From: "Marlin Mixon" Subject: Gryo-kite flight notes Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 00:00:00 GMT Message-ID: <69b7pb$p9f@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net> Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services Newsgroups: rec.kites Before flying: Test the Gyro-kite. Is yours defective? Mine is. Here's what my problem is and how I fix it: My rotor blades, when installed have reverse pitch so when I spin up the rotor in the wind in the direction shown on the arrows on the blades, the blades slow down to a stop. If I spin up the blades backwards, they then gain speed. I could theoretically fly like this, but this is less than optimal. To fix this I hold both blades from the tips and keep them taught, then twist them so that both the thick leading edges are twisted down toward the earth and the trailing edges are facing straight up. This equates to 90 degrees of twist per blade. I hold this for a couple of seconds then let go. Then I test again. Usually one twist does it and the blades rotate correctly for about 20 minutes or until I have a rotor strike then I have to reapply the twist. Choose a field that is soft, like soft turf or sand. Avoid blacktop or the rotor will likely be ruined when it strikes the hard surface. You will have to adjust the rotor position vis a vis the mast. My rotor axle is positioned to the rear and to the right (starboard) side of the model. The way you adjust is if the kite veers to the left, offset the rotor to the left and vice-versa. I don't know if adusting the rotor to be behind the mast or forward of the mast makes any difference or not. Flying: Launch technique: Hold kite at bridle point, grasping the plastic, so that rotor is perpendicular to ground and spin rotor rapidly with your other hand (I like to give it one rapid twist at the hub). Hold it like this briefly with one hand so that wind can spin up the rotor. Once RPMs are great enough and it feels like it's going to fly, grab skid with your free hand and gently and slowly let the kite tilt into flying position (rotor approximately 45 degrees with respect to ground) If you feel the kite wanting to lift, change your bridle hand so that you are no longer holding plastic and now holding string only. Release the skid and start to gently play out line. Keep your eye on the kite at all times. Steer it clear of any obstacles. The kite is squirrely and its dynamics can change very rapidly, so watch it. The rotor and string combination doesn't mix very well. Try to keep slack well away from the kite, otherwise the rotor will eat it up quickly and you'll have a big tangle. Expect this and keep a knife handy. Key to sustained flight is rotor RPM. Anything that diminishes rotor RPM will cause the kite to lose altitude. One thing that diminishes RPMs is jerky movements. When launching, make sure string plays out smoothly and evenly. Sometimes I let out line through my fingers as if my finger were a pulley. Other times, I use an "inch-worm" technique so that I can precisely control the line and make sure that the kite is not jerked or jostled. Stopping rotor: Murphy's law of the gyro-kite: The rotor doesn't rotate when you want it to and it rotates when you don't want it to. The safest way to stop the rotor is to grasp the plastic body and twist it back and forth, causing the rotor to bind in all different angles. This will rapidly bring the rotor nearly to a stop, then you can grab the hub and hold it fast. Good Luck. Marlin Mixon Houston, TX