so i was watching some videos on youtube on kites and i saw a wierd looking kite. some people had asked what it was, and its called a "nasa wing"

from what i can tell from some reasearch online its a kite that people make themselves from scratch..

does anyone know anything more about these...


thanks, tim

be prepared for a lot of information my friend

You'll have better luck if you search for "NPW" or "NASA Power Wing".

You should find pages with the NPW5 and the NPW9 (higher performance), and many variants.

For a while Invento-HQ made a commercial version (believe they still hold the license).

I have always liked this site (because of the gallery):
http://www.xs4all.nl/~pdj/nasaplan.htm

ATB,
Sam

It's an example of our tax dollars at work. It's a NASA design going back to the 60's and the Gemini Program as a possible re-entry 'chute

They can be flown on 4 or 4 lines and can be flown with the handles right on the bridles (no lines) for parking-lot flying. they fly in very little wind.

If you can sew, you can make a NPW. They make great rags for cleaning up your buggy as well

Or you can talk to our local NPW goddess who will make ya one.

Hey Tim

What do you want to know about nasa wings?

I have been making and flying them for about 4 years now.

Susan (npw goddess)

Quote:

Originally posted by kitemaker4 Hey Tim What do you want to know about nasa wings? I have been making and flying them for about 4 years now. Susan (npw goddess)

hello susan.

just some general questions i guess, and information about them..

-is it hard to make them from scratch ?
-how long do they take to make?
-how do they compare to a normal power kite to fly?
-how much do they cost ?
-what equiptment do you use?
-what are they mainly used for?
-where can i find plans?

i guess my main question is, if i am going to go down this route, what are the main advantages and disadvamtages of npw kites compared to your normal choute style kite?

at the moment i am just looking at recreational flying. im going to buy a peter lynn hornet 3m in just less than a weeks time ( ) in the future i would like to move on to buggying, however, being a student, the price of good kites are a tad worrying..

obvously, you dont have to answer all of my questions if you dont want to. there are quite a few, i know :P

thanks tim

I'll add a couple questions to that list.

-What is the difference between a npw5 and npw9?
-How does thare pull compare to a foil? (edit: just realized that was already asked sorry.)
-Do thay have much lift?
-About how much would you charge to make one?

and last of all

-What happened to the npw 1,2,3,4,6,7,8? just kidding;-)

Thanks Sky

Here are some info to some of the questions asked:

1. If you have never made kites before with the instuctions on the net about making nasa wings I would think it would be hard to make them at first.

2. The npw9 has 48 bridle lines and flys upwind better than the npw5 which only has 36 bridle lines.

3. The price of the kite depends on what size you are making.

4. The nasa wings do not have much lift but lots of side pull.


5. Nasa wings are soft kites so to be able to fly them you just need lines and handles.

6. Nasa wings do not go upwind as well as foils do.

7. Nasa wings are great for inland gusty winds and fly better than foils in that enviroment.

8. You can fly nasa wings on any lenght line set from 100 ft. down to just flying the kite off the bridle lines. This is great in parking lots with poles.

9. Nasa wings do not cost as much as a foil. A 7 meter nasa wing is around $200.00 where a foil in about $100.00 a meter so do the math.

There are some plans on the net I can look up if you are still intrested or you can do a search on google under "Tom White". These are the best plans I have found so far.

Susan (npw goddess)

You can google individual kite reviews (racekites) and dedicated sites (npwbill) for making NPW5-9s all over the web. And I mean they're all over the web!!!!

They are very portable, relatively slow, pretty indestructible, more difficult for upwind and gusts, and have hardly any lift - but a lot of horizontal pull for their relative size.
They may be likened by some to the sturdy, simple, junkyard tow-trucks of the traction kite world. :smug: Not always elegant, but can get certain jobs done inexpensively.

They can fly with 2, or (the more recommended) 4 lines.
Variations of the NPW9 is shaped a little different and has more brake bridling. When compared the NPW9 is generally said to have better pull, speed, handling and upwind capability than the earlier NPW5s.
They are absolutely the easiest "real" power kite to sew - but the multiple bridling is what takes the most time and calculation.

just took a chill session last week with NPW 5 /ATB

for the $ hard to beat
total fun with power ,even a strop on mine
indestructable

"vegasboarder" at the wingsurfer.uk site had the best tips for ATBing with an NPW I ever seen (but he would disagree with Susan about gusts, though).

-------------------------------
"It's a HQ NPW5 my new kite-buggy friend Capt.Ron was kind enough to let me try, in fact we swapped and he cruised in the buggy with the wing. the upwind capabilities of the NPW are pheonomenal, comparable and on equal foorting with the Ktewing. I was amazed when I figured out to pull the brake line in the direction your going, it was like I had hit the turbo button, much like a de-powerable (eg. In the pic below, pulling the left brake line with the nose pointed in the travel of direction) Air braking is easy as hell, Setup and packup is a cinch, I'm in love! Not the greatest in gusty conditions, in fact the largest drawback for me.Even at the top of the wind window it was pulling, but not enough I couldn't use my DS brake to stop if I wanted to. If things get REAL bad, just let go of one handle. Unlike a foil, it "rag" nature will let it just flap in the wind with no worries of dangerous kite loops. As mentioned in the post above, transport is very easy. in fact, since the winds can be so unpredictable in the mornings out here, I am looking into a kitewing/npw quiver. Kitewing for high winds with NPW on me in case the winds drop. Then I'll pack up the wing, strap it to me (still figuring this out) and fly my NPW that can still get me upwind as easily as the kitewing so losing my course is nullified. Would suck to be stuck 3 miles away from the car out on the dry lake bed with NO shade ANYWHERE in 100-120 degree waether walking with gear in hand. Hell I carry 2 npw's!"

okay. thanks for the information, particularly susan

... and if you make one, be creative in the colors or patterns. I've seen them in everything from Halloween pumkins to birds and solid colors. If I ever make one, I'm gonna put a "Mr Yuck" on it (from the old poison control stickers... the ugly face in bright green).

I like it

Might be more inclined to go with one of the incarnations of Mr. Ouchy.



Or



ATB,
Sam

go here to see some npw

http://kitehanger.moonfruit.com/