Parafoil Kite - Rekindling The Flying Bug

by Leanna
(Tampa Bay, Florida, US)

Donned my coat in 40 degree (F) weather and headed out to the beach. What a lovely day.....! Rekindling the kite flying bug from childhood.

Purchased a small parafoil kite from a local shop in order to get out of the house and avoid any cabin fever. I hadn't flown a kite in years. Now I have several different ones. This is one of my favorite photos.

Homemade Sled Kite

by Matt
(New York City, New York, USA)

Winds were forecasted for 20mph today, so I decided to take out my new Pocket Sled kite. I also brought out my sparred Sled kite in case the winds momentarily died down.

When I reached the field, winds had still not reached the 20mph mark. There were periods of no wind followed by strong gusts. I tried to fly the Pocket Sled, but I had problems getting it inflated.

During a calm period I tried to get the sparred Sled up in the air. Unfortunately, the winds were still too much for it. However, I managed some short flights during which I had a friend take some great shots.

Pink Elephant at the Kerela International Kite Festival

by Bruce Jordan
(Edinburgh)

In the background are the traditional Chinese fishing nets which are used throughout the region.

Canard One

by Tony Sangster
(Adelaide S.A., Australia)

Using the bendy spar for other kites. Here is a conventional canard kite: length 88 cm, bendy spreader 42 + 42 cm set 31 cm from stern, foresail set to 30 cm from nose, bridle 30 cm fore and aft from 30 cm from nose and stern and tow point also 43.5 cm vertical from long spar dowel and oven-bag skin - a delight.

Flying Fish

by Greg
(Portsmouth, UK)

Finally got a picture of this kite flying.

Sprung 4 (because Sprung 3 needed modification)

by Tony Sangster
(Adelaide, S.A., Australia)

Sprung 3 was not a success and fellow kite flier Steve aptly named it the 'FROG' because the bendy topside spreader was raked forward and was used to attach a skin atop the delta skin creating a gape-mouthed thing which despite many attempts just swallowed air and flopped - a smaller entry point and inflatable section confined to near the central spar, and more lateral wing area should work. In its place the original Sprung 3 was converted into a version of Sprung 4 - just without the keel section of 4 (see photos)

Sprung 4 is a little humdinger, flies well with a small amount of tail in this 20 knot breeze. 5 mm spars, spreader 29 cm.

The bendy spreader is underneath, held with elastic bands:

Central spar is in the keel =46 cm, trailing edges 47 cm each side, leading edge 66 cm, LE spars 54 cm, spreader location 35 cm from nose, keel 5 cm deep, along keel from nose tow point = 20.5 cm, spreader 25 cm.

A Tribute to Reza Ragheb

by Jason Wong
(Singapore)

As stable as a Delta, as strong as a lifter, an Ace for this Rokkaku designer Reza Ragheb!

Cancer Kite 2

by Bill Rodriguez
(San Jose, CA, USA)

Built in January, 2019.

Cancer Kites

by Bill Rodriguez
(San Jose, CA, USA)

Kite built in January, 2019. FF04A modified to 6 cells scale = 1.5

Mini-Max Half Scale Maxi Dopero

by Bill Rodriguez
(San Jose, CA, USA)

Built in February, 2019.