THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON
: August 3, 1971
PERSONAL Dear Mr. Faust: The President appreciated your kindness in writing to him and enclosing the copies of your monthly publication, "Low & Slow. 11 He was pleased to hear from you and to learn of your continued interest in the field of flight. With the President's best wishes,
~&:~ Personal Secretary to the President·
Mr. Joe Faust Editor Low & Slow 59 Dudley Avenue Venice, California 90291
Copyright~ by Joe Faust,1971
New York Flies ••••• by Ron Williams It seems a poor way to start, but here 1 s a gripe: L&S could use more white space for notes ( by reader). Small type is O.K. by me. The more information, the better. """-~~--.Fibre-glass fishing rod blank, Esq.
Mylar tape
sheet Level #1 Substructure (foam?)
Bicycle wheel is beacoup •••• strong/light, so a membrane between every other spoke could make an airscrew: Axle
Spokes descripe a warped plane in screw conf,:;ration. To power converter (Pedals?) Miller's kite foil adventure of turn of century is down right inspiring. I want to live in a flying house. We 1 re looking forward to being able to buy one of your gust wings; we're broke. (ED: so is L&S) Would you trade one for a thing about it in one of our Broad Sheets? (ED: Just made a deal!) We'll tell about Low & Slow anyway; couldn't resist,its great! (ED: We ALL can make it so •.• let 1 s grow a bit.) Wish I knew of it in time to get it into the last Whole Earth Catalog. Plastic flowers are very light weight; perhaps the technology of same could be shifted to PTERO feathers for L&S man-flight. (ED: Once a month I review the plastic flower displays in detail ••• connector svstems, spanning systems, and webbing mechanisms can be helpful for preparing the subconscious for design work.) *Hang-gliders should have vases fer real flowers. This could double as water ballast containers. (ED: So true. Who will water them in flight?) Does dihedral allow or resist snap rolling tendencies as turn radius decreases or how about a technical question and answer column like in HOT -ROD. Motorcycle, and such magazines. (ED: Anyone? L&S 1 BE', 'Safety', and articles will often have some technical discussions. But for now we have space for articles written by members to describe specific areas of L&S flight ways.) or ••• regarding your printing bids: Think ahead .!!.Q:! to a deal with Petersen or Ziff Davis or some such publisher or L&S can go nowhere(. oops) but up .•• anyway.
?.4 (continuation of New York Flies ••• with Ron Williams) Manufactures of aluminum lawn furniture have many interesting techniques for folding, bending, and connecting tubing. Cheap too? (ED: The softer alloys of aluminum do not have the cost of heat treatment on them. Forming these tubes can provide full-size experimental systems. 1972 coat for soft aluminum can be as low as 40¢ per foot. These tubes bend and keep their bends much too easily.) A guy named Raoul Graumont has published a number of books on knot tying. My book has given me quite a bit of confidence on lashings and knots lately. Essential to sailing - over land or sea - is the good old KNOT. (ED: I.&S builders not familiar with knots and lashings will do well to make a section in their l.&S notebook .to keep going a study of such.) How about a hammock for that seat, Mr. Miller? KNOTTED SLING SEAT
NEWLY VISIBLE .AEROMEANS OF SUPPORT Redundancy is the secret of Nature's success; success is the secret of redundancy's nature; redundancy, redu~dancy. SHOGK-CORD: Cloth covered super-size rubber bands~-beautiful holder togetherers. Their technology is sophisticated, simple, cheap and available at Marine supply suppliers. (ED: Stretch under high tension can be one of life's great helps or killers. Beware in any use of shock cords.) How about aero-seeds? Like Norway Maple? Polywogs. (ED: some call them helicopters.) ~
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(I.&S will maintain a study of the aero adventures of nature's creatures.) My experience aeronautically is mostly through model building, back in the early 1950 1 s. Have had a little architectural experience since and would like to see a flip-flop flying pyramid, LTA GOTHIC, L&S high rise. (ED: I am working on the flying pyramid now. Also, the high rise is in its planning stage.)
Eiffel Tower is a fantastically efficient structure; if I
remember
correctly, it would weigh a fraction of an ounce if reduced, whole scale, to 36 " height. Domebook 2 is about putting shelter together using techniques which fit the spirit of I.&S. (ED: That's right; and does the waterbed way.) It's about putting together Bucky luller's domes and elliptical and inflato and ... will# 3 put together flying domes? (EEi.: I've written the author, but no reply yet. I am prewaring some flying dome-like wings.) The January 1971 Whole Earth Catalog supplement was published, in part in an inflato dome in the desert. In part, because the dome wanted to fly and kept upsetting the production process. Ant Farm, in Sausalito, was responsible for the Inflato and has published a primer for inflato stuff.
(ED: When one gets into these inflatables, there is a neat heat sealer that can be used, See "Evolution of an Editorial Hang-glider" in L&S 8 forward. Inflated wings, inflated ribs, foam ar:dair combines, and inflated streamline structures are described that permit low cost experimentation.) L&S could use a glossary (yearly, bi-yearly) to describe the more esoteric to the dilletante. What are the slots spoken of re: 'Condors(Buzzards)/ Magnan/Miller/Rogallo ••• and what are their advantages? (ED: please use ref. to page-booklet, e.g.'I.&S 5.3 1 , Good idea, but right now there is so very much vocabulary building and creating, I do not want to institute inhibitions. Respected confusion can tend to permit pioneering developments.) We did some experimental work with HONEYCOMB in the late 50's. A place in California supplied hexcel stuff; we made double curve, single curve, curve. We flattened it out and cut it with knives, saws, etc. and then expanded it from a flat shape to a 3-D volume: The techniques for shaping hexcell shown on 4:29. (ED: some cellular sheets cannot be compressed. Also, one must cut the unopened shapes different than the final shape. A fore to aft shQrtening takes place upon opening./ Vulcanized fibre is very interesting stuff. Look at cheap luggage for techniques - quick and dirty and very light wt. - strong and flexible. Has anything been done in the upper reaches of aero technique with £1:: namic structures? •• flapping wings? (ED: There is a growing literature on bird flight, insect flight, helicopter dynamics. Home based experimentors seem to be doing more of the mechanical modelling than anyone else. My 56301 project is a man-powered vertical flight pulsating system, Some projects are c:antine; materials and labor for proof tests. Some appear to be making progress on indoor ornithopters in the model size. P.H. Spencer having built a most succeesful mechanical pigeon ornithopter has his doubts about man=flight. Others have built ornithopters they are trying, like Pagett of California, who believes he will get off the ground for a trip and a half after a few "refinements." Then there are such as Herb Aldridge who accomplishes full-life
,.u poetry , ••• see l.&S 2.14 ••• ,
faster than he builds things to find out
what will work or not work on his concept. Herb is one among us that supports the movement by tickling us on the idea that flapping wings are the way to go, however, his non-camber philosophy and relatively high wing-loading loading ideas do not seem to change much via findings in any experimentation. Below is a photo of a non-flying model of Herb's ------Note fixed wings conception: and flapping wings. The flapping wings have venetian blind type goodies. Many suggest to Herb things like higher aspect ratio, airfoil camber, more wing area, full-time use of available man-power, but Herb gets some consolation out of the gliding of Rogallo wings. We still recommend modelling, testing, and a thorough review of the causes of lift, not, however, because that review will tell the whole story. Mr. A.S. Thompson of England ia working on ways to r~duce induced drag, hopefully by over h"<lf. Fish seem to do this. These sorts think that we will find ways. Flapping wings seem to be one of the ways. ED.) Info on the XFSW-1 seemed thin and too demanding (SEE L&S 5.10-19) ••• the center of area, deflection of tip, etc. WHY? (ED: My hope is that a friend of XFSW-1 is drawing up advanced versions of the ship with fine control and neat economies. Four, at least, projects are are nearly complete that duplicate and extend Miller's wings .••• hope we get some photo and notes on those projects. ED) •••••• (THANK YOU.RON, FOR THE ABOVE WHICH CAME OFF YOUR 8' letter)
Short Short Sharings from Members to Members: 1.Walter Englebrecht: busy repairing earthquake damaged buildings. ED: Architect Walt: Design up roof-top launched hang-glider systems that will permit escape from earthquakes. (Do not launch from roof-tops without engineered systems.) 2. Ed Lockhart: My interest is more than academic. It's getting serious. ED: Mr. Lockhart's engineering consulting talents plus newly fed enenthusiasm is leading him to advanced studies of propellers for use in man-muscular powered aircraft. Taras does not want to work while in the air, but others, non-fueled, see the hope of extended and varied flight ways by combining hang-prone-gliding-soaring with inflight muscular assist from a pop-out pusher propeller system. To our MPF staff John McMasters, Ed Lockhart says, "I feel certain that man-powered flight will soon be accomplished. Please consider me an avid enthusiast, willing to do whatever I can to help establish a society to further this effort." ED: Each member get a member, make possible a L&S printing press and higher postage allowance, and then all members will be able to keep up on just about all technological and dreamal happening in the man-prominent and man-powered fuel-less flight fields. Our current membership will not yet permit the information transfer level needed for big steps forward. If we could only reach those wanting to be reached, then a full idea-sharing developing society could exist. J. Lovejoy: Glide ratio •••••••• use aspect ratio. Better et the low drag and wing loading to have this work. Rough rule of fhumb. 4. United press and a brochure call out a National Hang Glider Association; The brochure calls out Jack Lambie as president. On L&S 5.2, L&S tells that l.&S will remain an official independent non-formal free press booklet series journal for the following organizations: IMPFS * International Man Powered Flight Society IMPFLFSS * International Man-Prominent Fuel-less Low-cost Flight Systems Society * International Hang-Glider Society
IHGS !KITES
* International Kite Information and Technology Exchange Society * Kite Society of America * Kite Information and Technology Exchange Society of America * National Hang Glider Pilots Society * Soaring Society for America * Experimental Low & Slow Fuel-less Aircraft Society of America * Academy of Model L&S Aeronautics * Flying Birdman Association (men, women, children) *Low Speed Aerodynamics Society of Earth * Fun Fuel-less Flight Systems Society for Earth Air Purity Keeping ••••••• whichever groups might formalize and. narrowize, Low & Slow will stand as a free voice to extend the frontiers and adventures of man-prominent low and slow flight ways.
KSA KITES A NHGPS SSA ELSFASA AMLSA FBA LSASE FFFSSEAP
5. Frank Baccelli: I have built Jack Lambie's "Hang Loose" but have not flown it as the tail snapped when a gust of wind overturned the glider prior to take-off, ED: Taras, Lambie, Miller, others have traded the tail boom and tail for flying wings of sweep, decalage, reflex, wash-out, and such things as tip rudders. No more tail boom snapping!!!!!'
7.s Possibly Practical Applications of Low & Slow Systems of Flight: 1.
Hawaiian reed and leaf or plastic hang-glider escape system: the villagers can now escape lava flows via foot lauching their low and slow systems. 2. Kite lava flow escapees up to a good altitude and release so that they can glide to safety. 3. Kite self up over lava flow until rescue by helicopter. 4. Foot-launch or kite self up when the earth shakes and cracks. Come down after the shake. Keep this system ready for flight. 5. Give new confidence to underprivileged societies and children by showing them that they too can wonderfully share in the Aero.space Age, Thia is a very practical approaoh to developing human resource. 6. Bring renewed health to sailplane pilots ~--get the blood moving. 7. The big slides on which one gets a flying carpet ride for 5t is just the going beginning of further low and slow slope air sliding ways. 8. Getting across a gorge when making surveys for the government: One surveyor tows the other to sufficient altitude for a glide to the other side of the gorge or barrier. Soldiers will be doing this for near-ground operations. Quiet, non-metallic operations. 9. New sort of beach life-guard operation: Use hang-glider or two man man-powered aircraft to zoom to victim from a high tower. Drop one off to make rescue. 10. (careful now until further development): Fire escape hang-gliding system set up even for those not trained in flying. With building in flame, endangered people can glide to safety. 11. Escape brush fires: use your foot-launch hanger to fly away and over the fires. Park workers, ·f'orest keepers, campers, and animals ought to have their hang-glider compact tucked under the car seat. 12. 99'1, of competition "narachutes" are hang-gliders, but not part of a fuel-leas launch system. Kite up the gliding chute pilots for their fuel-less launch. Further, foot-launch your hang-glider into soaring conditions. Gain enough altitude for a release into free-fall. Open your back-pack canopy hang-glider and glide back for another lift. What happened to the hang-glider you left in the sky? It was a two place affair and your friend comes back to foot launch with you! 13. Low & Slow systems are noted for being able to land in small spaces. Peak-based forrest ranger sees smoke. He glides to site and talks on his t1Jo way radio while doing so. He lands and begins to put ou_t the fire. Quick action will help preserve our forrestsl Use L&S, 14. L&S type system involvement can be respected as an educational tool. Already we are seeing mathematic teachers using an entire curriculum baaed on low and slow systems. An architecture professor is establishing an. entire advanced college class around low & slow optimum structures. Physical education teachers are carefully eyeing the unique kinds of involvements that can take place in the l&s ways. 15. Have a special kind of frame. To that frame be able to attach new airfoils. Test out many airfoils quickly. See which one works best. NASA does not spend much money on trying to find the most suitable airfoil for the hang-gliding bird people. Economical wing tester. 16. Soldiers trapped on peak: Night foot-launch over aggressor. Or kite up system. Climb system tether. Release into glide. 17. Cowboys on ground can mount their kite to escape a stampede. 18. Court your friend by utilizing hang-gliding outings. Get a lift in your love life. Two place hang-gliders in the 40 lb. range are in the making. What a practical way to see if he drags! Those who can fly together may hang together. SEND IN YOUR POSSIBLY PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR LOW & SLOW SYSTEMS •••••
Interesting
7.9
Shorts
1. When appropriate (very low and slow lawn flying) shaven legs and short shorts promise nice profile drag and distracting flights. 2. Rubber band or shock cord standing sling vs. swing seat? 3. Taras' quick control sleeve:
(;:;'t=::::;::::;-;::.~· '<t)I ~~
c:.011,'r-Rr.L l()t RE
4. You will get to read of a thousand minds in l&s when all of us share a little bit of dreaming. What a nice thought! Wait not.
5. Hopefully we will soon be able to watch simultaneous ground skims by a fleet of Miller Flying Sail Wings and a fleet of Taras' Flying Wing Biplane. These ships already fit the bill for meandering through valleys with good control near the ground. These truly self-launching systems are much improvable l They are good beginnings that can provide fuel for our fires of hppe. This low and slow activity is no farse. The future will be grand and free. 6. L&S flight ways is proving to be a two sex and family activity. 7. Taras has proven to the world that near ground man-flight akin to skiing between trees and other ground obstacles in the slalom fashion is not only possible but happening! In 40 lbs. of craft, Taras zig-zagged down-slope with full control.And this ship will one-day soon be relatively primitive. No-wind air-skiing between meadows and trees (not over them----but within them) will become a sport outdistancing snow skiing. This suggested area of Low & Slow flight will be done not too unlike Tarzan's adventures in summer and winter, ground snow or not. When wind is not enough for up-slope flying, one will land softly at the ski-lift cable for a ride to the top again (until, that is, we develop practical muscular man-powered attachments to hang-gliders!). 8.
THIS MUST BE NOTED SEPARATELY: In the early part of the morning on August 22, 1971, Taras Kicenuik, was the first to celebrate the modern memory of J.J. Montgomery (1883 first controlled wing man-flight •••• done in a hang-glider) at the 1883 flight site by flying some 100 feet in maneauvering flight from a foot-self-lau mode down a very mild slope in cross-wise fashion (10 to 1 path) WITH A BREEZE COMING AT HIS DIRECT SIDE AND DOWN SLOPE! Wind direction was tested by a dust bomb by your editor •••• it was detracting from Taras' flight!
9. Will someone tell Domina Jalbert that L&S might be a place for him to accelerate his flight-joy-potential growth. What happens when a simple Rogallo Bat Glider is Jalberted? When a Miller Sail Wing is Jalberted? When a Lambie Hang Loose is Jalberted? L&S predicts we have many surprises awaiting open-front double membrane ram-air Jalbert modified hang-gliders. Jalbert Aerology Laboratory,Inc. 170 N. W. 20th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33432. This free plug is meant to lure Jalbert, not your buying his products. Hopefully he might know he will sell more by sharing short ideas in L&S. We are proud and thankful for his having invented the ram-air all nonrigid wing that he has.
Photograph by George Uveges 668-11
7.12
THE MEMBERS SHARE: From Alex Rogers: A letter on the 25th page of the Nov·-Dec 1954 issue of Soaring gave the following info. on Dr. Horten~ "L'Alita" (Flown in 1953): Span 24.8 feet, 80 lbs, AR:5, stall 23 mph, L/D of 18:1 at 45 mph., sink 3.1 f.p.s. at 35 mph. Any plans available? ED: Anyone know, Keep in mind. Foot launching that ship would be a bit difficult, but using those plans as a start point might not be a poor idea. Modify construction, reduce weight, change airfoils, put in a hang way to prone way area •••.••• More from .AlBx: At the risk of polluting the present approach to l&S - may I suggest that currently available model engines approaching 1! HP with mufflers, shrouded propellers, would take some of the current physical effort out of staying air borne. Yours for good airs, A. Rogers ED: 1! h.p. would sustain some of the going h.gs. for a long period of time, but would not permit level flight in calms. The physical effort to earn the bread to spend on fuels that will help spell the end to clean air is a trade-off left to other organizations. But, it is important to note that design is not far from having hang-gliders stay air-borne indefinitely on mild breezes with a minimum of physical effort. Let us not permit the desire to stay airborne keep us from achieving that which is possible: high performance soaring at low cost with self-launch from mild slopes and even flat plains without the use of fuels. We are coming of age and need only to persevere with confidence, enthusiasm, and mutual cooperation. 3/4 h.p. engines can give level flight on high labor. ships now, but I hope we do not lose your talent in developing solutions for fuel-less flight. Your flying-mono-plane wings should lead somewhere! Alex has had some 36 yrs. of modelling and some years in soaring. He is attracted by the potentials of low cost flight that may be shared with his four children and wife. He says in an earlier letter "The use of these engi~es could not sustain but could extend our 'hops' into respectable distances and perhaps allow the use of safer and less efficient structures." That is quite right and can be done now. That is fueled flight and very attractive in its own right, however, there is now a I.&~ world ••••• From Frank Baccelli: When I was 16, I designed and built a monoplane hang glider out of bamboo and old curtains- it didn't even fly itself.- I then built "Hang Loose"- Now I am designing a new all plastic ship - with full controls - and flying in a prone position. After about 8 zillion ground loops in "Hang Loose" I feel controls are absolutely essential for sustained flight - altitude 6 to 10 feet for infinite distance. I am constructing it now and I will surely let you know if it works. ED: Frank 1 we wish you the best. If possible try to get some performance figures: Timed distance, wind velocity, slope of hill. All plastic? Maybe Sears will be having hang gliders made in Japan soon? .ill glass; all steel; all wood; all paper; all string; all glue; all food; all leaves7 I built an all-food box kite; maybe a hang glider of wiener skin, stiff noodles, and paste paste can be flown by a picnic group and eaten afterwards in celebration of man-flight! Members and visitors will enjoy the slide you sent. Archive thanks you. From ')_ody Woodson of Hawaii: ·r•m enchanted with the ideas generated by Hang G iding ad •••• While my Libelle sailplane must rest on the mainland perhaps the void will be filled by the challenges of this new? old? sport • Stay with the hang-ups. . •••• I understand one is being constructed on Oahu. ED: Many systems are being built that begin an era of hang-gliders within sailplanes to be used while the sailplane pilot is waiting for his crew to pick him up from off-road landings. Even more importantly, hang-gliders in some countries will replace sailplanes. Hung prone positions with a clean 20 lb. hang-glider will permit all-day soaring by properly licensed pilots. They'll be able to carry oxygen and food and a parachute (gliding one •••• that is, an all-canopy hang-glider). Variable geometry will permit penetration increase for distance travel.
Then
? .13
From a hang-glider manufacturer of 1912: The H.S. Lynn Glider Co: "So popular has the sport ·of gliding become that several concerns have taken up the work of building gliders for sale and you may now purchase a practical machine for $100. However, there are some who would prefer to build their own and for that reason I will describe how you may make your own at a small cost of between $15 and $20. It is termed a biplane type or double-decked glider. It is a little hard to master the control of a glider at first, but when you have once learned you will feel amply repaid for your trouble. A machine of this kind is not hard to make and anyone with a little ingenuity and few ordinary tools can accomplish the work." •••• "If there are no clubs in your town, form one and work together and in this way you will progress much· faster." Now Much energy and experience accumulates while over three thousand people ponder over a 19?1 plan for a Hang Loose bi-plane hang-glider buildable for minimal flight for about $24. Further, another three thousand, at least, have bought a plan ($5) for a Rogallo type hangglider that is buildable for about $15. Experience is showing that one may purchase materials and build a super low and slow machine for about $100 to $JOO. Finished machines by commercial manufacturers for the types currently being worked on will range from $200 to $1500. Kits will emerge selling for $150 to $1000. Plans for ships will range from $1 to $20. HOWEVER, Low & Slow will encourage free development of plans in its pages toward ship costs that will be minimal and progressively lower than commercial operations. Not all participants will seek the joy of playful creative development of novel approaches to the problem of man-prominent flight;some will buy. How l.&S encourages development for minimal cost systems that are ever improving by utilizing the following tools and habits: 1. Send your experiences in note form to your L&S headquarters for sharing with all other members. Prevent duplication of errors and speed the discovery of newer and more interesting combinations. You will be repaid a thousandfold even if you believe you have the best secrets of all time. The very few who must commercialize will always.be many steps behind the organic growth of our amateur togetherness. 2. Keep a notebook where you sketch and make short notes. This has proven to accelerate your dealing with novel combinations. 3. Find a fast and simple mode of modelling your ideas. Give yourself quick vision of your idea. Tape, string, straws, white glue, paper, polyethelene, and a few minor tools will aid immeasurably. 4. Be confident that you can discover an interesting combination fitting to man-prominent flight in any place in the universe. L&S tends to produce flight systems of no cost, no labor, but with a living love •••• meanwhile we will play_spend, labor some, and fly.
7 .14
Letters to the Editor From or Sharings for all: FRANCIS M. ROGALLO: ( Inventor of Rogallo wings) Thank you for the information about "Low & Slow. 11 Enclosed is our check for 12 issues. I also belong to AKA, EAA, and AIAA; so I should be able to keep in touch with some of the Rogallo wing developments going on, even though I retired from NASA last year. Your letter was forwarded to me by NASA, and I asked my former secretary to send you a bibliography and some of my papers on flexible (Rogallo) •ings. I trust you have received them by now. If not let me know. I am also enclosing a partial list of places where NASA documents may be studied. They are probably also in the libraries of most aeronautical schools and industrial aircraft organizations. As you will perceive from the bibliography of publications, the NASA-, particularly Langley, was very active in sponsoring research and development of Rogallo wings (generally referred to as parawings, paragliders or flexible wings) during the 196o•s , and until the big slump in aerospace appropriations. About a year ago it became evident that the NASA would not be able to continue this work as it had been doing and since I was a few years past voluntary retirement age I decided to retire and try to find other ways to continue my Rogallo wing R&D. I have found this difficult on an individual private basis and have decided that little progress will be made unless more people can be found to participate and support the effort. I will be very much interested in reading "Low & Slow" to learn what some others are doing in this field. Our regards to the Hodgson's with whom we spent many happy, exciting days.
Sincerely, (Francis M. Rogallo) ED: We welcome your membership and sharings. L&S, among other things, is dedicated to advancing research and development on the possibilities of completely non-rigid as well as stiffened systems of Rogallo wings, Jalbert Wings, Barish wings, and others even when all NASA efforts stop. We are looking forward to advanced barely stiffened inflatable fle~ible wings for hang-gliding sports and picnic flying. We are beginning to experiment and fly systems that go beyond the Bat Glider and Bamboo Butterfly or the Delta Ski Kite-gliders. We invite you to freely brainstorm recreationally in Low & Slow to help direct the think flow. Your early flex wing talks indicated to me years ago that you enjoy dreaming forwardly both in the applications field and development field.
UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE Pat-ented Mar. 20, 1951
2,546,071 FL~XIBLE KITE
Gertrude Su~den Ro~:1110 a.nd Fra.ncis MelvlD
2,546,078
R-Oi,'allo, Hampton, Va.
AppUcation November 23, 1948, Serial No. 61,702
:9 Claims.
(CL H4-W)
This invention relates to kites and more partlculfl.rly to a kite having completely flexible sur-
te.~s.
It is nn object of our invention to prov:lde a kite of simple and economic construction · and wherein the use of reinforcing members may be ordinarl!y eliminated. . . It is another object ot our Invention to provide a kite which will be simple to fly and graceful In filght. It is a further object of our invention to provide a kite structure which may be easily folded or l'olled and requires a minimum of space in. storage. · It is still another object ot our invention to provide a structure for a kite having improved aerodynamic character!stics. In general we achieve the above object by constructing a kit.e of a ~ubstant!ally quadr!lateral piece of fabric, paper or other light a.nd flexible material, having bridle strings att.a.ched at various points, and a tau secured to the kite when necessary, so that the stress in the st.rings exerted at
11trategic points of the kite's surface maintains the kite In proper shape and configuration to be effectively m.1pporteo even in a light breeze. Ow• ing to the f'act that our kite does not require the use of st!ITening members, it is considerably llghter than other kit.ts of the same area and h-ance more easily flown In a light breeze. Other objects and features of our invention will be evident from the· detailed description which now foHows taken hi conjunction with the appended drawings in which: PJg. 1 Is a plan view ot our novel type structure .as it rests e,n B. fl.at surface prior to flight; Fig,!2 is ~ plan view of our kite. in flight; Fi8'.· 3 is an elevation o! our kit.e 1n filght showJng an approp11e.tc angle ot attack: · Fis. 4 represents the manner In which a pluml, Uy ot our ldtu ma.y be coupled in ttlght; Fig, S shows a. section through 5-8 and . ot Ft.,., .. 2·• · ~gs •. 6a-c shCK.T sections of var10U8 typu of retnrorcements suitable for use ln eonJunctlon with ow kite, tr desired.
20
f1q.l.
1
With rei;pcct to Flgs. l through 3, our invention contPmplates ~ne use of a substantially square pil"Ce of fabric or pa.per 10 forming 11, body member hav1ng a dJagonal fold line IS provid6a therein divicling the body into symmetrical sections that may belly upwardly on both sides of tht:: fold llne to form l11teral support surfaces wh,m alo~t. A series of bridle line.s 16 through ZZ are sym:znetrteally P.tta.ched to the kite and a'.'e arought together and .:;ecured to a main control llne H, &I shown In Fig. 3. The brldle lines 18, 19 ar.:1 2Z a.re secured to the kite at the fold line 13 in any suitable manner as by punching a hole through the material Just above the fold line when the ldte is comp1ete1,-."<"'C'~folded, and then passing strings through the holes, tying the ends thereof so as to secure the strings In their respective holes. Alterna.tivelY, adhesiv.e patches may be utilized to hold the string ends to the kite fabric at the fold llne, lf desired. The bridle lines 17 and 18 are secured to the kite fabric on either side of the center l!ne, while the lines 20 and 21 are fastened substantially at the lateral tJps of the square. all or these lines being adjac.::nt 1·e..c;pecUve leading edg~ of the body. The _particular arrangement 1s in• dicated on Fig. l, wherein fs shown exaggeratedlJ the string ends passing upwardly ~hrough the kite body. The length relationships of the several line$ fa such as to provide any desired degree of arcuateness of the body member sections depending on the degree of wind encountered. The relation• ship shown 1s suitably propcrtloned for 1enenl purposes. In strong winds we have found a tall to be essentla_l and we prefer to utilize for this purpose a ribbon-like material of any suitable type such as cloth or aluminum foil, Indicated at 30. The tail 30 ls attached through a swivel jo!nt 3S to a
pair c,f lJnes 35 and 38 Which are secured to respective traillng edges of tho ltite subs~:inUall7 at the midaportlons thereof, as shewn 1n Pip. 1 and 2. AlternaUvely, the lines 35 and 1B could be i;;;,cured to the kite substantiallY at the· J.ocat1ona shown for the ends of lines 20 and 21. It will be appreciated that the particular Joca.tlon ror the atta.ching ends of tbe tall llnes may be cha.ng~ to suit various copd.itions, such as the size aod weight of the kJte, the weight of the tall. the wlod encountered, etc. We have found, however, aa a matter of actual practice, that the location sboWll In Figs. 1 am! 2 Is suitable for general purposes. One of the ple..siog aspects round in ftyit:g our kite ts the fa.ct that In gusty air or when the string Is deliberately ;erked the non-rigjd strccture allows the shape to chll.llge In a. manner SUS'· gesting a t1: 1!ng o~ swimming creature. Furtbttr, ln order to e1.•.hance the attrnctlvtness of our kite, we may constrc·.ct It of tr&.nsparent material, such as cellophant or cellophaae reinforced with a grid of str:ng e.nbedded thei·el1.1 ,i.nd provkle colored pictures of birds, rocke~, etc. traMlucentl)' tllez:aor.. In addition, phosphorescent
rY7\ Fig.5.
Jar to Fig. 6a except that the reinforcement 1s palnt may be used 60 as to obtain 8. f,tarmng and hollow and flexible so as to be ~.lied with compleasing effect when fiying our kite at rught. pressed air, or other gas, for maintaining rigidLy. In physical aspect, our kite performs very sue· Such reinforcements might conceivably be cess!ully when constructeo· of reinforced cello- . comprised of flexible materials such as wood and phane paper cut as a square wJth the sides thereof · even more flexible material such as soft rubber about eighteen inches long. The taU ,nay b~ at- tubing or adhesive tape. In any event, the reintacbed thereto by a single string terminating. at forcing material should not be so stitf as to pret.1":ie d!ago::;al line 13, but we prefer the two-strlllg vent the Jeacling and trailing edges from assumanangement, herr.l.uabove described. The swivel_ ing proper arcuate shape as the material of the Joint :ta prevents the whipping tail !rom twisting kite bellies out In flight, r..Jthough a rigid reinthe sLrings 35 and 38 about each other. . forcement could be used at the center line, if In Fig. 4 is shown a manner in which a. pludesired. In general, th,! use of relnforcelT\ents rality of kites, as hereinabove described, may be reduces the required number of bridle strings and cotiplecl for slmU.ltaneous flight. It will be appre- considerable latitude may be exercised in the type elated that the kites need not be all of 4:he same of reinforcement used. It should be i::olnted out size but might be o! progress:vely smaller area, that for 1arge kites intended for emergency use, so that the bridle strings 40 would have no an- for mil!tP.ry ·or other purposes, the reinforcegular bends therein, but would ri!present elements ments mgy consist of hollow fabric tubes which and corners. of an inverted pyramid fmm .the are open at theh· front ends and closed at their juncture point 43 to the points of attac:bment rear ends so 11.s to be inflatable by lhe oncoming with the uppermost kite. · · . 'wind anci maintained in shape thereby, Further, While we have shown but one form of the kite the reinforcement of each edge may consist of a 1nscrar as conflgurr.tlon is concerted, other forms number o! beads strung together ancl. secured are en~ircly feasible. For example, rectangular along the edge so that their mass will provide a and elliptical configurations may be used. Fur- degree of stability due to inertia, wi.hout sacr!ther while we prefer to utl.:iize non-rigid nonw t!cin.g flexibility. · reinforced lifting surfaces, it will bti appreciated Like all kites, our kite obtains its lift from the that reinforcements could be applied as shown. in action of the wind blowin~ past tt. The kite is connection with Fig. Ba through c, dependmg maintained at an inclined at.itude relative tp the upon the particular use the kite i.3 to be put and Wind, as shown in Fig. 3. by the bridle lines and upon the size thereof. · . · the weight of the tail. The static pressure of the Fig, Ba represents a kite !ollo;ylng our t~aching air on the lower surface of the kite is Increased but utilizing a reinforcement o! i:ound cross sec- by the airflow and that on the upper surface is tlon which may be applied at the center line 13 decreased, t!.ie pressure difference between upper l!.nd. also at the leading and trailing edges. Fig. and lower surfaces thereby providing a lift force Bb shows th~ manner of attachment· o! a rein- perpendkular to- the wind which supports the forcement of flat cross section. FJ.g. fie is simi- kite. ThiB s1ime pressure cllfference between
upper and leiwer surlaces, In conjunction with the tension 1n the lines bolds our lclte ln proper abape to efficiently u..illze the air current. n ls 1n th1I lat.ter aspect Lhat our kite disUnguisbes from those of the 1..rlor arl, namely, the combination of a suitably llexible body and suitably propor•. tloned bridle lines to etrec; a degree·of areuatenea requisite to effective tlight under widely var1lna . · wind conditions. It is lriterest!ng to note the comparison between the principle of our kite and that, of the conven·tional parachute, Both structures hold their shapes because of air pressure on a concave surface, but a parachute dces not develop lift, it develops only drag, i. e. a force in the direction s~ructure,.on the otha of the relative wirld. he.nd, develops 11ft, 1. e. a force perpendicular to the relative wind due to t.he wing-like shape 1n which the kite sections are ma!ntalned by the wind and the bi·ttile lines. Further, we believe the . principle described herein may be applied to man carrying devices, such as airplanes; p:irachutes and gliders, and in such event stablllzing and control .. urfaces could be added. We further believe that our principle could be ·utilized 1n·the Construction Of a toy glider or al.rp!ane, and. WI have met with some experimental success by attaching a weight In plac~ of the. control s ~ 26 and reflexin& the trailing edge by means of a piece of string betw,~an the two ends of the cen~ line. In this connection it should be noted that whatever structure or framework ~u-PJ>9rtina wele;hts, motors, etc., might ba utilized In· con.. Junction with our· device, such structure woui4 be hung· from_ ~~e, kite _body and not secured to it in a rnanner which would tend. to makf!. the illtlng surface rigid, An additional -phase of utmty of our Invention
Our
for
would be the coris~ruction of a kite embodyini· our ·principle but made of metal foll, eithaf to serve as an antenna or as a radar taraet. · It will be appreciated 'that our invention Is sub• ject to many modUications without departinc from the spirit thereof and we do not regard our~ selves as limited to the speclflc Ulustratlon herein. INVENTORS'. GERTRUDE SUGDEN ROCALLO BY FRANCIS MELVIN ROGALLO
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Safety Ti;ea 1. Tow flight in experimental sya~ems at altitudes higher than 10 feet prove to be potential death traps. Foot launch or low tow launch prove to be one of the greates~ joys of modern recreation flying. 1 2. Give the pilot as much fore to aft room as possible.
Indicate redline stop places by bumps on parallel bars. Especially do not make i things tight in the fore to aft direction. Self-generating dives can res~lt if the pilot cannot move his shoulders rearward. J. We desire soft and green terra~n perhaps; but rougher terrain compromises should not let us forget to dress and land in manners appropriate for conditions. Dry ~lopes covered with rocks, cactus; and sharp twigs and plants prov~ to cut akin and abrade hurtingly. 1
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4. Slope pedestrians at the Montgo,mery Meet near Mexico on Aug. 22,
1971, rec.eived almost all the c:actus bulb penetrations. Taras flew wonderfully over the tops of al'l these most near ground dangers. I
5. The poem on l.&S 5.10-11 suggest~d that some may enjoy "seeing" low and slow flight while with breaµ and wine, but in no way is that poem to be construed to encourage the intake of anything that alters one's ordinary coordination and thinking patterns while attempting to fly.
6. Until we can ground skim practi~ally upslope (not far away), the trek upslopa is a bit demanding i ( very good for you, though) and one would do well to rest a bit before making another flight. One will want to be ready to coordinate all controls without error.
7. It is proving out to be effective for one not to fly right off, but to ostrich run and step-hop fly .for a few sessions. Following that would appropriately come sqme sm,all and short slope flights. Towing to about 10 feet, not more, can provide two kinds of quite different flight. Gliding flight from a 1P foot release provides some challenges that never should be taken unconcernedly. 8. ROOF*TOPS and CLIFFS are aerodyn11,111ically unsuited for launch pads and can bring death to aviators that, use such pads.
9. If one must use wire for structures, while working with it, looped ends may save eyes and skin. 10. The breaking of high tension large kite lines can kill ground crew in more ways than one. Near ground section of fixed anchor large kite system ought to doubly reliable and sheathed against abrasion and accidental cutting or burning (case of plastics). 11. Helmets really ought to be a serious consideration for some acts. 12. Many beginners believe that the wing will take care of the flying once one is airborne. If you own a ship beware of this type attitude. 13. Last month a non-L&S ski-boat-tow-kiter (fueled*too-high-per-safety system) had something happen t~ his delta-ski-kite. He fell from Thia week several bicyclists will end their 600 feet to his death. cycle ways.
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I Not pictured is a Fred Millard of He:rmosa Beach, California, creator of the above models that are playing ro~es as gliders, hang-gliders, kites, R-C gliders, and construction experi~ents. The two top photographs are (Jim Albright, friend, ham, painter, i R-C man) of a 9 oz., 8' tetrahedral structure covered with metallic Mylaf (0.00025 11 ) over 1/8 11 dowels. Look carefully and see the two very smalllmodele of the same. Lower photos show a four wheeled project by Fred.I More current doings of Fred can be I sensed by his statement, "I must admit, that you turned me on with using teneegrity octae in a row. I've sta±'ted a 4' goodie that I'm going to I poke at for tensional strength; the fodes do present problems."
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FRONT COVER STORY: Top insert is of ~an Heflinger of Redondo, CA, who has led the way on the beach front ••• now four Rogallos are soaring the steep elopes near Dan's home. Editot flew Dan's ship along with some 10 or more others •••• Ship cost $14 total. Parachute insert is Bob Lovejoy's (left) with Randy piloting. More in 1.&S 8. Chute is carrying Ken Privett a ground skim flight. Ken and his father Doug are soon to test fly their second L&S project: Perhaps man's first successful biplane man-power ship. I