Kite line
Encyclopedia
Kites have a wing and a kite line (line), or sometimes more than one line. Kite systems may have more than one kite and more than one kite line.
Successful kiting in particular kite applications depends in large part on the kite line's specifications and handling. The integrity of kite lines is affected by wear, reeling, contact with chemicals, loss of strength from knottings, ultraviolet rays of the sun, repeated cycles of use, and damaging actions during use. There are historically classic specifications of kite lines. Kite lines for small toy kites differ greatly from kite lines used for kite tugs that pull commercial cargo ships across the ocean. Sport kites using kite lines two or three or four lines at a time have a need for very low stretch. Single-line recreation kite lines may do well with stretchy kite lines. Kite fighting kites' main tether lines have sharp glass particles bonded to the line. Kite lines misused or abused can cause injury to persons and property. Kite lines vary in pricing and availability. Repair of a particular line has its own arts. Reeling, handling, and storage methods differ for lines depending on the kite applications
. Kite lines terminate at the kite's wing/bridle at one end and at some kite mooring
at the other end; the mooring is to some object anchor that provides the tug or tension against the resultant of the lift and drag forces of the kite; the anchor is always powered by something even if that something is the Earth's moving surface relative to the air for air kites; a running human kite operator is the source of human powering.
In 2000 the single-line single-kite altitude world record for kiting was made using a kite line of woven Kevlar line 3/32 inch in diameter at 270 pound breaking-strength. The kite was described by Richard Synergy in his account of the flight, as employing an angle of attack device to limit line tension to 100 lbs. This gives a safety factor of almost 3 to 1 if the breaking strength of this line is 270 lb. More recent high altitude kite flights by Robert Moore and his team in Australia have been made using Dyneema, a braided Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) line, and the identically structured line, Spectra. Both these lines are stronger and lighter than Kevlar for a given diameter. One of the most important characteristics of line for high altitude kite flying is small diameter and high strength to weight ratio. The greatest barrier to high altitude kite flights is aerodynamic line drag. The use of Dyneema over an extended period has shown that it is highly resistant to ultra violet degradation in comparison to Kevlar..
Richard Crawford, a high altitude flyer from the USA, made an attempt on the world single kite altitude record using a 220 lb test, Technora line manufactured by Twinline. He reported that he flew a delta kite to approximately 6,500 ft in September 2008.
does not fit a common purpose, then specialized kite lines are used. Setting specific records under controlled conditions allows kite operators or competitors to choose kite lines with high specificity and without excessive safety factors.
The short kite line called the hang loop for the free-flying kite hang gliders has received special engineering attention; the further main kite-lines from the hang loop to the pilot's harness are also highly specialized in design .
When maximizing performance for large kites; E. D. Archibald was the first to use piano wire for kiting.
Flatland kiting hang gliders with 3000' of tow line holding the manned hang glider kite takes special care to specify. Protecting the kite line from ground abrasion is considered.
Want to fly an indoor kite
without wind? The indoor no-wind kite operator need not worry about line breaks causing damages to downwind property. The choice of line can be very specialized here.
When the kite line is to be invisible, a clear translucent fine thread is chosen.
Making kite lines visible for night flying occurs in short-line and long line applications. Line lights is one solution sometimes used. Lines that carry light is another. Lights on the ground shining on stunt kites and their lines occurs. Flying Kites at Night
" for spiderling mechanical kiting . Another spider silk for the bridge thread is frequently kited. And another thread of the spider is used as a drag line from which spiders frequently swing in the breeze, getting deflected before landing. Humans have used spider silk for making kites.
; handle the line as needed to avoid hazards, accidents, and injury to persons and property. The operator of a kite system is fully responsible for damages done by the operation of his or her kite system; this includes the kite line. Pre-flight plan and pre-flight the kite line; avoid surprises. Piano wire is appropriate for certain applications, but totally inappropriate for recreational or sport kite flying. Fishing monofilament line is not used for most hobby, recreational, or sport power kiting because of its stretch, breaking behavior, and thinness; avoid it unless there is a very special application involved. Metal wire can conduct static and current electricity; avoid metal wires unless a professional scientific or industrial engineer approves the line for a specific purpose. Gloves, proper reel choices, goggles, guards, tension limiters, and other safety devices help to reduce accidents. Ability to de-power a kite's lift and drag is a part of sound kite systems. Tensed line can act as razors. Moving lines can cut through flesh too easily. Fatalities too often occur from kite line abuse. Keep kite lines in good condition. Realize that knots weaken kite line. Keep kite lines dry and clean. Log any wear and use of the line; replace lines as needed. Choose a safety factor when designing a line for an application. Avoid flying in the rain or stormy weather changes.,,,
Successful kiting in particular kite applications depends in large part on the kite line's specifications and handling. The integrity of kite lines is affected by wear, reeling, contact with chemicals, loss of strength from knottings, ultraviolet rays of the sun, repeated cycles of use, and damaging actions during use. There are historically classic specifications of kite lines. Kite lines for small toy kites differ greatly from kite lines used for kite tugs that pull commercial cargo ships across the ocean. Sport kites using kite lines two or three or four lines at a time have a need for very low stretch. Single-line recreation kite lines may do well with stretchy kite lines. Kite fighting kites' main tether lines have sharp glass particles bonded to the line. Kite lines misused or abused can cause injury to persons and property. Kite lines vary in pricing and availability. Repair of a particular line has its own arts. Reeling, handling, and storage methods differ for lines depending on the kite applications
Kite applications
The kite is used to do certain things; one kite or many kites are applied to achieve certain purposes, objectives, or tasks, that is: applications. Humans have applied the kite to bring perceived benefits during peace and war alike. New applications for the kite continue to be found...
. Kite lines terminate at the kite's wing/bridle at one end and at some kite mooring
Kite mooring
Kites are given mooring by many methods. Watercraft and aircraft traditionally have the term "mooring" applied to making the watercraft or aircraft fast to some external object...
at the other end; the mooring is to some object anchor that provides the tug or tension against the resultant of the lift and drag forces of the kite; the anchor is always powered by something even if that something is the Earth's moving surface relative to the air for air kites; a running human kite operator is the source of human powering.
Kite-line parameters
Depending on the kite application and kite system needs, selecting a kite line will consider one or more of the following parameters: availability, base material, color, density, mass per length, size, manufacturer's reports, serial number or product number, diameter, cross-section shape, tensile strength new, aged tensile strength, resistance damage from chemicals, defects, safety factor, resistance to damage from solar radiation (UV stabilization), electrical conductivity, optical conductivity, heat conductivity, moisture intake from water (via humidity, rain, contact with liquid water), buoyancy in water, abrasion resistance, nature of manufacturer's line joins, feel, degradation from knotting, terminal methods, elasticity, structure, signal transmission capacity, visibility to radar, performance over time, maintenance actions, effect on performance from hours of use, drag, negative lift, auxiliary line uses, performance when being reeled under tension, performance when tensed line touches itself, action upon breaking, memory, veil, sleeving, inspectability, surface finish, reaction to heat and cold, taper (as wanted), flexibility, reeling behavior, breaking strength, critical diameter, reliability, test-results portfolio, visibility, twist, plasticity, safety, price. Toy kites sold with a manufacturer's selected line makes the decision easy; the decision is more challenging for custom kite applications. The design and handling of the piano-wire kite line for the high-altitude meteorological observations (1749–1933) was a keen engineering process.Kite lines for children's toy kites
To avoid burns and cuts, kite lines for children toy kites are frequently soft fuzzy cotton twine.Kite lines for sport control kites
Lack of stretch or stable line length for control authority is an advantage of special control lines. Melting point is considered when controlling a kite for kite fighting; lower cost cotton line can melt a crossed expensive synthetic line. Kite lines Dyeing kite lines for show and control line management can occur at a line factory or by a user.Kite lines for high altitude attempts
Historically, high altitude kite flights were made by atmospheric scientists and meteorologists in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Routine flights around the world were made using steel wire with single kites and kite trains. The highest recorded flight was made by a German meteorological station at Lindenberg in 1919. It is reported that the top kite reached 31,955 ft above the launch point. The line was over 20 km of high tensile steel piano wire with a breaking strength varying between 134 and 225 kg.In 2000 the single-line single-kite altitude world record for kiting was made using a kite line of woven Kevlar line 3/32 inch in diameter at 270 pound breaking-strength. The kite was described by Richard Synergy in his account of the flight, as employing an angle of attack device to limit line tension to 100 lbs. This gives a safety factor of almost 3 to 1 if the breaking strength of this line is 270 lb. More recent high altitude kite flights by Robert Moore and his team in Australia have been made using Dyneema, a braided Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) line, and the identically structured line, Spectra. Both these lines are stronger and lighter than Kevlar for a given diameter. One of the most important characteristics of line for high altitude kite flying is small diameter and high strength to weight ratio. The greatest barrier to high altitude kite flights is aerodynamic line drag. The use of Dyneema over an extended period has shown that it is highly resistant to ultra violet degradation in comparison to Kevlar..
Richard Crawford, a high altitude flyer from the USA, made an attempt on the world single kite altitude record using a 220 lb test, Technora line manufactured by Twinline. He reported that he flew a delta kite to approximately 6,500 ft in September 2008.
Kite lines for specialized applications
When a kite applicationKite applications
The kite is used to do certain things; one kite or many kites are applied to achieve certain purposes, objectives, or tasks, that is: applications. Humans have applied the kite to bring perceived benefits during peace and war alike. New applications for the kite continue to be found...
does not fit a common purpose, then specialized kite lines are used. Setting specific records under controlled conditions allows kite operators or competitors to choose kite lines with high specificity and without excessive safety factors.
The short kite line called the hang loop for the free-flying kite hang gliders has received special engineering attention; the further main kite-lines from the hang loop to the pilot's harness are also highly specialized in design .
When maximizing performance for large kites; E. D. Archibald was the first to use piano wire for kiting.
Flatland kiting hang gliders with 3000' of tow line holding the manned hang glider kite takes special care to specify. Protecting the kite line from ground abrasion is considered.
Want to fly an indoor kite
Indoor kite
Indoor kites are kites designed to fly in a windless environment. While principally designed for indoor use, they can also be flown outdoors when insufficient wind would render conventional kite-flying impossible. They are flown by using the relative wind provided by the motion of the kite-flier...
without wind? The indoor no-wind kite operator need not worry about line breaks causing damages to downwind property. The choice of line can be very specialized here.
When the kite line is to be invisible, a clear translucent fine thread is chosen.
Making kite lines visible for night flying occurs in short-line and long line applications. Line lights is one solution sometimes used. Lines that carry light is another. Lights on the ground shining on stunt kites and their lines occurs. Flying Kites at Night
Spider silk and their kite line for their "ballooning" (mechanical kiting)
Biologists began using the term "ballooningBallooning (spider)
Ballooning is a term used for the mechanical kiting that many spiders, especially small species, as well as certain mites and some caterpillars use to disperse through the air. Many small spiders use gossamer or especially fine silk to lift themselves off a surface or use the silk as an anchor in...
" for spiderling mechanical kiting . Another spider silk for the bridge thread is frequently kited. And another thread of the spider is used as a drag line from which spiders frequently swing in the breeze, getting deflected before landing. Humans have used spider silk for making kites.
Safety for kite lines
Fit the kite line to the kite applicationKite applications
The kite is used to do certain things; one kite or many kites are applied to achieve certain purposes, objectives, or tasks, that is: applications. Humans have applied the kite to bring perceived benefits during peace and war alike. New applications for the kite continue to be found...
; handle the line as needed to avoid hazards, accidents, and injury to persons and property. The operator of a kite system is fully responsible for damages done by the operation of his or her kite system; this includes the kite line. Pre-flight plan and pre-flight the kite line; avoid surprises. Piano wire is appropriate for certain applications, but totally inappropriate for recreational or sport kite flying. Fishing monofilament line is not used for most hobby, recreational, or sport power kiting because of its stretch, breaking behavior, and thinness; avoid it unless there is a very special application involved. Metal wire can conduct static and current electricity; avoid metal wires unless a professional scientific or industrial engineer approves the line for a specific purpose. Gloves, proper reel choices, goggles, guards, tension limiters, and other safety devices help to reduce accidents. Ability to de-power a kite's lift and drag is a part of sound kite systems. Tensed line can act as razors. Moving lines can cut through flesh too easily. Fatalities too often occur from kite line abuse. Keep kite lines in good condition. Realize that knots weaken kite line. Keep kite lines dry and clean. Log any wear and use of the line; replace lines as needed. Choose a safety factor when designing a line for an application. Avoid flying in the rain or stormy weather changes.,,,
See also
- KiteKiteA kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
- Kite typesKite typesKites are tethered flying objects which fly by using aerodynamic lift, requiring wind, , for generation of airflow over the lifting surfaces.-Kite types:...
- Kite applicationsKite applicationsThe kite is used to do certain things; one kite or many kites are applied to achieve certain purposes, objectives, or tasks, that is: applications. Humans have applied the kite to bring perceived benefits during peace and war alike. New applications for the kite continue to be found...
- Kite mooringKite mooringKites are given mooring by many methods. Watercraft and aircraft traditionally have the term "mooring" applied to making the watercraft or aircraft fast to some external object...
- Paravane (water kite)Paravane (water kite)]The paravane is a towed winged underwater object—water kite. Paravanes have been used in sport or commercial fishing, marine exploration and industry, sports and military. The wings of paravanes are sometimes in a fixed position, else positioned remotely or by actions of a human pilot...
- Paravane (weapon)Paravane (weapon)The paravane is a form of towed underwater "glider". It was developed by Cdr Usborne and Lt Burney financed by Sir George White, founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company....
- ReelReelA reel is an object around which lengths of another material are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core...
- CottonCottonCotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
- Dacron
- Dyneema
- HempHempHemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
- KevlarKevlarKevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
- LinenLinenLinen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
- NylonNylonNylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
- PolyesterPolyesterPolyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
- RayonRayonRayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry...
- SilkSilkSilk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
- ManjaManja (kite)Manja , is the abrasive string used with fighter kites in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chile, India, Nepal and Pakistan. It is gummed, coloured and coated with powdered glass. In Brazil, the mix of glue and powered glass is called "cerol"....
or Manjha, Hindi word for the glass powder coated kite flying & fighting string from Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions - Spider silkSpider silkSpider silk is a protein fiber spun by spiders. Spiders use their silk to make webs or other structures, which function as nets to catch other animals, or as nests or cocoons for protection for their offspring...
- Ballooning (spider)Ballooning (spider)Ballooning is a term used for the mechanical kiting that many spiders, especially small species, as well as certain mites and some caterpillars use to disperse through the air. Many small spiders use gossamer or especially fine silk to lift themselves off a surface or use the silk as an anchor in...
The mechanical kiting of spiderlings has been descriptively called ballooning even though no actual balloon is ever formed.