Saw the videos of Delta kite flown as RC vector kite, including Flattermann, flying very well.
But when I converted my new Delta kite, it does not glide very well, it cannot even fly smoothly, tends to nose dive
I have tried to shift the Motor assembly backward but to no avail.
Can some kind souls advise as to what's wrong with this setup.
Pse see the picture for more detail of my kite setup...million thanks.

lanternfly

hi Lanternfly,

On the first view, I'm missing the necessary bending of the tension bar, what generates the necessary dehidral and the necessary (little) bending of the keel rod. I've marked the position I think that it will work with in Your photo. The second picture shows a vectorized Delta during flight, so You can compare and see what Your Delta needs.

Good luck for Your maiden!

flattermann

hi lanternfly,

flattermann is completly right.
another problem is, that the sticks right and left in the leading edge of a single line delta are to short.
the sticks right and left in your kite must go from the nose till the edge (like in a dual line stunt delta)

otherwise the kite frame is not stable for vectorkiting.
use 2 x lightweight carbon rod (5mm), so the sail can form a tunnel/curve in the trailing edge.

good luck,
vectorkite your life !

flattermann & vectorflyer,
Thanks both for your kind and prompt reply!
Will change the rod in order to flex it and fit to the new position.
Hopefully, it will glide & fly smoothly during the next attempt.
Wish me luck!

lanternfly

I've bent the keel rod to generate the necessary dehidral.

I've also changed the left & right rod to 2 x lightweight carbon rod (5mm), leading till the tip.

LED setup and testing as shown in the video.

Will go for RC LED Vector kite spin once weather is fine.

Stay tune!

http://vimeo.com/40502870

hi lanternfly,

I'm sure that You will have a successfull maiden.
LED equipment looks great - could be a nice 'UFO - sigthing'

flattermann

hi flattermann,
Thanks for your kind words.

I have tried to fly the DIY RC LED Vector kite but it seems that I need to push the throttle very hard in order to maintain the kite height. I have adjusted the battery position but to no avail.
Is the motor position wrong?
Or the motor need to be replaced, and use a more powerful one?

Need your kind advise.
Thks.

lanternfly

Lanternfly, need some data:

-what's the exact wingspan of Your Delta?
-what's the exact flightweight including all extraloads (LED-chain, LiPo)?

My experience is:
The smaller the deltas, vectorized with GEN.I , have been (smallest 55"), the more problematic is the large distance between prop-position and CoG.
The negative effect is: Although You steer elevators full up when starting, at full throttle, the small Deltas get grounded - the motor power pulls it downwards. A nearly vetrical throw into the air could help then, when You start with full throttle.

As a result of this, I experimented with more dehidral by moving the tension bar fastening upwards in the GEN. I triangle. At least, for the smaller Deltas (-Deltaboxes), I made smaller triangle frames, so the Motor came around 5" deeper.

The best performers with the GEN. I unit have been my 10' - 12' deltas. They have so low air-resistance, that they could be flown with the GEN. I unit and it's motor by half throttle - have a look to indoor-/outdoor videos on my website:
www.crazyplanes.de/deltaxl.wmv
www.crazyplanes.de/deltaxl2.wmv
www.crazyplanes.de/deltagkite1.wmv
www.crazyplanes.de/deltaxxl5.wmv
www.crazyplanes.de/deltaxxl4.wmv
www.crazyplanes.de/vertigo.wmv

Fact is: The placement of Your LED - chains u n d e r the kite's skin has a negative aerodynamical effect.
... Would be not so bad If You could put them on topside, where they are not disturbing aerodynamics so much as they do on the reverse side.


flattermann

flattermann,
Thanks for your advise.
The wingspan is around 3m.

I have managed to remove all the LEDs attachment.
I did some adjustments, here's the video of my DIY RC Delta vector kite flown at Buangkok Field....

https://vimeo.com/40945381

Will attempt to fly it with LEDs loaded the next time...

Congrats, lanternfly! I like Your big Slowflyer Delta.
If You have the oportunity to fly against a little wind (1-1.5 bft) on a slope, You will appreciate for sure right/left cruising - and standing calm in the air on the same point, 5m away, for minutes.
Have fun!

flattermann

flattermann
Yes, definitely, will try to fly it against the wind on the slope one of these days.

By the way, I'm not able to get new original Gen 2 motor in Singapore, any suggestion to obtain equivalent new motor, what brand?

The T-joint is also not available here, I've to fabricate my own joints using aluminium tube which is not very reliable. Any suggestion how to purchase them?

Also, I'm curious how do you place the T-joint on to the new kite spine?
Do you have to cut the sail and insert the joints?
Will it damage the kite's sail?

Appreciate all the advice & suggestions.
Thanks.

Cheers
lanternfly

Night flying control of the flight is not easy with LEDs attachment, it has extra load on the sails which make the kite very unstable at time... but managed to pull the kite up the sky...LED lighting very sweee under the night sky...nice...
Here's the video...sorry for the grainy video...cheers!

https://vimeo.com/41191047

Congratulations It's beautiful !

Very nice, lanternfly!

...could look like a kind of an UFO - sighting

flattermann

I like ! Just wounder if you could place the LED star on top and use the light defusing properties of white rip stop . To really give it a erie fuzzy glow effect ?