian Fighter kite long line stability Andrew Beattie wrote: > An Indian fighter, on 1km of line still darts about, but in the > long term, it won't fall to the ground. Yes I have observed this phenomena. My current ideas on why this happens come about from observing the cotton flying line. If I look along the line when the kite is stable a long way off (but nowhere near 1km - just 300yds+) it is in the predictable catenary shape. Now the interesting thing to me is to watch what happens when the kite suddenly dives. The light cotton line is still for the most part following the same path it was when the kite was stable. Only at the far end near the kite will I observe the line curving down as it follows the decending kite. Now to my current theory:- It is that this 'hump' in the line causes slack in the line similar to letting out more line. This causes the kite to turn as it would normally. Now this release is very subtle so the turns are subtle too. When the kite is again flying upwards it has the tendency to remove this slack. This is equivilent to pulling on the line so the Indian kite will tend to continue on this upward path more readily than the downward one. Once the kite is again at the top of its envelope the sequence can repeat again. Thus stability on long lines....... Well what do you all think? Have any others observed similar effects in the line. P.S. I agree with most of the posts as to why an Indian will spin. Stafford's biting of the cross spar does work I use it mainly on new kites (how you do it on thoses fibre glass spars I dont know). I don't find Indians going out of tune. I bought my first from Stafford (he tuned it) over two years ago and it hasn't needed any 'biting' or bridle adj, but then I only fly in light 'Indian Summer' type winds but do manage to fly from my hand in my back garden. Andy Tate..... _____________________________________________________________________________ _/ _/_/ Dr A.H.J. Tate _/ _/ Dept Chem & Proc Eng, Email: ces1at@surrey.ac.uk _/_/_/_/ University of Surrey, Tel: +44 483 509259 _/ _/ _/ Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH Fax: +44 483 303807 _/ _/ _/ ndy _/ ate _____________________________________________________________________________ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =