My next nasa wing

I just finished up a 12 meter npw9. Here is a picture.

Susan (npw goddess)


12 meter npw9 yandg by kitemaker42002, on Flickr

Gonna look sweet in flight against a snowy white background!!!Thanks again for your mad skills!

Near zero winds and below zero temperatures (Fahrenheit) makes a young man's mind turn to ...art?
Anyways my otherwise productive evening of sitting indoors and playing Super Mario was interrupted as I realized the perfect graphic for my 2.6m NPW21.

I'm not much of an artist but I can art if I have to and this was a case where I had to Drew him freehand with a printed pic for guidance.

A couple of hours with the pencils and the Sharpies and this famous ghost is ready to take flight! Can't wait for a good high wind day to take him riding.


He has a lot in common with the sport of kiting, tends to sneak up on you from behind when your back is turned.

An NPW21 6m, first flight and ready for the summer :D

And a little something for someone else this time!

NPW 21 6m and the theme is?

So where do you go from an NPW? The internet is both a wonderful thing and a daemon! Why because I came across plans for a single skin kite and well something in my head said BUILD IT! So that I did and here is my new 10m2 low wind kite. There are 21 panels and in the time it took me build this I could have built at least 8 NPWs! Early days yet as I've only had a couple of static sessions with it but whilst it may be very different from an NPW in some respects, in others it is not. I've now started tuning it more as a power kite and it is very stable generates bags of power and although I did not want a big "lifty" kite, I went for a lower AoA, that said it does lift and is super smooth when it does.
From building this I've gone back to my NPW quiver and added some of the lessons learnt, which means my NPW quiver has now virtually no nose collapse at all .... happy days :D



Flight in a max wind of 3mph!:

Very very nice single skin!

Cheers guys for the comments

Quote:

How many hours to make?

Too many! First off is making the pattern up, then all the cutting: 21 panels with 22 keels. The sewing skills needed is a step up from an NPW as there are three pieces per seam and need working to get the shape, the bridle side is pretty straight forward. That all said I would hazard a guess at @200 hrs which may reduce on an other build but it is very labour intensive.

Quote:

Racing shape design....?

I wanted a higher aspect kite hence the shape

Quote:

Keep us updated on performance once you try with buggy or board.

Will do, low wind buggy engine was my aim, at the moment I want to get some static flying under my belt to get it fully tuned in different conditions and get really comfortable with it, I sent it straight up the other day in 6mph wind and I went with it, only a foot or so off the ground, the power just keeps coming and is so smooth.

First flight in 12mph wind had to really skirt around the edges of the window:

Here we go, managed a quick 1/2 hr test flight with the Z-bridle fitted:
One Z-bridle


How it looks when the handles are staked down:


And finally in-flight:


It's now so close, flying can now be done as per a foil, power line between top two fingers.

The window and power is really impressive, I'm hooked this is the future. I've been told no more building for at least 6 months! But I may swing a stealth 6m build in soon :D

Another couple of sessions to do a final tune then in to the buggy :D

Good evening from Czech Republic,
I just joined the forum because I am planning to make my first NPW I own 4m C LEI and 9,5m open cell depower kites. It seems for 5-6m NPW21 maybe wider. I would like to ask for some help with the bridles. I want to control the AoA, so depower. I am thinking about putting keels there to reduce the amount of the attachment points, bridels and pulleys. Do you think there would be possibility of reducing the pulleys completly? Another thing is about the bridle material, thinking about putting unsleeved fishing 100lb dyneema, should I go for 8 strands braided or 4 is ok? Planning to make handels or just put on a bar from my current kites (try).
Thank you in advance for your reactions

The depower in my foil is shown in the picture attached. Its not the usual one with separated rows, but its working good. So I am thinking about something similar or standard UDS (number of pulley depending on number of rows 4-5 preferably)

here is my very little 1.1m2 kite

sadsack

yes, have you been a good boy?????
making bridle is so much fun



I can't wait to make a nother



But I do have a helper.



here is a old table I picked up, great for bridle,layout and cuting.

Had a bit of a break recently from the kite side of things, plus going for a 10m which was primarily built as a low wind machine and as you would have guessed the wind has picked-up. That aside the the last time I was out with it in the buggy it felt like my Blade VIP with similar edge performance but obviously with the bigger size more power, I've a feeling it may not be as fast across the window.
I did think and say out loud "No more of this type of build".... I've started a new 6m!

The reason is I am really impressed with it and want to be able to compare it directly with both an NPW and a foil of the same size to find out how it fairs. I learnt a few things from the first build and have made a change to the wing tip shape to see if it improves the turning. I did find sometimes on a tight turn or turning in a lull the tips sometimes loose inflation, it didn't effect the performance just being a bit of a perfectionist, I managed to minimise it with a bridle change but wanted to see if changing the shape improves things.
I also put a de-power set-up on it, which I need to spend more time flying with.

So here are the first ribs for the 6m kite, only 12 more to go!:

Ribs? .... like the FS Peak has ribs...?

What design type is this?

Your designs away from the NPW are most interesting...

All ribs for the 6m now complete :D Next phase the panels, pic showing one side ribs:

4 meter npw9 build.

Susan (npw goddess)

Randy Did you make that kite? Very nice. What was your riding on,skates or skateboard? I am going have to get me that camera.
what formatt does the camera save the movies in, DVD.
Neat looking kite, you done some sewing on that one, very nice.
renny

Great, I have not been on my board for a while. The beach is real hard now so if we don,t get any snow I am try my board on the beach.






One day I am going to get some binding for it.:bird:

Here is a picture of my latest nasa wing. It is a npw9



Susan (npw goddess)

Glad you liked the SusaNPW. I may never be able to build one half as good, but I'm going to try. Got several long summer months ahead with little wind in sight. What better way to spend my time than building NPW(s)? I started my 2.8 NPWater 9b today.

My latest build - 3.25 M NPW 5P. Not quite finished (have to check and then trim the bridles). My biggest kite yet.

Quote: Originally posted by sadsack

Great, I have not been on my board for a while. The beach is real hard now so if we don,t get any snow I am try my board on the beach. One day I am going to get some binding for it.:bird:

I know this is an older post, but that skateboard rocks! I've never seen one with tank tracks. Cool as the other side of the pillow!!!

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

Nice looking kite Randy, come on you know size matters, take a leap of faith the bigger you go the more tolerant the kite is to slight errors. I'm going the other way started planning a high AR 3m hammer to compliment my quiver. Few tweaks to the design and some aplique to finish.

Thanks Ian. I have found that as builds get bigger in some ways they do get easier. Its really hard to do tiny darts. Since I started out not being able to sew a straight seam longer than a few inches its taken a while for me to move up in size. Its also a bit of a challenge to make bigger kites since I've bought an assortment of 1 yard long ripstop of different colors - so I have figure out how to make it work. Next time I order I am getting longer ones.

For now - I'm going the opposite direction making a .7 M NPW 5 (gift for wife's friend.)

Here is my .7 M NPW gift kite. Its a buzzard kite, its annoying that its upside down, but it shows right side up if you click on it. One of my attempts at putting designs on kites.

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Here is my .7 M NPW gift kite. Its a buzzard kite, its annoying that its upside down, but it shows right side up if you click on it. One of my attempts at putting designs on kites.

Cool! Does it stare down at you from the sky? She looks pissed.

A litle pink is nice:




6.5 meter

Not an NPW but it is single skin, my new 3m2 high aspect kite ready for bridling:


Two firsts on this one, firstly: my first ever blog on the build:BigE blog
The second: a higher aspect ratio than before, my 12m was 4.7 this puppy is 6...fingers crossed.

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

Not an NPW but it is single skin, my new 3m2 high aspect kite ready for bridling: Two firsts on this one, firstly: my first ever blog on the build:BigE blog The second: a higher aspect ratio than before, my 12m was 4.7 this puppy is 6...fingers crossed.

@BigE - nicely played sir, nicely played. I just read your blog on XK from beginning to most current. Very cool evolution. I love your color scheme and decoration features! I've got a 4m Peak2 that screams through the sky in high winds. I can imagine how this rocket is going to really zip, being both smaller and higher AR.

Are you planning on making this DP and run it off a DP bar? I suspect not, so FB off of handles? Is this kite a buggy engine, or what are you planning to do with it mainly?

Very fun to read your blog and live the evolution through your text and pictures. Thanks for making the effort to share the slow stoke. :karate:

Single Skin Racing! That's one long 3m. Looks real nice,
the colors and design.

Stiffeners in this one...?

Hope to hear a proper performance report soon.

What's next?

How bout one with zipper to 'close up or open up" fabric and built in bridal adjuster so you can change kite size to extend wind range(ref: Paraski Flex)

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Are you planning on making this DP and run it off a DP bar? I suspect not, so FB off of handles? Is this kite a buggy engine, or what are you planning to do with it mainly? Very fun to read your blog and live the evolution through your text and pictures. Thanks for making the effort to share the slow stoke. :karate:

Thanks Windstruck, fb is in my passion at the moment, I do have dp on my 12m though. as with all my kites I like to spend some time static flying to really get the "feel" of it, but yes it's to buggy with on handles or bar.

Quote: Originally posted by skimtwashington

Single Skin Racing! That's one long 3m. Looks real nice, the colors and design. Stiffeners in this one...? Hope to hear a proper performance report soon. What's next? How bout one with zipper to 'close up or open up" fabric and built in bridal adjuster so you can change kite size to extend wind range(ref: Paraski Flex)

Cheers Skimt but,
Whoa there :D Now that is a good team name "Single Skin Racing"!
Yes I have put stiffeners in the LE they go just past the point the nose starts.
Next? I can't think past this one! :D
Zippers: I've seen and the concept is fraught with bridle issues, I'd prefer to build a kite to do one job and not compromise trying to make it do more.

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

Nice vid Randy, that new kite looks like simplicity personified! (get me, been reading a dictionary :D)

Thanks Ian. I guess now that you are a blogger you had to study that dictionary!:D

Awesome work on your new build. You blog pictures and explanations are quite interesting. Seeing the kite start to come together is the fun part of building (along with watching it finally fly, and of course, thinking about the next one to build.)

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

I've been on a roll this week. Not sure where to put this - kite longboarding, SUP kites, or here, so I guess I'll put it here. This captures some of my latest builds, including my 3.25 M NPW 5-P and a NPW like kite.

Love it Randy! I liked that first kite on the bar. Also, looks like you are enjoying your longboard and getting comfortable with it.

Finally finished, leaders fitted and packed ready for it's first test flight, and the weather is? NO WIND!!

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

. The only thing is - the faster I went the more it felt like my feet were vibrating.

Are you on a drop through or top mount? If top mount do you have any shockpads between the deck and trucks? Soft shock pads help but if the road is really rough and the wheels relatively hard and you are at speed, you can't eliminate all of the vibration. Tightening the trucks and bushing changes can help some but that may defeat the purpose you are going for.

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc

Quote: Originally posted by Randy   . The only thing is - the faster I went the more it felt like my feet were vibrating. Are you on a drop through or top mount? If top mount do you have any shockpads between the deck and trucks? Soft shock pads help but if the road is really rough and the wheels relatively hard and you are at speed, you can't eliminate all of the vibration. Tightening the trucks and bushing changes can help some but that may defeat the purpose you are going for.

Drop through with shockpads. A guy at the skateboard shops said I should go for the biggest, softest wheels. Would that help?

I do have an ATB, but prefer the longboard since it seems to need less wind.

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

Finally finished, leaders fitted and packed ready for it's first test flight, and the weather is? NO WIND!!

Nice work bigE! Insanely jealous of the new creation.

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

Finally finished, leaders fitted and packed ready for it's first test flight, and the weather is? NO WIND!!

Really impressive

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Not a NPW, but this is sort of the thread we've been using for our latest projects. This is a hybrid kite - a blend of single skin and foil, but not really either one of them. My first attempt at this type of kite. Used my old standby plastic tarp and I'm pretty happy with the way it flies. Minimal bridles, but for me the sewing was complex. I do think it has wind window as good as if not better than my best NPW's. Only 1.0 M - I'm going to make the next one out of ripstop and probably 2-3 M.

Wow Randy, that is one cool kite. Sort of a single skin arc of sorts. Nice.

Wow! I'm stunned by the ingenuity and skills possessed by members of this board! That kite is awesome!

Congrats!