XFS delta 85in/2.16m span
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Over the years we have been aware of counterfeit copies of our kites. We no longer re-build kites clearly made by others, even if sold as ours.
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· Lead time for kites can be short (2 to 5 weeks), but it's often longer (6 to 12 weeks or more), depending on the number and sizes of kites already on order, plus a chaos factor. Since the situation can change over the course of a single day, lead time is for the most part unpredictable. · We make kites only after receipt of payment; not in response to telephone requests alone. · LIMIT: Two kites per order. · We do not do free repairs or supply free replacement parts, and we don't re-build kites made by other people even if it is claimed they were made by us—worn out, UV damaged, rotted, oxidized, shredded, severely stretched or otherwise mis-shapen kites cannot be repaired. |
| Please remember to supply a contact phone number for all deliveries outside the UK |
UK & EU prices, as shown, include VAT @ 20% - (prices excluding VAT are shown in parentheses)
VAT (tax) only applies to EU countries - for all other countries use the base prices.
VAT reg. no: GB 648 4938 86
| Into the Wind
1408 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302 tel: +1 (303) 449-5356 click for... more info and page 23 of Into the Wind's 2009 catalog |
Western Sporting
730 Crook Street, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 tel: +1 (307) 672-0445 |
Northwoods Falconry
Northwoods Falconry, PO Box 874, Rainier, WA 98576 USA tel: +1 (360) 446-3212 |
| Polite notice: please do not try to contact me through Into the Wind - I am in Wales, UK, and will not get the message | ||
| · Our emphasis is on quality rather than quantity - production is strictly limited, so we recommend that orders be placed early to avoid disappointment |
| · While we always try to comply with customers' wishes, it may sometimes be necessary to supply kites with alternative ventral fin colors |
| · There are no shortcuts to excellence - as the sign in the 4B's Cafe in Black Canyon, Arizona, says, "If you can't wait, don't order" |
Payment methods
Delivery charges
Colors
Terms
Work out the approximate wing area in square feet (height times half the span). Multiply this figure by 3 for light winds, 5 for normal flying, or about 8 for breezy conditions - to get line breaking strain in pounds. More
This is so subjective we do not make recommendations. Performance depends on line as well as wind. Any kite requires just the right wind to fly at all, let alone give its best performance. Kites aren't like machines you can just turn on when the urge strikes. You can't just put one up on a whim, oblivious to wind conditions. If the line is very light, the kite will fly to the steepest angles, but the risk of loosing it is high. If the line is too heavy the kite will perform poorly, though for certain applications a lower flying angle can be advantageous. Kite flying requires patience. Impetuous kite flyers loose kites. See Nose Angles vs Sweep Back and Force of Wind equation.
Link: Flying Line page
Link: Inserting spreaders
| Totally Unscientific Delta Kite Wind Range Graphic | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 mph | 2 to 6 mph | 7 to 11 mph | 12+ mph |
| Nil to Light | Light to Medium | Medium to Fresh | Fresh to Strong |
Click here for the real Beaufort wind speed scale.
R4 Ranger 56in/1.42m span | for medium to fresh breezes
| Do not exceed 15mph |
R5 Rustler 70in/1.79m span | for medium to fresh breezes
| Do not exceed 15mph |
| a very stable kite for anxiety-free flying - in regular use for lightweight aerial photography and falcon training | |
| new version |
XFS delta 85in/2.16m span
| Do not exceed 14mph |
| light wind wings with moderate-breeze towing point for extended wind range on 50lb line |
Little Bear 76.5in x 47in/1.94 x 1.20m
| Do not exceed 8mph |
Please note: this design is a smaller (and less expensive) alternative to a Clipper for flyers needing an efficient light wind kite. As such, it is not meant for winds over about 8 or 9 mph - it has the wrong fin geometry for windy weather. If flown in too much wind a serious reduction in service life can be expected.
kites with 5mm carbon rod wing spars
R6 Crosswind 7ft 4in/2.24m span | the R-series kite for light winds
| Do not exceed 10mph |
kites with 6.35mm fiberglass wing spars
Standard Whirlwind 100in/2.54m span | for light to medium winds on 50 to 88lb line
| Do not exceed 11mph |
| price: | £97.00 (£80.83 ex VAT) |
Click here for Custom Lightweight Whirlwinds
| Line is posted separately; for line prices and availability click here |
The Whirlwind is named after the renowned Danish kite authority Dr. Hvirvelvind, whose 10th Law is worth remembering whenever trying to fix a kite that doesn't fly:
If all else fails, do the exact opposite of what you thought would work. ("Yes, kites are like that.")
(This has happened to me at least twice.)
Wildcard 88in/2.24m span | for high angle flying in breezy weather
| Do not exceed 16mph |
| price: | £95.00 (£79.17 ex VAT) |
| Line is posted separately; for line prices and availability click here |
Trooper RS 7½ft/2.29m span | the delta for strong breezes
latest version, solid color only
| Maximum wind 20+ mph |
| Line is posted separately; for line prices and availability click here |
Steadies kites in turbulent conditions
Our tails use 1.4 meters of 1.5m wide fabric per tail (enough for a nine foot delta), and there's over 45 feet of cutting, 90 feet of sewing, and another 90 feet of hand-snipping in each one.
Drogues (like a miniature parachute) merely add straight-out drag. That kills angle of attack by lifting the kite's tail end, which throws it out of balance, reduces lift, and makes it behave badly in certain everyday in-flight situations.
Plain streamers are mainly decorative. Some kites need streamers to compensate for bad design, or poor construction, or both. Since they're light in weight, they're most effective as true tails on small kites only.
A proper tail has steadying drag, but also a certain heft, so it pulls downward as well as out, which not only doesn't disturb the kite's balance, it can actually enhance it. Tails have bits of cloth at intervals or, like these, are fully fringed over their full length. The fringe stops whipping, helping the wind to both steady and lift the tail. The tail keeps the kite steady in breezy conditions without much loss of efficiency.
This type of tail won't snag on kite lines, avoiding tangles. The kite's handling will be different, but not in a negative way - it will easier to manage in breezier conditions.
R7 Snark 97¾in/2.48m span | for light to breezy conditions on 80-88lb line
| Do not exceed 14mph |
| price: | £130.00 (£108.33 ex VAT) |
| Orders for the larger kites below this line are temporarily suspended ...because of a sudden increase in problems with my back (partially fixed by surgery in 1999). |
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kites with 5.5m thick-wall and 5.0mm carbon tube wing spars
Clipper S | solid color version
| Do not exceed 8mph |
| price: | £175.00 (£145.83 ex VAT) |
| Line is posted separately; for line prices and availability click here |
Clipper GPX ultra-light version of the Clipper for 0.5 to 5 mph
available while existing stocks of fabric last (bright white and royal blue left, with red as a third option for fins)
| Do not exceed 5mph |
| Line is posted separately; for line prices and availability click here |
Home | Contents | Line & winders
Falconers section | Wind speed table | Ordering information
Please note: These kites are serious flying machines for enthusiasts. They are not toys.
They are not built for "industrial" levels of use. They are light wind kites made from top quality fabrics studiously reinforced for a good service life - in the air.
They are by their very nature delicate structures. They are not indestructable, though they can, nevertheless, last a long time with proper care and no abuse.
They must never:
· be flown in too much wind; crashed heavily or repeatedly; dragged along rough ground or across structures, or through prickly brush, brambles, cactus, or trees; run over, stepped on, or used as crowbars.
How long a kite lasts is entirely the flyer's responsibility.
©1998-2013 Dan Leigh, 54 Osborne Road, Pontypool, Gwent, Wales, UK NP4 6LX
URL: http://www.deltakites.com