Date: Sat, 23 Dec 1995 14:05:19 -1000 From: klanders@arn.net (klanders) Message-Id: <4bi5fv$5u@services.arn.net> Organization: ARNet, Inc. Subject: rok tehnical question I have built several roks of different sizes but all of the same proportions, including bridles. I just scale up/down using a calculator. I find that the larger ones ( about 50 sq.ft.) fly as if they were glued to the sky, while the smaller ones (about 12 sq.ft.) zip and dart all over the sky, requiring almost constant attention to keep aloft. While both are fun to fly in their own ways, and quick response is indeed the requisite for a fighter, I am curious as to the disparity in performance. Is it simply a matter of the difference in size, or should they be proportioned differently? Basically, I am using the following formula: 4 units tall, 3 wide, 4pt. bridle 12 units long with adjustable tow point. I have been adjusting each kite's tow point individually for optimum performance. Bottom bow about 1/3 unit, top bow slightly less. Any ideas or comments will be appreciated. Thanks, Kerry = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 24 Dec 1995 06:14:52 -1000 From: KITEJAG@MOTHER.COM (John A. Gabby Jr.) Message-Id: <4bjvbk$km7@pa.mother.com> Organization: Mother.COM Subject: Re: rok tehnical question klanders@arn.net (klanders) wrote: >I have built several roks of different sizes but all of the same >proportions, including bridles. I just scale up/down using a >calculator. I find that the larger ones ( about 50 sq.ft.) fly as if >they were glued to the sky, while the smaller ones (about 12 sq.ft.) >zip and dart all over the sky, requiring almost constant attention to >keep aloft. While both are fun to fly in their own ways, and quick >response is indeed the requisite for a fighter, I am curious as to the >disparity in performance. Is it simply a matter of the difference in >size, or should they be proportioned differently? Basically, I am using >the following formula: 4 units tall, 3 wide, 4pt. bridle 12 units long >with adjustable tow point. I have been adjusting each kite's tow point >individually for optimum performance. Bottom bow about 1/3 unit, top >bow slightly less. >Any ideas or comments will be appreciated. Thanks, Kerry While I am certainly no expert on Roks, I had a similar problem with a small Rok I have. I think the problems stem from the smaller kites being stiffer and not taking shape as well as their bigger bretheren. My solution (actually it was the solution of a fellow kiter at Wildwood whose name I have forgotten) was to lengthen the bridle and place a lot more bow in the lower section ofthe kite. My littleRok now flies very well. I just took some measurements and found the bridle is eighteen feet on a four foot tall kite...that may sound very long, but it does fly well!! John Think Kindly Thoughts. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 24 Dec 1995 08:24:54 -1000 From: mgraves@leadingedg.win.net (Michael Graves) Message-Id: <2654@leadingedg.win.net> Subject: Re: rok tehnical question In article <4bi5fv$5u@services.arn.net>, klanders (klanders@arn.net) writes: >I have built several roks of different sizes but all of the same >proportions, including bridles. I just scale up/down using a >calculator. I find that the larger ones ( about 50 sq.ft.) fly as if >they were glued to the sky, while the smaller ones (about 12 sq.ft.) >zip and dart all over the sky, requiring almost constant attention to >keep aloft. While both are fun to fly in their own ways, and quick My experience has been that large roks tend to be more stable and well behaved. This is not desireable in terms of fighting, but nice when one is try to fill the sky with untended kites. My smaller roks (about 4' tall) are in general much more demanding of the flier when optimally bridled. So sometimes I deliberately de-tune the bridles or use exagerated amounts of bow. Usually a serious increase in the amount of bow will force them to be very stable...though unfightable. I have been know to set up several roks for stable flight then use them as targets for new rok owners seeking fighting skills. For details about my bridles check my web site (under , where I describe a simple, reliable bridle system. Michael Graves -- Michael Graves mgraves@leadingedg.win.net Brampton, Ontario, Canada http://www.interlog.com/~lepkites phone(905)456-9494 "Bear in mind, just bears in mind." fax (905)456-9493 a = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =