© dominique maier ch 2006

zero and light wind kites from the kite lab™

these beautiful ultra-light weight zero wind kites from horvath in zurich are amazing. built using specialized sail materials and finely manufactured carbon tubing, they fly on thermals, the same way birds do. they represent, to me anyway, a pinnacle of kiting, both in terms of engineering and, ultimately, elegance. nichol alexander, new york, usa

 

the development of zero wind kites:

bill wilson, steadywinds.com, 2007 january 10: thomas agreed to answer some of questions about his inspiration and motivation to build these very cool single line kites:

an interview with the synergetic kite creator:

read the original interview on steadywinds.com...

active synergetic kites

are.....

the first kites in the x-y-z-line configuration with the variable 3d-spreader

synergetic structures with precisely adjustable flight characteristics

based on complex technology, while appearing simple and minimal

soaring and gliding kites, loving indoor, zero or light wind conditions

stearable, active ultra light single line zero wind kites with a high aspect ratio

hybrid glider designs with flexible wings

the slow single line freestyle kites among the light wind kites

nurflugel membranes tethered on a single line

stunt kites in some aspects, but are flying liberated in the entire sky

strongly inspired by the flight and the aerodynamics of birds

related to indian fighter kites in some aspects like the line handling

designed to be dynamically stable as glider and as kite

tensegrity kite constructions (see buckminster fuller) thus highly sturdy

due to the extreme low mass and high quality materials ecologically efficient

swiss made in our atelier in zurich, hand made in switzerland

protected inventions and developments of the swiss kite-lab™ horvath.ch

are not.....

classic western light wind single line kites, but can fly statically in normal winds

deltas, link: dan leigh, www.deltakites.com

rogallo-wings or rogallo-kites

asian fighter kites or north american fighter kites

stunt kites on two or four lines, though called single line stunt kites sometimes

soft kites, though flexible in construction and in flight

made of ripstop nylon and wooden spars, but polyester fabric and carbon

produced in far east, but handmade in switzerland

undestructible, but very durable and long lasting classics

cheap, but you will enjoy them for a long time!

the balance between air and kite

Something is missing.

On a field in Brugg near Zurich stands Thomas Horvath. Cigarette in his mouth, head directed towards the sky. In his hand he holds a line, which, without tension, climbs into the sky. At the end of the leash, 60 meters above the ground, hangs a big yellow kite. It stays in the air, floating. So far an ordinary scene for a sunny Sunday afternoon. But something is missing. There is no wind blowing at all.

So how can this kite fly? . . . . .
a text by urs honegger in the swiss design magazine hochparterre 10 2007

about kites at the drachen foundation: kites in history, culture and art
promising pneumatic flying objects: wings and other r+d at prospective concepts

the word "drachen"

a brief word to the use of the term "kite" in the german language: in german the english word "kite" is used increasingly for "drachen". in general we would say that the more sporty - particularly in the context of trend sports - the use of a kite is, the more the english word "kite" is used in german speech:
" power-kiting, snow-kiten, kite-surfen, depower-kite" etc. (kiten = kiting).
the more contemplative, playful and creative the activity with kites, the more - or exclusively - the german word "drachen" = kite (rarely: hang glider) is appropriate, that's especially true for our gliding active kites. drache = dragon.

relations in the air

this is an attempt to locate hybrid synergetic zero-wind kites in no wind or gentle light air movement conditions and to show their relations to other species of kite designs:

indoor dual line stunt kites

lightwind single line kites

fighter kites

birds


lightwind and indoor stunt kites, also called dual line deltas, standoffs preform the sail, like the benson innerspace, the synchro, and the tremendous isis by pierre marzin, but also very small dual line kites like the mini master:

dual line, invariable line length

move dynamically in a semi-sphere

inserted 3-d moves around their x-y-z axes

movement of the pilot is essential: two and a half dimensions

state of the art high-tech materials

sport, competition

static light wind single line kites like the traditional japanese tosa, keeled bird kites like those by martin lester or alick pearson, light single line deltas usually with a keel or even an open keel configuration, and the modern high aspect ratio genki also with keels, but small ones:

single kite line, variable line length, done with the reel

due to the keel not stearable

stay stable on a position given by the wind

limitedinput by the flyer: one dimension, linear along the flying line

modern or traditional materials

recreation: kite building and kite flying

indian fighters, korean fighter-kites, nagasaki hatas, the rectangular bukahs, brazilian pipas, north american fighter kites and the flat trimmed relaxed rokkaku prefer normal winds:

single kite line, some variation of line lenghth in flight, using the hands

are temporarily instable for inputs at decisive moments

move very fast with line pull

stearable in a quarter sphere: two dimensions

modern or traditional materials

competition, game

the nature: birds like the slow soaring or fast diving eagle or the albatross in dynamic soaring:

benefit from, but don't need air movement, see also dynamic soaring above waves

no line, active, dynamically stable in untethered gliding

powered by flapping wings, high wing loading therefore must fly fast for adequate lift

free movement in the sky, active in all of the three dimensions

organic ultra high-tech materials, in parts semipermeable

function, flying techniques, complex aerodynamics up to the cluster flight of swarms



kite design inventions on kite patents blog
aerodynamics of kites and gliders and a kite modeler at nasa