By Lee Toy

Vol. 8 No 1   –   May 1985

This month’s kite design is based on a Rokkaku design by the late Lincoln Chen oi Honolulu, Hawaii.
Basically it is jusi iike a Rokkaku with a modified sail, and a simple hridle. The four foot version flys well on light and medium winds, without a tail.

• Materials:
  3 – 1/4″ diameter dowels x 4′ long 3/4 ounce spinnaker cloth, or Tyvek to cover,
• 5 – 1/2″ diameter split rings 80# test braided nylon line

By way of standard reference-KITE FLYER is available six ties a year (weather permitting) at the inflated cost of a dinner for two at DOGGIE DINER–S8./year. 73ift subscriptions are available, so let your friends know what they can get you for   trading stamps or gold bars to:

The Smithsonian Kite Festival has become quite well structured. Kites are registered with a score card that is presented to a variety of judges for scoring. The first set of judges score: Design, craftsmanship and Beauty. Then you are assisted by a “runner” who takes you to the flight field for IN THE AIR judging. The kites are judged on :Launch, climb and stability, IL’s preformance. The kites must fly for a minimum of one minute.

With over 300 entries, this judging procedure can take quite some time. Kites are entered from 10am to 12 noon and the competition and judging is usuall complete by 3pm. The average wait in line is about two hours. There are two catagories of kites, those made by adults (over 14 years of age) and children

(14 and under). There were 10 or 15 classes of kites that the individual could enter his kite, although there was no provision for the popular “STUNT” kites Since each contestant could only enter ONE kite, the awards are well distributed.

Paul E. Garber, historian emeritus at the National Air and Space Museum and his wife Irene (Buttons) were on hand to oversee one of the longest running kite festivals in the country. Paul had started the festival at the urging of a fellow colleague 19 years ago, in an attempt to make better use of the beautiful parks surrounding the Capitol. The first festival drew about 20 entrants and several hundred spectators, this year there were over 300 kites entered for some 20 trophies and awards.

Helping Hand Awards go to the Smithsonian Resident

CALIFORNIA KITE DAY

Associate Program and the Maryland Kite Society  for their excellent support in making this a smooth running event. it took a table of registers, four close inspection judges, six or more “runners”, two panels of flight judges, several field coordi­nators and I don’t know how many “behind the scene” workers to pull it all together.

The Resolution reads: “Resolved, That the Members lereby endorse and support the setting aside of a lay for Californians to enjoy the pleasures of kite flying and the freedom, enjoyment of outdoors, the sense of family and the spirit of friendship attendant thereto: and be it further Resolved,

That local civic organizations work with neighbor­hood groups to assist children from low-income families so that they may participate in CKD….”

Signing the Resolution are: David Roberti, Chair­man Senate Rules Committee, Leo T. McCarthy, president of the Senate, Louis J. Papan, Chairman Assembly Rules Committee and Willie L. Brown, Jr. Speaker of the Assembly, attatched at the bottom of the Resolution is the Great Seal of the State of California.

Although March 31, 1984 was declared “CALIFORNIA KITE DAY”, we celebrated the 3rd as B.A.K.E.’s first flight of Spring. We’ll try to coordinate a little better next year.

THE ROSETTA STONE OF PARAFOIL BRIDLING

This is the basic formula from which George bridles pis ten celled parafoils:

These formulas are from Pythagorean Theorems applied to properties of right triangles. The hypothenuse of a right triangle is equal to the square root of the base squared plus the side squared. Trust me it works.

Dimensions for the top row of flares: IB (inside bridles) = Y(1.5X)2 + C2 MB (middle bridles)  (1.5X) + (3C)

OB (outside bridles) :V(1.5X) + (5C)2 Dimensions for the middle row of flares:

Add 1″ to each of the bridle lengths found for the top row of flares.

Dimensions for the bottom row of flares:

Add 5″ to the 1.5X dimension before squaring it. If X = 70, then 1.5 X = 90, and for the bottom row of flares you would add 5″ to make it 95″

in the formula.

It really isn’t as bad as it looks, but it helps to own a calculator with a square root function.

The 1.5 multiplier determines the length of the bridles. In this case we end up with an average bridle length of around 108″, which may be a bit long for some kitemakers. The longer the bridle the more stable the kite. The bridles create drag and stability, similar to the multiple bridles on bowed Japanese kites.

Note: the formula gives you the proper lengths for the bridle dimension from the YOKE to the BRIDLE LOOP, see Vol. VII No.6 Pg.4 for more details.

UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A SWIVEL

Bill Shaprio  (KCMO) was out flying kites with us on the Marina Green several months ago and showed me a knot that I had not been aware of. I thought it might be handy to pass it along for those out there who fly larger kites on heavier lines.

Bill flys maneuverable parafoils in the 10-15 square foot range, usually on 1000 test braided dacron. Instead of attatching the kite to the flying line with a swivel, he ties it on directly using a knot that may be similar to a fisherman’s BLOOK KNOT, any sea salts out there can feel free to comment.

To tie the knot: pass the end of the flying line thru the bridle loop, wrap the end around itself six or seven turns, pass the end back thru the initial loop at the bridle and tighten the knot. (see below) It should resemble a tightened hang-mans noose. It is easily untied by easing the end of the flying line back thru this opening and unwrapping the line.

This knot can be most useful if you find your swivels are not strong enough to hold your kites or as an effective way to tie smaller swivels to your Idte line.

KITE EVENTS CALENDAR

April 20, 9th Annual Key West (FL) Kite Festival

All Day on the White St. Pier. Sponsored by Heavenly Body Kites and the Latin Chanber of Commerce. $100 Cash for the Best Color Slide taken the day of the festival. $50 gift certificates from Heavenly Body Kites for: Youngest kite flyer/Oldest kite flyer/Best handmade kite/Longest flying kite/Person from furthest point from Key West/Best kite perfor­mance.

April 27, 19th Annual Maryland Kite Festival, Asbury Methodist Village across from Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD, 10am-3pm.

Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and the Mary­land Kite Society. Prizes:Altitude/Most Patri­otic/[lest train/Special effects/Most beautiful Wittiest/Best banner/ Dual line kites/ Youngest and oldest fliers/ Spectator’s choice.

For more information (301) 229-6052

April 27-28, International Kite Festival ’85 Japan Kite Association, Reception on the 27th and kite flying on the 28th. The site:

Itabashi Arakawa Kasenjiki, Japan. More info: Mr. Masaaki Modegi, 1-12-10 Nihonbashi, Chuo -ku, Tokyo, Japan. Tel. 03 (271) 2465

May 5, Berkeley Parks and Rec Department’s ___

Environmental Fair Kite Fly/ Demonstrations. Berkeley Marina, 12 noon-3pm. B.A.K.E.

All are welcome to show off their best kites . We’ll set up kite camp in area “A” on map below. If there are any charges just look for where the kites are , you’ll see us.

May 31-June 1 & 2, FESTIVAL AT THE LAKE, Lake Merrit, Oakland California. This three day event will feature a kitemaking booth sponsored by Kitemakers of Pier 39 and BAKE. We will be making kites from 12 noon-3pm daily and need volunteers to help out, no experience necessary Contact: Leland Toy (415) 647-7774

June 16, 14th Annual Father’s Day Kite Festival, S.F. Marina Green. 12 noon to 4pm? Sponsored by KLOK radio and Kitemakers of Pier 39 to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of SF. Again they will be giving away a trip for two to Hawaii??? for the best KLOK kite. For further information contact (415)956-3181.

August 31, Sept.1, COKA Kite Festival at the U.S. Air Force Museum, Daton, OH.

Kitemaking, exhibits and a kite fly are planned. Contact Fred Bell, 315 S. Kellner Rd. Columbus, 011 43209

Oct. 3-5, AKA Convention, San Diego, CA f;,f, 7f itEVER WANTED IN A KITE FESTIVAL, AND WIND T000.