Date: Mon, 10 May 1993 18:54:16 GMT From: bjag@nwu.edu (Bharathi Jagadeesh) Message-Id: Organization: Northwestern University Subject: Length of lines What are the parameters one should use in determining the length of lines used for a kite? I want to shorten the lines on my kite so that I can fly in a smaller area, but I'm not sure about how short I can go before my kite becomes difficult to control/not fun to fly. What length lines to others normally use? Should the length depend on the size of the kite? i's maneuverability? I'm asking these questions before trying it out because lines are _expensive_. Bharathi Jagadeesh bjag@nwu.edu = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 11 May 1993 15:13:24 GMT From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <1993May11.151324.15001@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Subject: Re: Length of lines In article , bjag@nwu.edu (Bharathi Jagadeesh) writes: >What are the parameters one should use in determining the length of lines >used for a kite? I want to shorten the lines on my kite so that I can fly >in a smaller area, but I'm not sure about how short I can go before my kite >becomes difficult to control/not fun to fly. What length lines to others >normally use? Should the length depend on the size of the kite? i's >maneuverability? I'm asking these questions before trying it out because >lines are _expensive_. It all depends on the flyer, the kite, and the weather. In other words, the only way to find out is to experiment. One way to experiment is to not cut your lines, but wind them on dual spools or similar handles that allow you to vary the line length. I've seem people fly stunt kites on lines from 0 (the kite was held by the bridles) all the way up to 500 feet. The shortest that I typically fly on is 75 feet. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Operations Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 11 May 1993 17:50:43 GMT From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: Negligible. Subject: Re: Length of lines In article bjag@nwu.edu (Bharathi Jagadeesh) writes: >What are the parameters one should use in determining the length of lines >used for a kite? Taste! It depends what you like. I have both very long (300') and very short (30') lines in my bag. I enjoy both of them. Let me compare: Legality: In the UK, you need CAA clearance to fly above 60m altitude. Note that I can fly 300' lines without breaking the law - I just don't fly all the way up. With very short lines, the CAA probably won't care about you flying close to an airport. (Particularly if you are flying indoors). Setup: Long lines take longer to lay out and to pack up. Weight: Long lines weigh more, causing them to sag, producing less precise control. (conversely, you need a harder pulling kite to pull the lines tight) Drag: Longer lines cause more drag. Aside from increased sag, (as for weight) this means that aerofoil kites more more slowly, producing less pull. Field: Longer lines require more field. 9 people can fly on 100' lines in the space taken up by one person flying on 300' lines. (on top of this, I must consider that if I let go, the kite will probably land about 600' from me - this is a large area of land to find without trees) Window size: With shorter lines, there is less room to complete complex manoevers. With very whort lines, the momentum kite is more likely to take it out past the edge of the window. 360's: These are much easier with short lines and much harder with long lines (the kite spends more time upwind) Light wind flying: Reasonably long lines help in this case if they are light enough not to hinder (remember that in low wind, there is less pull, so you can use much lighter line). With practice, you will find that you can do gentle, wide, sweeping infinities in the middle if the wind, gaining slightly more height on each sweep, order to fly in the lowest possible wind without running about. 3D: 3D Flying is easier with very short lines Effort: You spend ages walking up and down the field with 300' lines Crashing: On short lines, you spend all of your time close to the ground. You will find that as a consequence, you spend more time hitting the ground. Expense: Short lines are cheaper than long lines (so don't cut your long lines to make short ones, buy a new set) Pull: On long lines, as the kite crosses the power zone, it spends longer in it (because the zone is bigger) and reaches a faster speed (because it spends a longer time accellerating). On very short lines, a stack of flexifoils give a sharp jerk as they jump to the top of the window, then hang there, lifeless in semi-stall. A peel, on the other hand is different, as it produces much more pull at the edge of the window. Conclusion: Go for it! Andrew -- andrew@tug.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 06:46:21 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <1993Jul28.164621.8192@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Subject: line length (was Re: A bit more on line strength...) In article , lmarshal@pnfi.forestry.ca (Larry Marshall) writes: >Interesting. I've flown all of my kites on 150' lines. Is it normal >for people to fly individual stunt on shorter lines than this? What >causes one to decide to go with 125' rather than 150' lines? Shorter lines make the kite a bit more responsive. Shorter lines also take up less space so more people can fly in a given space. Shorter lines are also a bit less expensive per set. Teams usually fly on longer lines since to allow more space around and between the kites. A real test is team flying on short lines, it sharpens your reflexes. The down side is the geometry is different/weird and it might through things off when you go back to longer lines. -- 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