Article 26139 of rec.kites: Path: tug!ibmpcug!laura.pcug.co.uk!hole.news.pipex.net!pipex!tube.news.pipex.net!pipex!dish.news.pipex.net!pipex!pipex-sa.net!iafrica.com!uct.ac.za!und.ac.za!peacenjoy.mikom.csir.co.za!news.uoregon.edu!news.sol.net!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in1.uu.net!ns2.mainstreet.net!news.PBI.net!your.mother.com!usenet From: KITEJAG@MOTHER.COM (John Gabby) Newsgroups: rec.kites Subject: Re: Chevron progress Date: Wed, 05 Jun 1996 15:03:19 GMT Organization: Mother.COM Lines: 39 Message-ID: <31b59e28.87862478@NEWS.MOTHER.COM> References: <833787269.7592.0@pat.rec.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: kitejag.dav.mother.com X-Newsreader: Forte Agent .99e/16.227 On Mon, 03 Jun 1996 07:34:29 GMT, gaffer@pat.rec.com (Andrew Beattie) wrote: >In article , Andrew Beattie wrote: >>During the day, it was never very happy in a tip-stand position, but I've >>adjusted the tips to make them flatter too and a brief test suggests that >>this has been successful. > >Successful? Nope. Sure, it fixed the tip-stand problem, but it stuffed up >the steering. It would curl up round the leading edge excessively. Ken >Knight observed that it looked like a seahorse when turning. It was very light >wind, but it didn't seem to be pulling like it should. (kinda difficult to >judge after flying the 13m^2...) > >Time for some tuning. I changed the A-lines (nearest the leading edge), >I changed the C-lines. I changed the tip bridle, I changed the A-lines some >more. Then the C-lines again. Then a different tip configuration. It went >from bad to worse (and of course, I'm doing this while everyone can see it). >Eventually, I got it right. The magic has returned, but it waited until >everone had gone home... *sigh* > >Andrew Ahh, the humility of Andrew but certainly not humiliated...on this side of the pond the Chevron is being flown and well received by everyone who picks up the handles. This past weekend I even let an importer of brand X foils have a go at the Chevron...his analysis was three words, the first of which is banned by decency freaks...the other two are merely "great kite". Dave Culp had a similar reaction, though a little more polished. I suspect that pull on the Chevron is relative to what Andrew was flying before...the new five comes on so gradually it almost doesn't feel like it's pulling...a quick look at the speedometer will confirm that all is well...the kite just doesn't feel like it pulls hard...but it sure is fast and sure does point high...in my mind the important stuff!