Page:Kitecraft and kite tournaments (1914).djvu/115

Rh must be stiff enough not to bend. Of course the kite line will have to be kept quite taut until time for release, when, if the line is slackened suddenly, the rings drop off, thus releasing the kite line. If it glides well some interesting things will develop. There will be swoops and glides, and loop the loops and all sorts of gyrations before it reaches the ground. If one is going to make a model just to fly in the air without the maneuvering, but to look like an aeroplane in the air, it should have the bridle placed so as to cause the kite to stay as near the horizontal as possible. In order to do this, the upper loop of the bridle should be shortened or the lower one lengthened as on a tailless or any other kite. On the tailless kite one can shift the bridle so as to make the kite stay nearly over head, in fact I have had them pass the zenith and dive over to the other side, and that well up in the air. A propeller that is turned by the breeze will help considerably in giving it a realistic touch. Fig. 99 is very good for aeroplane kites. The side wings can be extended and modified, as in Fig. 209, or the cross-pieces can be bowed up, as in Fig. 210. The bridle should be attached only in two places.

A biplane is shown Fig. 211, one with bowed cross-pieces in Fig. 212, and one with bent up tips on the upper plane in Fig. 213. The folded paper glider made by the children soars excellently; try an aeroplane kite on that plan, Fig. 214. Another modification of Fig. 214 is the bird aeroplane kite, Fig. 215. In this a plane is placed about half way from front to back. The ends of the wings get their curve from the back stick, a piece of heavy reed, and the outline of the bird is also of reed. By drawing the shape on a board the reed can be bent to the shape. The reed should be wet and tacks should be driven at each side to keep the shape until dry. This kite, if well made, should glide for a very long distance.

It would take too much space to go into details with each design, but the drawings I think will be sufficient for most readers who may be planning these models, especially where framework and finished kite are both given.