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

[Dronie]

Hello all, I am seeking assistance from those in the “kite” know in identifying a kite or proving this could not be one.

This was photographed (13 pictures over 5 minutes) in 2007 over Petten, Netherlands. Very rough estimated altitude is 300 meters, size 2-3 meters, wind speeds 16-26Km/hr with gusts to 40Km/hr. The object at bottom right is siren tower. Animation on right is object in question enlargement.

Associations are being made with another 2007 set of images and accounts (California Drones). It’s a very long and tedious history and if you have “lots” of spare time you can get background and better images here:

http://ufocasebook.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=drone&action=display&num=1239822238

http://lucianarchy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cali1&action=display&thread=5427

One opinion is that it is a Waldof or custom variation. No exact match found and that is why I am requesting any help you can provide. It may be obvious to everyone here it is a kite but most of the analysis of the images is not being done by any serious kite builders or flyers.

Thank you very much and I look forward to any and all opinions. Maybe you can be part of myth busting this! I apologize if I’ve broken any forum rules posting this.

Dronie aka Katterfelto

[Pumpkin]

Hya Dronie and welcome

Interesting discussion you posted link to there..thanks
Hate to disappoint anyone but .....
I got no hesitation, that is a kite

Moves like a kite, looks like a kite..it's a kite.

I reckon you even named it. A Waldorf Box (or Variant)


pic courtesy of Kite plan base
http://www.kiteplans.org/pln_60/

Any of our guys want to own up

BTW, some of your guys saying about reported lack of wind.
Bare in mind, skies like that, on a beach, very unlikely to be zero wind.
May have been light, witness/photographer may have been in wind shadow from dunes or the like but I wouldn't belive zero wind.
Also, most non kite flyers underestimated the amount of wind needed to fly a well built and suitable kite. The Waldorf will fly in 10mph winds happily..... and stronger winds would be likely at 300m
Most people reckon 10mph is nothing, especially if they are sheltered.

It's also quite normal for wind to be selective, stronger in one place then another close by...ask any sailor or kite flyer
_________________
Pete
Where did you say the string goes?

[Dronie]

Thank you Pumpkin. Much appreciated.
That piece going through the center that looks like a pole, would be 2 of the 6 wing pieces viewed on edge.
And the kite would be expected to show one side and not rotate?
Please bear with what may be basic questions but many people have not seen such kites themselves and little "nagging" questions come up.

I think I'd pass out if someone on your site was the flyer!

[Pumpkin]

[KiteSquid]

I too would say it is a variant of the Waldorf Box Kite.

The good thing about building kites is you can modify plans to make something that is more pleasing for the flyer.


thanks for the photos and if you would like to build one, I am sure we could help you out!!!!!!!

Here are few photos of Waldorf box kite variants








_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

PS Yet another post by the Squid... Doesn’t he ever shut up?

PPS The wind is like the air, only pushier.

PPPS All information provided is for hobby use. None may be used commercially.

PPPPS Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur. x10K

PPPPPS Please excuse my speling errorors.

[SKITCH]

Squid,

Did you just call it a Waldorf Box......Waldorf? Like the salad? HMMMMM.

[Dronie]

Thanks everyone for the replies.
It is difficult at times trying to 100% identify what people see and photograph in the skies! The kite view angle is somewhat unique and that tower on bottom right perks people's interest because it is not common in the USA and associations to the flying object get made. Some little specs show on a couple of the photos and those raise doubts (perhaps dust, a bird, baloon, etc.). Then you have connections to a nearby nuclear power plant and the stories can run wild. Things get over analyzed when the simple solution is it just may really be just a kite.

When the photos first surfaced a few weeks ago the term "drone like" was used and before you know it, a prior set of sitings (which many believe hoaxed CGI) are getting a 2nd wind (like a kite!).
So again thanks for the comments. I've called it a Waldorf a few times too.

[SKITCH]

By the way...if anyone has a Waldof kite laying around that they would consider making a deal on.....please email me!

Thanks,
Patrick

[snowykite]

Skitch

Try making one It looks complicated but it really isn't.

These plans http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/6767/wald/index.htm also have all the construction details, Steve can supply the centre hub and I used 8 mm Carbon tubes rather than wood dowels for the arms and 6mm for the longerons.

I like the look of the red/yellow/black version in Squids post but that would involve a lot more work.
_________________
Trevor

Growing old is compulsory
Growing up is optional

All knowledge is useful, you just dont know when
AKA Region 13

[KiteSquid]