Hi, I am new here- I got into kites about 15 years ago, looking for something to pull me around the Canadian prairies. Made a couple NPW's out of bargain bin material, as well as a 4m foil. I then moved to Australia, took up surfing and chucked my kites in a drawer. I have since moved back to Canada, and am again thinking a lot about kites again.

Anyways, I am thinking it would be fun to try making a singleskin something like a Peak, and was wondering if there is any need to taper down to the wingtips? I notice the peak basically ends with still quite a large rib on the edge. It would be so easy (and ugly) if it was possible to make a kite that is just a big rectangle- same profile all the way along.... Perhaps the rules are a bit different with a singleskin compared to a normal foil? Just thinking, and wondering if anyone with some more experience than my tiny bit would have any thoughts before I start tinkering.....

I have no idea what I'm talking about. That being said:

I imagine any shape will fly as long as it has a "foil" profile for the air to flow over. I mean, frisbees fly, those old square styrofoam planes fly, all kinds of weird shaped kites fly... Bigger question would be is it controllable? Not much use in regards to most of us here if it flies but you can't steer it. That being said some of the arcs out there look pretty damn rectangular (at least in the pictures I've seen). Just my $0.02

On another (slightly late) note welcome to PKF! Where abouts on our beautiful bald prairies are you from?

Damn...Brant is right
Just build it and fly it
End of thread..yea welcome

Here you go - plans for a rectangular NPW. Look around page 83. I don't think it flew all that great though. Picture on page 29. (Just a guess, but I suspect that the last row of bridles will need to be a bit longer than in NASA's plans.) Also - see page 7 regarding the boltropes in the LE and TE.

http://2e5.com/kite/nasa/reports/19700031435_1970031435.pdf

Brant- I am living in Manitoba- near Winnipeg. Grew up in Saskatoon though. Tell you what, it's a bit of a change coming from the East coast of Australia to the middle of Manitoba
Yep, there are lots of shapes that fly, and I seem to recall some ram air foils years ago that were basically a rectangle shape. Obviously there are reasons that kites all taper at the wingtips, I would like to know what they are and if they still apply to a singleskin concept.

Welcome home Mate!

I don't know the technical answer to your wingtip question but am pretty sure that a triangle shape won't lend to a depower SS like the Peaks performance.

Are you aware that the Peak is a DEPOWER kite? It sounds to me like you are wanting to make a single skin Fixed Bridle kite? MUCH more simple. If that is the case I am pretty sure Peter Lynn made the plans to his SS available to the public? It seems like exactly the design you will want.

Bladerunner- Not sure what you mean about a triangle shape- I guess I should clarify my thought process in what I am trying to do. The other day I was looking at my peak 9m and thinking it would be nice to have a smaller one as well. Thought about making one and realised that would be crazy complicated. Then thought- heck, this thing is almost a rectangle- but not quite. Maybe it would be possible to simplify everything- use one profile from end to end, and maybe end up with a useable kite.....or maybe not

You might try this - it looks pretty simple and I think the kite is a rectangle, though the wind makes it curved.

Quote:

Will a giant rectangle fly?

Quick simple answer: Yes...but likely not as good as a a 'tapered', well bridled kite..