Kites and Flight |
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Magnificent Kites
Kites are a fantastic technology project. They can be made from the simplest, lightest of materials yet... design is everything! The wind tells no lies... It will fly, or it won't... then back to the kite lab. Click on an image to go to the instructions page. Kite Education 101 Its all about the WIND! Are you facing the kite in the right direction, your back to the wind? Is the wind in the right range for the kite? Is the wind being obstructed by trees or buildings? Is it gusty or steady? Safety • Be sun safe • fly in wide open spaces, not near trees, buildings or power lines. Besides the danger of electricity, trees eat kites! • Do not fly kites with sticks (spars) near people! A kite diving at high speed is like an arrow. • Be careful with large kites or strong winds. do not get strings wrapped around hands or body. Weight vs Strength In kite materials an increase in weight usually means an increase in strength. The weight of a kite is a very important reason why a kite will fly or wont. Using the lightest materials for the strength a kite needs in its wind range. Kites designed to fly in strong winds need to cope with the extra drag and tension. Zero wind glider kites make use of very lite carbon sticks (spars) and lite sail materials. The Bridle The bridle line is the string attached to the kite. Bridles are made to set up a tow point in a special position. The tow point is a balance point that allows the kite to rise and find an equilibrium. It sets the kite at a certain angle (angle of attack) at which the forces of gravity and air pressure act to lift the kite. Lift and Stability The wider the kite is the more lift it generates. The longer a kite is the more drag it has and the more stable it is. There are different ways a kite stays stable in the wind depending on what its shape and structure is. A flat kite needs a tail to stay stable at the zenith of its flight. The tail gives the kite enough drag to keep it upright. |
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Rammed Air Pocket Sled Kite
Difficulty: capable 8+ year old Wind Range: 0-10 km per hour This is a satisfying kite project. It flys in the lightest of winds or no wind at all if you take it for a walk. It is a soft kite so there are no sticks, which removes an element of danger and damage to the kite. The instructions have photos and a pdf blueprint for expanding on the photocopier.
Tetra Box Kite
Difficulty: capable 8+ year old Wind Range: 10-25 km per hour The Tetrahedron Box Kite was originally designed by Alexander Graham Bell. It has a beautiful geometric structure made up of identical tetrahedron pyramids. It can be made of four, sixteen cells or MORE! With sixteen cells it is avery stable flyer. This design can be collapsed down to an easy to transport flat triangle.
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