Dictionary
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Anhedral: The downward bend of a wing. This is the opposite of Dihedral. This is sometimes used to add stability to a kite as in a sled kite.
Angle of Attack: The angle of the wing surface relative to the wind. Too much angle results in a kite that stalls or won't lift, or causes the kite to be overpowered. Too little angle results in not enough lift. The angle of attack is determined by the tow point on the bridle or the keel. Some times called the angle of incidence.
Applique: Ornamental shapes and figures cut from one fabric and sewn to another. Almost all of Sky Delight Kites are appliques.
Aspect Ratio: This term refers to the width of a wing relative to it's depth or chord. A wing that is wider than it is deep is known as a high aspect ratio wing. Conversely a wing that is deeper than it is wide is known as a low aspect ratio wing. i.e. a diamond kite has a low aspect wing.
Batten: A lightweight spar used for stiffening or adding curvature to a sail or wing. This serves to add effective sail area and reduce drag.
Bridle: A series of lines that connect to the kite sail and frame to help support the kite and/or to orient the kite at a proper angle to the wind. (angle of attack) Some kites use keels in place of a bridle.
Bridle Leg: Each line going from the tow point of a kite to the sail is known as a bridle leg. Kite bridles may have only two legs or many legs. .i.e. the Pelican Kite (see Anatomy of a Kite) has six legs.
Camber: The curve or convexity of a sail or wing that creates an airfoil. This curve serves to create lift.
Chord Line: The length of a straight line connecting the leading and trailing edges of a wing. Usually referred to when talking about aspect ratios of wings.
Cross Spar: The spar or stick used to spread the wings of a kite sail. It is sometimes called a spreader.
Dacron: A synthetic fiber used in making sailcloth or line. Widely used in fishing line it makes an excellent kite line. It is rated by lbs. breaking strength.
Dihedral: The upward angle formed by the leading edge of a kite when viewed from end on. Also may be used to describe the connector that forms this bend. Dihedral is used to help stabilize a kite and may be formed by using a fixed dihedral, a floating cross spar as in a delta kite or by bowing the cross spar.
Dual Line: Refers to sport or stunt kites that utilize two flying lines for control.
Fiberglass: A material composed of glass fibers in an epoxy matrix. This is an excellent kite building material as it combines strength and flexibility with relative light weight. It comes in several forms from solid fiberglass rod to hollow tubes.
Fighter Kites: These are usually small maneuverable kites that are flown on one line. Retrieving or slackening the line allows a flyer to steer the kite. In many Asian countries these kites are flown on line that is coated with powdered glass. This allows the flyer to cut his opponents line. In the U. S. the game is to touch the opponents line from above or below to score points.
Graphite: One of the newest materials available to the kite maker. It is composed of carbon fibers in an epoxy matrix. It is lighter and stiffer than fiberglass though sometimes not as durable and it is more expensive. It also can be found in solid rod form and protruded or hollow wound tubes.
High Aspect Ratio: This term refers to a wing that is wider than it is deep. High aspect ratio wings are more efficient than low aspect ratio wings in that they provide greater lift and lower drag than a low aspect wing. This efficiency can sometimes come at a price in reduced stability. A wing that is 4 times wider than it is deep is said to have a ratio of 1 to 4.
Icarex: A trade name used to denote ripstop fabric woven from polyester fibers. This results in a cloth that is somewhat lighter and more fade resistant than nylon ripstop fabric. The disadvantage I believe is the fabric is not as durable as normal ripstop nylon.
Keel: A triangular piece of cloth used in lieu of a bridle. It serves the same purpose of determining the tow point and the angle of attack of a kite. It acts the same way a boat keel does to provide stability. Though simpler than a bridle it's main disadvantage is that it usually provides a fixed tow point and will not allow you to adjust for wind conditions the way a bridle will.
Kevlar: A type of synthetic line sometimes used for flying kites. It is extremely strong with very low stretch. It has generally fallen into disfavor with most kite flyers because its high melting point allows it to cut most other kite line and sometimes human flesh. Also it tends to degrade rather rapidly in sunlight and is less smooth than another widely used fiber known as Spectra.
Leading Edge: The forward part of a wing that is struck first by the passage of the wind.
Longeron: This is a rod or rods that run lengthwise down a kite. The center longeron is called a spine.
Low Aspect Ratio: A wing that is deeper than it is wide as in a diamond kite. Though generally not as efficient as a high aspect wing, it's main advantage is that it is very stable.
Outhaul: A length of adjustable bridle line usually found on stunt or sport kites that allows for the shifting of the tow points toward the wing tips or toward the center. This most dramatically effects turn rate, and other handling qualities.
Quad-line: A new gender of kites utilizing four flying lines for control. This allows a flyer to maneuver the kite to fly forward, backward, sideways and to spin like a propeller.
Rip-stop: This term refers to a type of weave used in nylon or polyester cloth that incorporates large fibers interwoven with smaller ones to form small boxes in the material. The idea being that cloth tears will stop when they encounter the stronger fibers. Most quality kites are made of rip-stop nylon or polyester.
Sail: The cloth or lifting part of a kite
Spine: The center rod that runs lengthwise down a kite. May also be called a longeron.
Spectra: A synthetic fiber used in making fishing or kite line. It is used almost exclusively when flying dual or quad-line kites. It's best advantage being it's great strength to weight ratio and low stretch characteristics. It is slippier than kevlar allowing for more wraps in a line without loss of control. It's two main disadvantages is that it is expensive and due to it's low melting point it is easily cut by other types of line.
Spreader: As the name implies this spar spreads the wings of a kite. It is sometimes called a cross spar.
Stand-off: Usually a small rod that serves to tension and hold open a sail. It prevents the sail from collapsing when flying a kite on the edge of the wind. It is sometimes called a whisker.
Train: Linking two or more kites together on a single line to form a train of kites. There are basically two methods of doing this. A conventional train of kites passes the flying line through the mid line of all the kites on the train. Not all kites are suitable for this method. Another method is called branch training. In this application, each kite has it's own individual flying line that is connected to a main trunk line. The kites fly themselves off the main trunk line appearing as branches of a tree.
Tow Point: The place that the flying line attaches to a kite. This point also serves to adjust the angle of incidence or angle of attack.
Whisker: A small tensioning rod used to tension or batten a sail. Can be used to reduce drag or add to effective sail area or to maintain sail shape.
Yakko: A genre of kites which uses a sleeve like opening on the wing to provide stability. Comes from the Japanese word meaning sleeve.