Kitebuilder.com - Fly... with a little help from your friends.

KaiKite · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject:

My Fled is flying! Tested today in rather fresh wind. Didn't need it, but for optics with 50 foot tube tails.

Anyhow, this is a great kite - one of my favs. I thought wind would be too strong and destroy my bamboo cross spar - but it was no problem. This kite can handle some serious amounts of wind. It is very stable flying and can take gusty conditions easily. One of my favorite kites now!

Thanks for the workshop!!!!!! I enjoyed it a lot. The Fled kit - when it arrives - will have to go into another Fled I think ;P. I make another one, maybe with a very different design I think. Couple images from the beach:

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kytgrl · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Harlingen, Texas

Your fled looks great!! It's one of my favorite kites now also. I'm going to have to make me another one too.

Donna

David Tuttle · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 82 Location: Vestal, NY

I felt this project was very well presented and the illustrations a great help in assembly. Thank You Bill Wilson for all your hard work in putting this together. Starting a week late I just finished my Fled. My biggest challenge was dealing with unknown DS seam tape. No matter what I did, even using different lubricants, my machine and needle would gum up and drop stitches. I ended up hot cutting off the wing and keel edge binding and replacing it with new. I also added 4"width to the center panel, just for fun and more lift. I most likely will build another one and probably with a Celtic theme.

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May friendly winds be with you.

Fore Check · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: First wind

wdrwilson · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: First wind

gkiteguy · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Pasadena, Texas

Hi guys! I finally got a breeze light enough, about 4 mph, to test my fled well but I have a question. The kite almost overflew the line, and I want to use the kite for KAP. Is there any way to adjust the aspect to below 85 degrees without using a heavy or larger tail than the drogue and lose the low end capabilities? Higher winds I can use a couple of tube tails.

Gordon Mad

kytgrl · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Harlingen, Texas

Just wanted to tell Gordon again how great his fled is. I got to see it in action this weekend at a kite festival in San Antonio. When every kite was on the ground waiting on the wind to pick back up, Gordon's fled was rock solid and flying solo. It was great. If I hadn't been flying quads with the team, I would have had to get mine out to test it.

His PBD is awesome too.

Donna

gkiteguy · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Pasadena, Texas

Jasja · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 27 Location: Netherlands

I am currently building a Fled. It's being a very educational experience so far (read: I am making a lot of interesting mistakes).
I know the drawings have the pockets on the bottom-side, between center body and keel. But I was wondering: should I have to pockets for the "vertical spars" (when nose is up) on the bottom or top side. Or doesn't it really matter?

Fore Check · Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:14 am Post subject:

Just going through the different ways you could roll the longeron tunnels, it seems like it's easier (to me) to roll them with the edges of the center panel and have them ultimately be on the face of the kite between the keels as per the plan. I've got 5 kites constructed that way (including 3 Fleds) and it looks fine, performs great.
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