Foil kite as canopy?  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Unusual R/C >> R/C Sky Diving >> Foil kite as canopy?
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Foil kite as canopy? - 12/28/2007 6:22:55 PM   
skoda450



Posts: 406
Joined: 3/25/2004
From: Springfield, VA, USA
Status: offline 		I have been trying to use a foil kite as a canopy. So far all jumps have been dirt dives. Any suggestions how to get the kite to open corrrectly?

< Message edited by Lightfoot -- 12/28/2007 6:41:52 PM >
       Post #: 1

RE: Foil kite as canopy? - 12/28/2007 7:32:24 PM   
edge_pilot



Posts: 557
Joined: 3/9/2004
From: Lagrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Well I guess you already have the bad news so I will just help you out to notice what you have found out on your own. Kites will not work as parachutes. Kites and parafoil chute look similar, that is where it ends though. There is so many variables you must take into consideration with a chute and how it flys its almost scarey. The angle of the opening, the size of the opening, the degree of the chute is set at, size, etc. etc. Kites are usually way to thick even if you did get it to open. Probably the reason for not opening is the folding technique, and/or the configuartion of the leading edge of the kite. Not to be a barer of bad news, but the good flying chutes that people use either came from many hours of research and development or stealing one from someone who has done many hours of reasearch and development.

Bottom line is, if you want to R/C Skydive with success you need to buy atleast a proven chute from some one. And if you buy a chute only you need to ask what weight diver the chute works best with, this is critical. These chutes are pricey, but worth every penny if you seen how ones made, its definately not a kite.

I think I speach for most of the R/C Skydivers out there, we welcome everyone to the hobby to have new ideas, but we want them to be successful also. I personally hate to see someone who has tried to skydive and given up after several dirt dives. This happened to me many years ago.

Good luck with the project, and I hope you stick with skydiving. If nothing else, try to find a local skydiver (full scale or model pilot) and show them what you are doing, feedback is everything.

_____________________________

Dave Naylor
Owner of RCSkydiving
We Specialize in Electric Flight!

(in reply to skoda450)
       Post #: 2

RE: Foil kite as canopy? - 12/29/2007 8:55:41 PM   
skoda450



Posts: 406
Joined: 3/25/2004
From: Springfield, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the encouragement. I am not ready to give up on the kite just yet. I have confered with a long time full size skydiver and he made some suggestions as to folding techniques. I was initially encouraged by tests with a 1.4 meter kite and a 6oz dummy weight. I dropped the rig from about 15' while holding the kite open. The kite inflated open and glided forward at a reasonable glide slope so I moved on to aicraft tests and that's where I am today. I will check out your web site and see if there is any info on folding and static release methods that may help.

(in reply to edge_pilot)
       Post #: 3

RE: Foil kite as canopy? - 12/30/2007 1:37:40 AM   
edge_pilot



Posts: 557
Joined: 3/9/2004
From: Lagrange, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Here is our old diver and how we folded the chute. We have absolutely no luck with folding our chutes like full scale!

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_____________________________

Dave Naylor
Owner of RCSkydiving
We Specialize in Electric Flight!

(in reply to skoda450)
       Post #: 4

RE: Foil kite as canopy? - 2/25/2008 10:42:19 AM   
pieter


 

Posts: 27
Joined: 8/20/2004
From: veldhoven, NETHERLANDS
Status: offline 		it is possible to use a kite as parachute.
here in the netherlands there were some experiments on that and they were succesfull after some experimenting on folding properly. so don't give up yet but don't expect the same control as the special made rc parachute. They will come down a lot quicker and don't fly as good.
i will try to find some pictures of that jumper... don't know if i have one..

< Message edited by pieter -- 2/25/2008 10:44:55 AM >

(in reply to edge_pilot)
       Post #: 5

RE: Foil kite as canopy? - 4/28/2008 8:09:26 PM   
skoda450



Posts: 406
Joined: 3/25/2004
From: Springfield, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Pieter,
Hey, Thanks. Anything will be a help. I realize that the kite will not perform as well as a canopy but considering the cost differance it was worth a try. Please try to post the pictures if you can.

(in reply to pieter)
       Post #: 6

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