Date:	Thu, 29 Jul 1993 18:29:50 -1000
From:	jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka)
Message-Id: <23a83u$ghk@umd5.umd.edu>
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park
Subject: Advantage size/weight increases


Last week I finally managed to bust both leading edge spars in my Rev II
(this is the stock 3-wrap frame I've been flying on for just shy of 2 
years).  A few days ago I was up in Baltimore picking up some flying line
for a kite I just made for someone and whilst there I grabbed a couple of
Rev II leading edge sticks (both ferrule-less; I've got the materials to
match the Rev internal ferrules).  I wasn't entirely certain both sticks
were 3 wrap...one was in bag with a RevII label on it, but all their other
sticks were unmarked in a loose barrel.  I grabbed one that looked about
the same wall thickness.

Upon getting home, I pulled out a scale and started measuring weights.
The RevII stick I bought was 26 grams, so I checked the unmarked stick
and found it to also be 26 grams.  Okay, so I knew I'd grabbed the right
unmarked stick.  For kicks, I pulled out my old (cracked) spars.  One of
them was a mere *20* grams and the other was 24 (a relatively large
discrepency, it seems to me).  I then pulled out one of my old Rev I sticks
(4.5 years old; it's nothing like modern Advantage and I don't know if it's
considered to be a 5-wrap like stock Rev I advantage sticks) and found
it to be only 28 grams.  I can't help but wonder what a new piece of 5-wrap
would weigh...it seems odd to only have 2 grams difference between my new
3 wrap and my old Rev I sticks.

So anyway, having gone through all that and mildly bemoaned the fact
that my new leading edge is going to be at least 10 grams heavier once
it's ferruled, I tried sticking it in the kite.  No go.  The new 3 wrap
won't fit in the old 3 wrap's end caps!  A very frustrating turn of
events.  I can still fly with my SkyShark frame, but only in real light
winds.

Today I called Revolution when I got home from work and explained what
had happened.  They confirmed that the sticks *were* a wider diameter these
days and they're mailing me a couple of new endcaps for free.  At least
I'm getting good service.

Jeff
(who was *very* annoyed with himself for going down to the Mall tonight
without a single Revolution!)
-- 
|Jeffrey C. Burka     | "When I look in the mirror, I see a little clearer/ |
|SAFH Lite [tm]       |  I am what I am and you are you too./  Do you like  |
|jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu |  what you see?  Do you like yourself?"  --N. Cherry |



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