9ft Mylar Delta

John Wells

I do not normally fly deltas but I flew an Emma Kites mylar delta http://www.emmakites.com/new-9ft-stealth-mylar-delta-kites_p276.html today for the first time.

I do not know if it is a copy, or if it is durable or if the quality control on these kites is reliable.
It looks fine to me.

What I can say, is that without a tail, the kite rose smoothly and then remained fixed as if pinned to the sky!
Unfortunately, high flight angles are not my preferred choice.

Simon H

Welcome to deltas John, put a short tail on to hold it back on the wind if you need, otherwise enjoy that lovely high flight !

NZflier

An interesting concept. I see that the Mylar, normally a material that tears easily, is reinforced in the manner of ripstop nylon. But other than the novelty value of having a semi-transparent kite, I wonder if there is any advantage over the normal fabric, and I doubt if the Mylar, even with the reinforcing, will last as long as nylon.

Jim.

Paul Costelloe

John

I, as is Simon , am a fan of deltas, and more specifically, delta coynes.

Mylar is a fabulous material. Dupont, I think first made it. I have a near-full roll ( +/- 54" wide ) in the barn left to me by
my dad. I'd give some to any for cost of shipping....however I think the stuff is basically polyester film, tougher than
nails, 'til you puncture it. Think of a hanging bag of gum drops, from the super market. Try to tear it. Give up,
stab it with a ball-point pen. Enjoy. Think of all those sweet-toothed briars and brambles that kites like to land in.

Over all, I think proper fabric for proper kites.

Paul

John Wells

My preference is for kites that you can kick around, fall into and probably use as a hammock, noteably the HQ FF 2.0 and 4.0.
I still like the characteristics of power sleds but with fuzzy tails.

Perspectives change when trying to decide on a kite for kids to use with a keyring camera.

PokyTom

Ya can't beat ripstop nylon for durability, in my opinion. Spars are more likely the weak link.

broox

Actually, you can't beat white plastic trash bags for cheap, durable kite material, as long as the kite is of modest size.

mathewL

Don't forget tyvek!
http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek/en_US/assets/images/tyvek_styles_chart.jpg
its as durable as ripstop and almost as light. I prefer the hard "paper-type" that Homewrap and printing stock are made out of. I have a 60" roll of 1.25 oz/yard 1025D Tyvek, and a bunch of the 2.2 oz/yard homewrap. Most kite suppliers sell the "cloth-type" tyvek that is half the strength, twice the permeability, and twice the cost of the hard stuff.

The thin stuff (1025D) is hard to find in bulk, but FedEx or USPS express envelopes are made of it, and they make great small sled kites.

Ningaloo

The Broox Trashbag Delta..... LOL!

John Wells

Trash bags are good for helium and solar balloons too:
http://www.armadale.org.uk/balloonphotography.htm

John Wells

Update:

Some months on, I can now say that the Mylar delta has worked well as a light wind kite, despite being holed by a barbed wire fence!
Jim Knowles has also tried it in a very gentle breeze when it was difficult to get other kites up, and produced:
http://www.armadale.org.uk/bathgatecastle15air.jpg

The Trust has now settled on the HQ 2m Delta Graphic Rainbow for use with kids and beginners, using a coat hanger wire rig and the HD808#16D video camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YTMqZyLmLk&feature=youtu.be
and has started to donate cameras and kites to selected local archaeology groups and individuals.
We can put together the full KAP kit (excluding gloves) for ~£50 and ~£60 for working in the >830nm near infra-red.
The Trust does not sell kits.

The video camera works well for stills (extracted from the video), even if detached from the rig and bouncing around on the safety line:
http://www.armadale.org.uk/808kite02ir.jpg !

On Sunday last, in conditions which have destroyed small sleds and a fishing delta (in prolonged flight), Jim managed to fly a Dan Leigh Delta which was amazingly stable and durable.

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