Date: Sun, 14 Aug 1994 15:11:02 -1000 From: kyteman@aol.com (Kyteman) Message-Id: <32mfb6$kjj@search01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine In article <1994Aug14.132622.1732@pro-entropy.cts.com>, kiteman@pro-entropy.cts.com (Mr. Kiteman) writes: >Does Cox, or any other company, make this kite anymore? To my knowledge, this kite is an orphan--or maybe simply abandoned. Compared to either the Conyne from which it was derived, or ANY stunter of today (Duraply Trlby on up), it's deserving of such a fate. Heavy, fragile, clunky. Maybe better just put the pieces in the time capsule, Allan. chin UP brooks kyteman@aol.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 14 Aug 1994 08:26:22 -1000 From: kiteman@pro-entropy.cts.com (Mr. Kiteman) Message-Id: <1994Aug14.132622.1732@pro-entropy.cts.com> Organization: Pro-Entropy +1-305-265-9073 (DAR Systems Int'l -- Miami, FL) Subject: Dunford Flying Machine The 'Cox' company (I guess the same one that makes model airplanes) sold a stunt kite several years ago. It was a version of the stunt kite developed by the late Englishman Don Dunford. I have the remains of one, but can't fly it because some of the parts are missing. Particularly the 'spreader frame piece' that goes right in the middle. Does Cox, or any other company, make this kite anymore? Is there any source of replacement parts for the Cox-built version? I could just go build another, but the one I have has some sentimental attachment, and I'd like to be able to fly it again. Thanks. Your Friendly Neighborhood Kiteman || // |__ __| |__ __| | _____| ||\\ //|| //^\\ ||\\ || ||// || || ||____ || \\// || //aka\\ || \\ || ||\\ __||__ ||HE ||_____ ||Miami,|| //Allan\\ || \\ || || \\ | | || | | ||FL-USA|| // Gaines\\ || \\|| = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 14:28:10 -1000 From: kyteman@aol.com (Kyteman) Message-Id: <32u9uq$lao@search01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine In article <1994Aug16.105429.1770@pro-entropy.cts.com>, kiteman@pro-entropy.cts.com (Mr. Kiteman) writes: >BTW, (and I mean this in ALL SERIOUSNESS), are you connected to the Brookite company at all? Nope. chin UP brooks = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 05:54:29 -1000 From: kiteman@pro-entropy.cts.com (Mr. Kiteman) Message-Id: <1994Aug16.105429.1770@pro-entropy.cts.com> Organization: Pro-Entropy +1-305-265-9073 (DAR Systems Int'l -- Miami, FL) Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine kyteman@aol.com (Kyteman) writes: >In article <1994Aug14.132622.1732@pro-entropy.cts.com>, >kiteman@pro-entropy.cts.com (Mr. Kiteman) writes: > >>Does Cox, or any other company, make this kite anymore? > >To my knowledge, this kite is an orphan--or maybe simply abandoned. >Compared to either the Conyne from which it was derived, or ANY stunter of >today (Duraply Trlby on up), it's deserving of such a fate. Heavy, >fragile, clunky. Actually, as I recall (and remember you're dealing with *my* memory), the kite wasn't that bad. It wasn't tremendous by today's standards, but it would probably make a good trainer. As for fragile, I smacked mine into the ground several times and it survived okay. Now, when it came to being stored in my closet and following me through (at least) four household moves, THAT REALLY TOOK A TOLL! >Maybe better just put the pieces in the time capsule, Allan. Because of the sentimental value it has to me (it is my first stunt kite- a Christmas gift from my now-deceased maternal grandmother), that wouldn't be a bad idea. > >chin UP >brooks >kyteman@aol.com BTW, (and I mean this in ALL SERIOUSNESS), are you connected to the Brookite company at all? Your Friendly Neighborhood Kiteman || // |__ __| |__ __| | _____| ||\\ //|| //^\\ ||\\ || ||// || || ||____ || \\// || //aka\\ || \\ || ||\\ __||__ ||HE ||_____ ||Miami,|| //Allan\\ || \\ || || \\ | | || | | ||FL-USA|| // Gaines\\ || \\|| = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 06:28:04 -1000 From: ddr@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Douglas Rogers) Message-Id: Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine In article <1994Aug14.132622.1732@pro-entropy.cts.com>, kiteman@pro-entropy.cts.com (Mr. Kiteman) writes: > The 'Cox' company (I guess the same one that makes model airplanes) sold > a stunt kite several years ago. It was a version of the stunt kite > developed by the late Englishman Don Dunford. I have the remains of one, > but can't fly it because some of the parts are missing. Particularly the > 'spreader frame piece' that goes right in the middle. > I remember going to a talk/lecture by Dunsford (I thought he had an S in the middle but couldn't swear to it), must have been about 19 years ago. He talked a lot of waffle and gave a veneer of pseudo-science - so things havn't changed :-) Does anyone remember much about the guy? Weren't his kites cotton cloth with wooden sticks? He was building at about the same time as Peter Powell, but I can't remember if he copied the idea or invented it at about the same time as Peter Powell. -- Douglas --- ============================================================================= Douglas Rogers MAIL: ddr@dcs.ed.ac.uk Tel: +44 31-650 5172 (direct dial) Fax: +44 31-667 7209 ============================= Mostly harmless =============================== = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 01:08:26 -1000 From: Peter Bishop Message-Id: <803040727snz@sceptre.demon.co.uk> Organization: Sceptre Services Subject: Dunford Flying Machine I would like to know if anyone out there has had any experience with rebuilding or resparring a 'Dunford Flying Machine'. About twenty years ago this wonderful cloth and wood kite was my first experience with a relatively powerful stunt kite (well, powerful compared with the Peter Powell that was the starter stunt machine of the time). I recently rediscovered its charm, and wondered if anyone out there had tried to reconstruct theirs with modern materials. When the Flexifois and deltas are put away, and the Dunford gets pulled out of the bag, it always generates a fair degree of interest with others for its 'antique charm', and then impresses with its agility. So, does anyone know if Dunford made a updated version with ripstop and fibreglass (or did the company cease trading), or has anyone rebuilt with modern materials. I may be viewing this with a certain amount of rose-tinted nostalgia, because it's the kite that really got me hooked on flying. I'd be interested to hear anyone's comments. Cheers'n'Beers Peter -- >From : Peter Bishop email : bish@sceptre.demon.co.uk SITA : LHRCPXS = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 05:37:42 -1000 From: oakden@vo1.ph.liv.ac.uk (Mark Oakden) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organization Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine In article <803040727snz@sceptre.demon.co.uk> Peter Bishop writes: [...stuff about the wonderful Dunford flying machine deleted...] > So, does anyone know if Dunford made a updated version with > ripstop and fibreglass (or did the company cease trading), or > has anyone rebuilt with modern materials. I'm pretty sure that such a beast was marketed at some stage, but where I read/heard about this I can't remember. Quite probably it is mentioned in Moulton and Lloyd's book [Moulton, Ron and Pat Lloyd. Kites: A Practical Handbook. 1992. $27.95 ISBN 1-85486-050-X] I too was introduced (when quite young) to stunt kites with a Dunford Flying Machine ... I recently found it again, a little 'musty' after long storage in our garden shed and made a best guess at rebuilding it... I'm not sure it's quite correct though, ... i think I'm missing a couple of short lines that went from the wingtips to the ends of the bottom cross dowel. (and does yours have huge "safety pins" that go through holes in the ends of this dowel? ... were these for line attachment???? I'm also missing one of these, ... but will probably replace them with large snap-swivels) Cheers, Mark. -- oakden@dice2.desy.de oakden@hep.ph.liv.ac.uk | Wake, butterfly - I'm not politically incorrect, | it's late, we've miles I'm just differently articulate. | to go together. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 09:13:52 -1000 From: morrow@cns.ucalgary.ca (Bill Morrow) Message-Id: <3rko1g$dam@ds2.acs.ucalgary.ca> Organization: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine Mark Oakden (oakden@vo1.ph.liv.ac.uk) wrote: : In article <803040727snz@sceptre.demon.co.uk> Peter Bishop writes: : [...stuff about the wonderful Dunford flying machine deleted...] : I'm pretty sure that such a beast was marketed at some stage, but : where I read/heard about this I can't remember. Quite probably it is : mentioned in Moulton and Lloyd's book Yes, I had received one of these as a gift 20 years ago. It was a bit heavy for our rarified atmosphere, but worked well in a strong wind. : it... I'm not sure it's quite correct though, ... i think I'm missing : a couple of short lines that went from the wingtips to the ends of the : bottom cross dowel. (and does yours have huge "safety pins" that go : through holes in the ends of this dowel? ... were these for line : attachment???? I'm also missing one of these, ... but will probably : replace them with large snap-swivels) Both correct, as far as I can remember. There were rubber hoods that went over the ends of the main spreader, with short lines leading from the hoods to lower crossbar. The flying lines were attached with giant safety pins. I'll have to see if I can find the beast in my parents' junk heap :) -- Bill Morrow Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary e-mail: morrow@cns.ucalgary.ca voice: (403) 220-6275 fax: (403) 283-8770 http://www.cns.ucalgary.ca/~morrow HMRB 105, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, CANADA T2N 4N1 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 22:24:29 -1000 From: billl@essex.ac.uk (Longley W R C) Message-Id: <6015.9506140824@solb1.essex.ac.uk> Organization: Harvard University Office of Information Technology Subject: Dunford Flying Machine I think Dunford's kites were marketed by Cochranes of Oxford, and that they still trade in some of them; I have seen some Dunford items in shops not many moons ago, but not the Flying Machine. I will dig out the address and post again. Bill Longley = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 17 Jun 1995 10:36:55 -1000 From: Alan Bowers Message-Id: <813039940wnr@bowers.demon.co.uk> Organization: huh! Subject: Re: Dunford Flying Machine In article: <803040727snz@sceptre.demon.co.uk> Peter Bishop writes: > > So, does anyone know if Dunford made a updated version with ripstop and > fibreglass (or did the company cease trading), or has anyone rebuilt > with modern materials. > > As I recollect several versions were produced. And, unless my memory deceives me, there were some nylon ones made. I've still got mine (cotton), it must be all of 15 years old now, It is still complete and original apart from the rubber bands which secure the spars. I believe it is the (standard) middle size one. I remember a magazine article in "Amateur Photographer" describing the DFM. It was originally designed as a camera platform, so it had to be very manouverable with good lift, one was under development to carry a large plate camera. The article described it as capable of flying at 2000feet (used as a single line kite) - I must try that myself one day. I'd be interested to know if they are still in production. :Alan Bowers alan@bowers.demon.co.uk (do I have to repeat myself?) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 06:58:51 -1000 From: charlie@akg.u-net.com (J Charlton) Message-Id: <3s1m0b$6u7@oveja.u-net.com> Organization: J Charlton Subject: Dunford flying machine > So, does anyone know if Dunford made a updated version with > ripstop and fibreglass (or did the company cease trading), or > has anyone rebuilt with modern materials. Yes you can still buy the Dunford flying machine from the people who make it they are Cochranes of Oxford Ltd Leafield, Oxford, OX8 5NY, U.K. Tel 44 1993 87641 International, 01993 87641 From the UK Fax 44 1993 87416 International, 01993 87416 From the UK Charlie = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =