Wind Tunnel Testing of Kites

Here are my observations for the model kite tests on March 8th at the Bridgewater State University Wind Tunnel Lab:

 

1. All the kites flew.

2. The kites ranged in size from 1.5” to 8” wingspan.

3. The kites varied in flexibility.  Some were rigid structures.

4. Some models flew steadily without a tail.

5. The kite styles, materials, weight, and wind speed affect the flight greatly.

6. Increasing the wind speed tended to reduce the angle of flight.

7. Some of the tools we had were inaccurate for such small loads.

8. Some of the kites have an ideal wind range in which they flew steadily without oscillations.

9. Increasing the wind speed tended to increase the oscillations per minute.

10. The thickness of the flying line does not affect the oscillations per minute.

11. A longer flying line tends to reduce the oscillations per minute.

12. Placing the kite in the center of the wind tunnel was difficult at times because the rough floor of the wind tunnel tended to catch and hold the kites while the walls and corners and door to the wind tunnel offered a place for the kite to escape the wind.

13. My flying machine moves the kite through still air and can move the kite at slower speeds than the wind tunnel.  This resulted in steady flight for a kite that exhibited oscillations in the wind tunnel.

14. We were running the wind tunnel at its slowest speeds.

 

Glenn Davison

KitingUSA