Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 23:03:33 -1000 From: d.j.evans@reading.ac.uk Message-Id: Organization: The University of Reading Subject: A final Rev question Thanks to all rec.kiters who e-mailed me replies my first set of Rev questions on spars and bridling ..... Here's another question before I start sewing. If we assume that a Rev needs a vent (and I don't want to open up that debate again :-) ) does it need _gauze_ ? If the vent is to allow air to bleed out before the l.e. in reverse flight why not just leave a slot ? Of course it might cause excessive drag or reduce lift .... so why not cover the slot with a flap of material (dacron, ripstop ?) just sewn along the bottom of the l.e. tunnel. In forward flight the flap would obscure the slot, and in reverse it would open. The flap would need to be segmented so that the kite would spin, with one part open and the other closed. Has anyone tried this ? Here's a very poor cartoon of a cross section through the l.e. The sail would have to be supported somewhat more than on a "normal" Rev ..... _ |O| <- spar | | <- l.e. dacron pocket |=|| <- stitched on flap (top only) \ \ <- flap | \ | <- sail | I'm prepared to be bombarded by loads of obvious problems I've overlooked. Please e-mail the _really_ obvious ones to d.j.evans@reading.ac.uk to avoid me getting too embarrassed !! Tight Lines David Evans = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 26 Oct 1994 14:32:33 -1000 From: dickbell@netcom.com (Dick Bell) Message-Id: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Subject: Re: A final Rev question d.j.evans@reading.ac.uk wrote: : If we assume that a Rev needs a vent (and I don't want to open up that debate : again :-) ) does it need _gauze_ ? If the vent is to allow air to bleed out : before the l.e. in reverse flight why not just leave a slot ? Of course it : might cause excessive drag or reduce lift .... so why not cover the slot with : a flap of material (dacron, ripstop ?) just sewn along the bottom of the l.e. : tunnel. In forward flight the flap would obscure the slot, and in reverse it : would open. The flap would need to be segmented so that the kite would spin, : with one part open and the other closed. David, Don't know if you have had the chance to call "Kite Studio" but they do have "ALL" of the parts (end caps, bungy cord, vent gauze, ect, ect) to build the Rev. They even have custom handel sets. Call them for info at 215-395-3560. later :-) -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dick Bell dickbell@netcom.com Dallas, Texas = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 23:54:03 -1000 From: raymiller@aol.com (RayMiller) Message-Id: <38t63r$f5e@newsbf01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: A final Rev question In article , d.j.evans@reading.ac.uk writes: ...If we assume that a Rev needs a vent (and I don't want to open up that debate ...again :-) ) does it need _gauze_ ? Forget the vent for your first kite. Build it and try it. You will soon discover as I did that the vent does little with regard to light wind flying - of which I do most. If you decide something is wrong after you have flown the kite and want to install the vent, it is easily done by removing the leading edge pocket and resewing. Yes, it does make for a sloppy job, but remember, this is your FIRST and should be used for experimenting. I have the first REV-II I ever built and it is a mess! But it still flies surprisingly well. With regard to purchasing the hardware that goes with the REV, it is too damned expensive!!! The molded end caps and the wrapped spars can run you $50. I used my head rather than my wallet and made my own end caps (1/20th the cost) and bought cheap carbon fiber tubes (1/5th the cost) and my kites fly just great! Not fancy, but certainly very serviceable. Making the end caps was time consuming, but worth the experience. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 04:34:07 -1000 From: jburka@Glue.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Message-Id: <38tmgv$pjn@geog20.umd.edu> Organization: Project Glue, University of Maryland, College Park Subject: Re: A final Rev question In article <38t63r$f5e@newsbf01.news.aol.com>, RayMiller wrote: >With regard to purchasing the hardware that goes with the REV, it is too >damned expensive!!! The molded end caps and the wrapped spars can run you >$50. Oh? Give Hang 'em High a call and put together your hardware for $27. $5.99 each for 4 32.5" sticks of SkyShark and $.50 for each of the 6 end caps. Still twice as expensive as using pultrudes, I suppose. But I'm rather fond of the my SkyShark'd Rev IIs fly. Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | Pithy, insightful quote to be inserted | | | when one occurs to me. *If* one occurs | |jeffy@glue.umd.edu | to me. | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =