Date:	Thu, 17 Jun 1993 18:55:40 -1000
From:	bordwed0487@iscsvax.uni.edu
Message-Id: <1993Jun17.225540.13885@iscsvax.uni.edu>
Organization: University of Northern Iowa
Subject: Fighter Kites

  I've resently gotten into flying single line fighter kites.  I have a
Grandmaster and a Japanese Bee which I ordered from the " Into The Wind" kite
outlet. I've gotten the hang of the Grandmaster but the Bee is slower and
harder to steer especially the edge handling. Any tips on fighters are very
welcome.

                                                        Thanks! 


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Date:	Mon, 5 Jul 1993 22:37:14 -1000
From:	allanc@syacus.acus.oz.au (Allan Charlton)
Message-Id: <C9qIM2.D4I@syacus.acus.oz.au>
Organization: Australian Centre for Unisys Software, ACUS
Subject: Re: Fighter Kites

I should have mentioned this in my previous post:
Les carries 5 miles of cotton line (8-ply, he calls it) on a large two-handled
wooden reel. He leaves very little line on the ground, and winds it in by
rolling the reel on his open palms. A very difficult thing to describe, but
I'll do it if necessary.

He gave me a little manja, the glass-coated line the Indians use when fighting
with kites. He said they use about 300 feet of manja (from the kite down) and
run cotton from there. From the way he spoke, I expect most line-cutting, or
"tangles" to happen about a mile from the flyer. He just lets out more line
until it's hard to see.

Allan.