9/18/2023 0 Comments Stunt kite with long tail![]() Some have wingtip and tail weight attachments which change the flight characteristics of the kite, making some advanced maneuvers easier or more dramatic. Kite lines are made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene like Spectra or Dyneema woven specifically for kite line to have minimal stretch under tension and slip over itself even when wrapped over itself many times from kites spinning midair. Kite frames typically use wrapped carbon fiber tubes which are lightweight and stiff, yet can flex to absorb strong wind forces and survive hard crashes. Edge material is often heavyweight Dacron or Kevlar to provide reinforcement and strength. Kite sails are primarily made from lightweight ripstop polyester which has been chemically treated to minimize stretch, repel water, increase airtightness, and be UV resistant. Professional quality kites are made from multiple synthetic materials. The control lines are visible from this vantage point. For smooth and consistent flying a steady breeze is required, uninhibited by trees, buildings, hills, or other tall objects which may block the wind. Wind ranges depend significantly on the skill of the pilot novice or first time fliers may have difficulty keeping a kite airborne believing the wind is too light while experienced pilots nearby are performing acrobatic tricks in the same wind. High wind kite designs are often made with mesh panels or an "air brake" attached to the lines to fly in higher winds up to approximately 20 m/s (72 km/h 45 mph). "Ultralight" and "super ultralight" designs are made from lightweight materials that can be flown in the slightest breeze or even indoors with calm air. Many standard kites fly best in winds from 1.5 to 6 m/s (5.4 to 22 km/h 3.4 to 13 mph). Sport kites can be designed to fly in a wide range of conditions. These kites can be extremely precise, hover in orientation, fly in any direction including sideways and reverse, even land at a specific spot on a wingtip. Quad-line kites are noticeable by the way that they can hover in space unlike any other sport kite. Revolution initially dominated the quad-line market thanks to patent protections, but competing brands proliferated after the patents expired. Quad-line kites gained popularity after sport kite team The Flying Squad was formed in 1999 They were the first successful competition quadline team, winning back to back STACK European championships. Quad-line kites first hit the kiting scene in 1988 with the invention of the "Neos Omega", later called the "Revolution 1". Quad-line kite hovering at a right angle while touching a wingtip to the ground. These kites have spawned a new free-style type of flying where the flyer strings together tricks. The kites sacrificed some precision for the ability to perform 3D acrobatic maneuvers. Trick kites became popular after the early 2000s. Such kites are considered "old school" today and they have largely be replaced with more agile designs capable of pitch tricks. The kites were built for precision, and were often fairly large and generated a decent amount of pull. ![]() Traditional sport kites were most prevalent in the mid-90s and early 2000s. There are three main categories of sport kites: Traditional sport kites Unique quad-line maneuvers include reverse flight, axis spins, hovers, and side to side flight. ![]() Skilled use of these handles allows a quad-line kite to perform in ways that are difficult or impossible with a dual-line kite. The pitch of the kite affects lift and forward drive, and since each of four lines can be moved the kite can be tilted, rotated, twisted, or pitched in any direction. The kite experiences more force on the lines held on higher tension. To control the kite the pilot applies tension to the four lines, typically all four lines have some tension with some lines drawn back more than the others. Quad-line kites are controlled with a pair of handles, each with two lines attached to the top and bottom and attached to the kite correspondingly. This type of stall allows for various other acrobatic maneuvers to be performed. During diving maneuvers sport kites may reach speeds of 100 km/h (60 mph), while in stall type maneuvers they can remain nearly motionless. These range in difficulty from turns, loops and landings, to maneuvers where the kite is flipped and turned end over end, wrapping the lines or floating on its front or back. Using a combination of pulls and pushes (to give slack to the lines), complex tricks and patterns can be flown. The pitch can be controlled by walking/running forward or backwards, giving the lines different amounts of tension. ![]() A pilot may pull on the right-hand line to turn right, pull left-hand line to turn left, pull equally for straight flight, push the left-hand line to release air and turn right, and so on. Dual-line sport kites are controlled by the pilot adding and releasing tension on the right and left lines. ![]()
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