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Chief
02-11-2008, 04:38 PM
Since we're getting ready to hit the beach in a few weeks, I decided to strike early and get a new power kite to lift some line laundry and do some drops with.

I've wanted a Cody kite for a while, and I finally found one that was a good size...Cody kites were manlifters; google "Cody Manlifter" and do some reading. these are serious power kites, and not for casual flying...

It measures 8 feet from tip to tip, and requires minimum of 200 lb test flying line. I have 250 lb test on order just to give myself a Jesus factor...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/SeniorChieftain/HOBBIES/P1010004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/SeniorChieftain/HOBBIES/P1010003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/SeniorChieftain/HOBBIES/P1010002.jpg

It is essentially a cross-braced box kite with eight winglets. It uses all carbon fiber spars and is rigged using 200 lb test line. It's definitely built to take the wind at the beach...

I had it out yesterday at Wy East Middle School in the side yard. The wind was light and gusting to about 10 knots, so I gave it a shot using 130 lb test braided dacron fishing line that I use for a lesser kite, just to see how well it would fly...

It shot right up, first try, and that 130 lb test was tight as a banjo string...I swear you could have sliced Velveeta with it, it was that tight. It stayed up for about ten minutes before the wind died and it came down.

I'm using a double sand anchor at the beach consisting of two five gallon buckets that get buried in the sand. I don't think the Cody or the flexible sled kite I have will pull two of those out, and if the wind is that strong I won't be flying anyway...it's just that this thing is designed to generate lift, and it will pull a regular kite stake right up out of the ground....like I said, these kites are not for the casual flyer.

More pics from the beach, if the wind cooperates...

;)

Waterbuffalo
02-11-2008, 08:38 PM
Have fun at the coast! I am going to Astoria twice in the next two weekends, the bus from Portland goes from Cannon Beach all the way to Astoria.

So I might pass you along the way.. :-)

karma
02-12-2008, 10:38 AM
Watch out for the FFA coming at your door!! I have been forbidden to fly kites!!

Waterbuffalo
02-13-2008, 03:21 AM
Future flyers of america banned you Karma? <j/k>

Chief
02-13-2008, 05:46 AM
I'm looking into getting a banner that reads "www.clarkblog.org" on it to fly....these sled kites are designed to lift things like that...

I had fancied flying a "No Loot Rail" banner down at the Historic Reserve. With the right wind, it would be a simple matter to get 300 feet of altitude, and that means you could see it from all over Downtown, as well as most of Hayden Island...

As long as you stayed out of the flight path of Pearson, there should be no reason why you could not fly kites there...

Something to consider for the upcoming CRCP Public Comment period...

Waterbuffalo
02-13-2008, 08:30 AM
You should have been at the C-tran Board meeting Chief.. That would have been one of the loveliest reminders to the board members!

Is this going to be a trailing tail banner like on the back of a plane? (trailing your kite..)

Love YOUR idea!

karma
02-13-2008, 03:18 PM
Chief, I'll make ya one!!

Buff those guys weren't nice and my kite is on the ground, no flying in the airplane flight path or else it's . . . . . .

Chief
02-13-2008, 03:35 PM
Chief, I'll make ya one!!

Buff those guys weren't nice and my kite is on the ground, no flying in the airplane flight path or else it's . . . . . .

I may take you up on that offer some day...the materials are inexpensive....you can pick up ripstop nylon anywhere, or order whatever color. It's the applique work that's tricky, time consuming, and expensive...

karma
02-13-2008, 03:45 PM
Check out my sewing ability at my website and it's a piece of cake!! Just let me know! I even paint so that is no problem!!

Chief
02-13-2008, 04:43 PM
I'll e-mail you the quotes I got from Elmer's...

_wacko

Waterbuffalo
02-13-2008, 09:36 PM
is that Elmer Fudd's Paint and Kite Chief? :-)

karma
02-14-2008, 08:12 AM
Buff, I take my creative side extremely serious!! It's a side few folks know or have seen? karma has many sides besides the one everyone talks about.

Waterbuffalo
02-14-2008, 09:35 AM
Karma, the Joke wasn't for you..

karma
02-19-2008, 08:51 AM
Bring that baby out here!! This AM you could take out many of those low flying birds, I can't get over how low they are flying on such a clear day?? You can almost see faces in those windows.

Waterbuffalo
02-26-2008, 03:05 PM
I don't think Chief wants to take out your trees or plants as well.. Those lines from that think would have taken out your trees as well.