Photo Blackheath 17th March 2019

Four Squares
no date 1996+
230 x 230 cm overall, each sail 80 x 80 cm
long tails
Weight: 1.6 kg.

Windspeed Portsmouth c18mph 31/07/2022.

Notes...

When we first attempted to fly this kite in March 2019 it appeared to be unstable and we thought that further work was needed on the bridle which appeared to be unfinished with loose ends on the bridle ring knots.

Windspeed 13mph but often dropping to 6 or 8 mph Blackheath 06/03/2022.

From the Blog 31st May 2020:- "In keeping with social distancing I was intent on managing the kite by myself although assistance was offered. I had run out about 35m of the 2.5mm spectra flying line 'secured' at the ground end. The kite was assembled and then pinned face up with the lower edge of the kite downwind. I attached the bridle to the flying line and moved the kite so that the lowest legs of the bridle were tight. I then lifted the kite so that all the bridle lines were tight with the top edge of the kite on the ground.

There were issues with the bridle lines that needed to be resolved. This could not be done under tension so the kite was lowered to the ground again and secured. Once the bridle was set with no loops the kite was lifted back under tension and the tails attached. It was then a case of rotating the kite, checking that everything looked 'correct' and then releasing it into the sky! It was somewhat gratifying that the kite launched perfectly with no sign of instability."

There was too much wind for this kite with added bow lines and a slight modification to the bridle.

Shortening the centre two bridle lines put too much pressure on the centre of the kite and will have to be undone. The plan is to replace the white fibreglass tube with carbon tube.

The wind was occasionally strong enough on about 120ft/36.5m of flying line but kept fading so the kite was drifting away from the centre of the window and sliding to the ground. About 25ft/7.5m was added to the flying line and the kite flew consistently and often at a very high angle.

Launch sequence images by Marian Linford.

Landing sequence images by Marian Linford.

The bridle lines fell clear at the first lift of the kite into the inverted position. The kite was then rotated to the launch position.

The kite did launch today but the wind was too light to keep it centered and it drifted off to the side of the wind window before sliding to the ground with a considerable impact. No spars were broken today!
Blackheath today 29th August 2021.

Kite inverted showing looped bridle at the bridle ring end.

Kite inverted for dis-assembly.