Date:	Thu, 22 Feb 1996 06:56:40 -1000
From:	gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu (George W. Gilchrist)
Message-Id: <4gi7rc$3nu@nntp4.u.washington.edu>
Organization: Dept. of Zoology, University of Washington
Subject: Re: Anyone fly an Ultra?

scanran@aol.com (ScanRan) wrote:

>I have an Ultra... Dual-or-quadline kite.  The leading and trailing edges
>are tensioned so that the main spars "bow", but I have no idea how far to 
>bend them.  Anybody have experience with this thing?  I've done a lot of
>experimenting, but it "shudders" a lot in flight and doesn't develop a lot
>of forward speed-- it's supposed to be pretty fast.

>BTW this kite is a really good way to learn to fly quadlines.  Thanks for
>any advice-

>Randy Norian  scanran@aol.com

Randy,

You pull the spars into as deep a curve as possible with tension on
the line running parallel to the leading edge. What you want is a taut
sail when all the spreaders and standoffs are in place. I've modified
mine so that I can easily detension the leading edge, but most Ultra
owners don't do this. I would guess that your shuddering might be due
to inadequate curvature in the leading edge, causing slack in the
sail. After the leading edge is taut and the kite is set up, tighten
the leech line (the line running through the hem of the sail) until
the sail just begins to pucker. Not a lot of tension is required here.


Good winds, George


========================================================
George W. Gilchrist             University of Washington
gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu     Department of Zoology
Phone:(206)543-4859                           Box 351800
FAX:(206)543-3041                 Seattle, WA 98l95-1800
 



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Date:	Wed, 21 Feb 1996 09:25:41 -1000
From:	scanran@aol.com (ScanRan)
Message-Id: <4gfrjl$cbh@newsbf02.news.aol.com>
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Subject: Anyone fly an Ultra?

I have an Ultra... Dual-or-quadline kite.  The leading and trailing edges
are tensioned so that the main spars "bow", but I have no idea how far to 
bend them.  Anybody have experience with this thing?  I've done a lot of
experimenting, but it "shudders" a lot in flight and doesn't develop a lot
of forward speed-- it's supposed to be pretty fast.

BTW this kite is a really good way to learn to fly quadlines.  Thanks for
any advice-

Randy Norian  scanran@aol.com


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