Falconry Kites in difficult conditions

[Coedhirion]

The smallish kite in other post.. we can only fly to 500ft because of jets, but the air currents here make it real hard. sometimes it appears quite windy, it starts up fine then won't go any higher. Or you just get the thing up and it suddenly dives on you. Testing the thing the other day at this new location it was hard to get up, then it suddenly nearly dragged me across the hill. we looked into helium ballons to help get it up on calm days, but that dosnt sound very practical at the moment. Any one else have these problems or is it due to living up a welsh mountain!!!
It worked just fine in another part of the country!!

[Hawkmaster]

Yes I have had all these problems too but I think the problem may be I am too close to those Welsh Hills.

Any way try a drogue on the kite so it does not dive. What kind it it?

[Gunther]

I have those problems also here. There has to be a hard wind to get the kite up and going but then when I fly alone I have to take the bird and then the kite goes down and the kite is not hanging very stable. I'm also looking for heliumbaloons now.

greetzz

Here is my kite :)

http://usera.imagecave.com/gunther/13.JPG

http://usera.imagecave.com/gunther/11.JPG

[Falconry Equipment International]

sounds to me as if you amy have innapropriate line/kite combo ie the kite line/ lure/realease is probably too heavy for the kite and you may have to re-think this, other equipment, or even the venue you fly at. hope this helps
SJ

[Coedhirion]

Any way try a drogue on the kite so it does not dive. What kind it it?
we have 2 simple delta kites, a 7ft for strong winds, as we are pretty weak and like to keep our fingers :lol: and a 12 ft for very light winds. Both modern light weight jobs and the cords and lure lines are pretty light too.

[Coedhirion]

Any way try a drogue on the kite so it does not dive.
Oh forgot to ask.. being thick ..where dose the drogue go & what is it like. I know they use them on parachutes, is it same kind of thing!!!

[Varmint]

Try changing the weight of Rods in your kites also, from very thin carbon fibre or fibre glass rods to wooden dowel dependant on wind strengths?

If your Kite in diving, it can occasonally be effected by the fact that your line weight is too great?

Braded Kite Dacron is best with 300lb in light winds and up to 800lb in strong?

What make of Kites do you use?

[Falconry Equipment International]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

If your Kite in diving, it can occasonally be effected by the fact that your line weight is too great?

Braded Kite Dacron is best with 300lb in light winds and up to 800lb in strong?

What make of Kites do you use? :lol: :lol: :lol:
look at my previous email!!!!!!! bloody hell varmint I'm surprised you don't use anchor chains :rolleyes: :yawinkle: :yawinkle:

[Coedhirion]

Kite is fine. line correct weight and strength, lure and line about the lightest you can buy. Put the 7ft up today for test and had to anchore it to the nearest fence post as the winch was trying to lift the pegs out the ground!! Its the problems when wind drops off and the kite suddenly descends we are trying to solve. If we had tried to put the 12ft up today I reckon we would be hitching a lift back from Isle of White or Lands end now !! :lol:

[Falconry Equipment International]

Kite is fine. line correct weight and strength, lure and line about the lightest you can buy. Put the 7ft up today for test and had to anchore it to the nearest fence post as the winch was trying to lift the pegs out the ground!! Its the problems when wind drops off and the kite suddenly descends we are trying to solve. If we had tried to put the 12ft up today I reckon we would be hitching a lift back from Isle of White or Lands end now !! :lol:
:? :? Hmmmm well you could experiment with a delta conyne( thats basicly a hybrid box/ delta kite) see http://www.aka.org.au/plans/dc.html , but if you have winds that constantly gust then drop away I think you will have to look at a new venue. hope this helps

[Hawkmaster]

A drogue is like an air sock on a line that fits to the end of the kite at the back. It basically stablises it.

I think the DC is the best kite out there for falconry, I will make a new one soon for my new falcon.

The DC is also winning all the altitude championships.

[Coedhirion]

A drogue is like an air sock on a line that fits to the end of the kite at the back
so where do i get pic so i can make, or buy a drogue ?? that seems the correct solution I am sure !!!!

[Hawkmaster]

The first picture does not help much, but I sure you can figure it out from the drawing. You simply cut 4 panels in a funnel shape, sew them together and you are almost there.

HTH?

Paul :lol:

[Gunther]

With wat kind of substance do you make a drogue? Is it with the same material as a kite?
I'm going to give it a try also :)

greetzz

ohh and how long does it got to be?

[Coedhirion]

OK ....so I'm thick..what does DC stand for?? Delta??? :?
plus a few measurements would be even more brilliant :lol: :lol:
it looks real small compared to kite size ....Many thanks

[Falconry Equipment International]

OK ....so I'm thick..what does DC stand for?? Delta??? :?
plus a few measurements would be even more brilliant :lol: :lol:
it looks real small compared to kite size ....Many thanks
I presume HM is reffering to my previous post ..... delta conyne??!! :roll: :rolleyes:

[Hawkmaster]

With wat kind of substance do you make a drogue? Is it with the same material as a kite?
Yes same ripstop.

how long does it got to be?
About 2 foot and the front opening is about 12 inches across and the back about 6 inches

[Gunther]

With wat kind of substance do you make a drogue? Is it with the same material as a kite?
Yes same ripstop.

how long does it got to be?
About 2 foot and the front opening is about 12 inches across and the back about 6 inches

Thanks for that. Will give it a try in the weekend :wink:

[Coedhirion]

I presume HM is reffering to my previous post ..... delta conyne??!!
Yup re-read the posts & recon so too..told you I was thick :rolleyes:
When I saw the word box, didnt read the rest as we have 2 kites and cant afford to spend any more money!!! As I said can only fly to 500 ft because of the jets, so altitude records dont come into it :lol:
That is if the new bird ever gets here!! 3rd time lucky..Saker by Saturday :prayer: :prayer:
Thanks every body will give it a worl, not quite sure how it works, bit like a kite tail I suppose, I would have expected it to pull the tail up if the kite drops & therefore cause it to nose dive, but if people use it I will sure try it..THANKS :supz:

[Hawkmaster]

Make sure it is about 10 metres from the kite too.

[Coedhirion]

OK so going to try the drogue.. reading it all, it looks like it goes on the tail, made it an used a little light swivel before tying it 2 its line ready to add to the kite. Finally got the Sakret that we want to train to the kite so this summer is shaping up to be real interesting. :!:

[Gunther]

I made the drogue this morning but where does it go to the kite? Is it where you put the line to hold the kite?

[Hawkmaster]

No you need to attachit to the bottom centre of the kite, so sewn on a new tab. I once also just made a y or split a line to attach it to the rear end sticks.

HTH?

[Gunther]

So it's in one of this little holes that I add the line in then I guess?

[Hawkmaster]

No on this back edge here.

[Gunther]

oke thanks!

[Gunther]

I tried it today and it worked not bad at all.

Here are some pics of it.

http://usera.imagecave.com/gunther/11.JPG

http://usera.imagecave.com/gunther/1.JPG

[Coedhirion]

Well we have two kites now fitted with small wind socks, it looked real stupid on the ground and we couldnt see how it was going to work, but ...IT DID :lol: :lol: :lol:
Many thanks for your help Hawkmaster !!!!

[Hawkmaster]

No probs Gents! I must confess the idea is not mine and came from a man that made some great kite and I now do not know where he is. Mark Evans from Cornwall.