The Scott Sled Kite Kit
This kit is retired and no longer available.
This kit contains the Tyvek material and a comprehensive set of instructions for
building a large kite capable of supporting an HF antenna. The project was
popularized by Seabury Lyon, AA1MY and was featured in an issue of QST this
year.
To order, click here.
Here's a recent "user report" by NJQRP club member Dave Hurley, N2ZHY ...
| I saw Seabury Lyon, AA1MY
fly one of his "Scott Sled" design kites between sessions at the
first Atlanticon a few years ago and was immediately captivated by it's
sheer size. When time came for the next round of talks, Seab tied the kite
off to a convenient bulldozer and went inside. Ninety minutes later during
the next break, I was amazed to find the kite still a couple of hundred
feet in the air where Seab had left it.
The construction is simple and straightforward but the Tyvek material is sold by the role and is a little expensive to buy for making just a few kites. A few months ago the NJQRP Club bought a role of Tyvek material and began selling it piece by piece along with a set of construction instructions. I picked up one of these kits at the last NJQRP meeting. Construction was easy and fun with my two nephew's supervising. I used white duct tape to reinforce all the edges, instead of the recommended 1/2 inch tape, because that's what I had on hand. Struts were glued and taped also. First flight went well but required a skinny wife and a not so skinny sister as ground crew. This is a big kite. The kite seems to want at least a 4 mph wind and it will lift itself with 2 people holding the surface open and perpendicular to the wind. No running. Everyone had fun but sure wished that I could launch and retrieve it myself. The next day I walked the kite 400 ft out from my van and layed it down. I then unwound the kite string as I walked back to the van. There I used an overhand knot to make a small loop in the kite line. I took an old strap and ran it around the bumper of the van and clipped it to the loop in the kite string using a carabiner. Now the kite is tied off to the van and I don't have to hold it. Walked back out to the kite and held the shoulder of the kite (where the bridle connects) on one side and waited for some wind. First consistent breeze greater than 4 mph, flip the kite up into a standing position where it will fill with wind and take off by itself. By the time I walk back to the van the kite is at altitude and it's Miller Time (or Diet Coke Time in my case). Nothing to do but stand back and admire. To bring the kite down I used another carabiner clipped over the kite line with a 2 ft loop of rope attached. Put your arm through the loop and walk the carabiner out the 400 ft as the kite descends. Walk back to the van, unhook the kite line and wind it up while walking back tothe kite. Fold the kite and back to the van. Lots of walking but now it's down to me and the kite. I'm having fun, my new skinny wife doesn't have to do anything and I think her cooking has improved! David Hurley, N2ZHY |
This kit is retired and no longer available.
