Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1993 08:27:14 -1000 From: ahclem0013@aol.com Message-Id: <9311211327.tn118466@aol.com> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: X-1, X minus 1, X-1 pica lite Thought i'd clear up a few things about our new kite which comes in two basic versions right now as a prototype(production to be decided on by the trade show in Jan.). The first version is called the X minus 1. It weighs 8ozs or less and is a low wind kite with a wind range of between .5 and 10 mph. It is currently made of icarex 3/4 with g-force lites and a beman spine, comes stock with a 3-step adjustable in-haul bridle. The second is called the X minus 1 pica lite indoor. It is an under 6oz kite made almost as light as we can make it. I say almost as light because we can make it lighter, it just wouldn't be as flyer friendly, ie; less reenforcement. Anyway it is made of the 1/2 oz icarex and is rodded with the g-force "skinny's". It also comes stock with a 3-step adjustable in-haul bridle. As an option, we have created an amazing bridle that has all the attributes of a cross-bridle rig with out the usual added weight associated with a cross-bridle. This is the Herb Weldon X-1 adjustable cross,shunt-bridle. While this bridle really works well it is expensive to make(very labor intensive), so unless we have an overwhelming response for (cause we'd have to charge more and kites allready cost to much..) it, it's going to remain an option for now. It works well on both versions of the kite and is sure to be copied as it solves alot of problems. I'm sure that we already have over a hundred hours of development work in the bridle alone for this kite so we're very pleased to read and see some of the flyers reaction when flying this kite. By the way, this is the kite that Reed Richards forced me to invent. I simply got tired of him and that damn sprook of his every time i went to georgia(that large sucking sound...)and had nothing to fly. Thanks Reed! The name X minus 1 comes from an old radio science fiction show that i listen to on sunday nights when working late. It is in keeping with the experimental nature of the kite since it has been around for over two years and is a large part of the insperation for that TC Powers Ultra kite that some of you like so well. Sorry Buena Vista, I didn't know you had x kites too! I hope this answers some of those questions floating around the ether. Feel free to contact me anytime through the net or direct by e-mail if you have any questions about our stuff or want to know about the current state of affairs in power flying in the u.s. dean jordan ahclem0013.aol.com jordan air kites aoxomoxoa = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1993 15:29:55 -1000 From: dickbell@netcom.com (Dick Bell) Message-Id: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest) Subject: Re: X-1, X minus 1, X-1 pica lite ahclem0013@aol.com wrote: : Thought i'd clear up a few things about our new kite which comes in two basic : versions right now as a prototype(production to be decided on by the trade : show in Jan.). : The first version is called the X minus 1. It weighs 8ozs or less and is a : low wind kite with a wind range of between .5 and 10 mph. It is currently : made of icarex 3/4 with g-force lites and a beman spine, comes stock with a : 3-step adjustable in-haul bridle. : The second is called the X minus 1 pica lite indoor. It is an under 6oz kite : made almost as light as we can make it. I say almost as light because we can : make it lighter, it just wouldn't be as flyer friendly, ie; less : reenforcement. Anyway it is made of the 1/2 oz icarex and is rodded with the : g-force "skinny's". It also comes stock with a 3-step adjustable in-haul : bridle. : As an option, we have created an amazing bridle that has all the attributes : of a cross-bridle rig with out the usual added weight associated with a : cross-bridle. This is the Herb Weldon X-1 adjustable cross,shunt-bridle. :While this bridle really works well it is expensive to make(very labor : intensive), so unless we have an overwhelming response for (cause we'd have : to charge more and kites allready cost to much..) it, it's going to remain an : option for now. It works well on both versions of the kite and is sure to be : copied as it solves alot of problems. I'm sure that we already have over a : hundred hours of development work in the bridle alone for this kite so we're : very pleased to read and see some of the flyers reaction when flying this : kite. : By the way, this is the kite that Reed Richards forced me to invent. I : simply got tired of him and that damn sprook of his every time i went to : georgia(that large sucking sound...)and had nothing to fly. Thanks Reed! : The name X minus 1 comes from an old radio science fiction show that i listen : to on sunday nights when working late. It is in keeping with the : experimental nature of the kite since it has been around for over two years : and is a large part of the insperation for that TC Powers Ultra kite that : some of you like so well. Sorry Buena Vista, I didn't know you had x kites : too! : I hope this answers some of those questions floating around the ether. Feel : free to contact me anytime through the net or direct by e-mail if you have : any questions about our stuff or want to know about the current state of : affairs in power flying in the u.s. Hi Dean, Hey thanks for all of the info. I can't wait to see these kites they sound like they are going to do very well at the KTA Show. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dick Bell dbell@lobby.ti.com (work) dickbell@netcom.com (home) Dallas, Texas = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1993 11:44:56 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <1993Nov22.214456.8170@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Subject: Re: X-1, X minus 1, X-1 pica lite In article <9311211327.tn118466@aol.com>, ahclem0013@aol.com writes: >As an option, we have created an amazing bridle that has all the attributes >of a cross-bridle rig with out the usual added weight associated with a >cross-bridle. This is the Herb Weldon X-1 adjustable cross,shunt-bridle. I wouldn't call it amazing, but it seems to work very well. It basically works like this: - In very light wind, the kite acts like it is cross bridled, similar to the bridle on a Tracer. - When the wind comes up, the kite acts like a conventional bridle where the long bridle is attached to the T. This tranference from one "setting" to the other is smooth and continuous, almost like an automatic transmission. Further, as the kite moves from one setting to the other the pick points move a very small amount. In essence, you have a controlled, variable geometry kite. On some kites, when you pop the kite really hard (give both lines sharp tugs) the transition from a flat kite to a bowed kite is very abrupt and the kite's flight is jerky and not that much in control. The cross, shunt bridle allows smooth flight and lots of control while doing this. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1993 21:38:32 -1000 From: salanne@convex.csc.FI (Simo Salanne) Message-Id: <1993Nov23.073832.14861@funet.fi> Organization: Finnish University and Research Network FUNET Subject: Re: X-1, X minus 1, X-1 pica lite In <1993Nov22.214456.8170@das.harvard.edu> sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) writes: >In article <9311211327.tn118466@aol.com>, ahclem0013@aol.com writes: >>As an option, we have created an amazing bridle that has all the attributes >>of a cross-bridle rig with out the usual added weight associated with a >>cross-bridle. This is the Herb Weldon X-1 adjustable cross,shunt-bridle. (lines deleted) >The cross, shunt bridle allows smooth flight and lots of control while >doing this. Is it a trade secret or could somebody describe how to make the cross, shunt bridle? Simo -- Simo.Salanne@csc.fi -- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1993 06:16:48 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <1993Nov23.161648.18885@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Subject: Re: X-1, X minus 1, X-1 pica lite In article <1993Nov23.073832.14861@funet.fi>, salanne@convex.csc.FI (Simo Salanne) writes: >Is it a trade secret or could somebody describe how to make the >cross, shunt bridle? This ties in with the copyright discussion that has been going on. It is a great idea and if I wanted to control it's use, I would patent it immediately. Patents can be expensive (the patent search can cost a bundle) and Dean probably won't bother with it. So, while I can legally use it however I want to, I won't do so because ethically I think it is wrong to not let the creator of something reap the benefits of his/her hard work. What this means is that I won't be sharing "how to make the bridle" with anyone else, and won't be using he bridle on my production kites for a while, or until I get Dean's permission. I might use it on a few experimental kites, or my personal kites. I urge everyone else to do the same until Dean decides whether he wants the public at large to know about the bridle. One thing to note is that although the principle is simple, a lot of time needs to be spent to really understand how the bridle works on individual kites. Dean deserves a lot of credit for persevering and making the bridle work. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =