Friday, May 27, 2016
A bouquet for two
A fly and tiny butterfly share a cluster of flowers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Fake bee pollinates as well as genuine bee
A bee mimicking fly pollinates a firewheel flower, also called Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella). These pollinators are just as effective at helping plants reproduce as bees are.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Goldenrod
Goldenrod, that tall, densely blooming wildflower, produces showy blooms that resemble furry fingers from afar.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Saturday, February 27, 2010
First flight of the 2010 season
Today was a gorgeous day: cloudless sky, 60 degrees and light winds from the north. I took Yatko 3 out to my regular spot.
Construction has taken up about half of the field I normally fly. I suppose it's an expansion of Westfield Middle School. Work crews were moving dirt all morning.
I was nervous to launch Y3 because I didn't want to rip the expensive paper sail and I wondered how the bowline would act.
My first few attempts failed. Y3 kept turning and crashing head first. I attached a cloth tail cut from an old bed sheet and the takeoff improved. The tail's weight and drag helped the kite stay mostly head up.
I could tell the kite's angle of flight was off because when the wind caught the sail, the kite soared straight up until it stalled out. After a few goes, I realized the top bridle lines were too long, causing the kite to lean away from me. I wrapped the two lines around the cross spars to shorten the lines, and found the sweet spot at three wraps. Two wraps worked OK and four also caused the kite to stall.
This kite is very stable. It often stayed in one position, appearing to hover. When the wind faltered, it tended to drift to the ground gently. It responds well to light tugs. It doesn't like quick changes in wind speed or direction, which sometimes made the kite flip or turn and sent it tumbling to the ground.
I'm really beginning to understand the strengths of this design. The cross spars and spine extend past the sail, which gives the pilot a lot of options for customizing the kite's flight, such as adding up to three tails, adjusting the bowline or changing the bridle length. Also, the materials are incredibly durable. I crashed several times from at least 20 or 30 feet up with no noticeable damage.
Construction has taken up about half of the field I normally fly. I suppose it's an expansion of Westfield Middle School. Work crews were moving dirt all morning.
I was nervous to launch Y3 because I didn't want to rip the expensive paper sail and I wondered how the bowline would act.
My first few attempts failed. Y3 kept turning and crashing head first. I attached a cloth tail cut from an old bed sheet and the takeoff improved. The tail's weight and drag helped the kite stay mostly head up.
I could tell the kite's angle of flight was off because when the wind caught the sail, the kite soared straight up until it stalled out. After a few goes, I realized the top bridle lines were too long, causing the kite to lean away from me. I wrapped the two lines around the cross spars to shorten the lines, and found the sweet spot at three wraps. Two wraps worked OK and four also caused the kite to stall.
This kite is very stable. It often stayed in one position, appearing to hover. When the wind faltered, it tended to drift to the ground gently. It responds well to light tugs. It doesn't like quick changes in wind speed or direction, which sometimes made the kite flip or turn and sent it tumbling to the ground.
I'm really beginning to understand the strengths of this design. The cross spars and spine extend past the sail, which gives the pilot a lot of options for customizing the kite's flight, such as adding up to three tails, adjusting the bowline or changing the bridle length. Also, the materials are incredibly durable. I crashed several times from at least 20 or 30 feet up with no noticeable damage.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fly: Lynne's fire bird, yatko 2 flies
Today was a great day for a kite flight or three. At 6 p.m. the sky was clear, temperature at about 73 degrees and winds blew from the south. The wind was sporadic.
My friend Lynne brought out her phoenix kite and I brought yatko 2 and the circle box kite my friend John gave me. We had a great time!
The phoenix flew beautifully, especially when it crossed the sun's path. The sun's rays lit up the fabric wonderfully. The unsteady wind made the phoenix wobble, but it flew consistently.
The circle box kite went up, then immediately down each time I tried to launch. I think it needs steady wind.
Yatko 2 wouldn't fly either. It would arc to the left or right each time Lynne helped me launched. I attached tails, but still it crashed. Finally, we tightened the bowline and yatoko 2 flew beautifully! The tissue tore in several places, so it won't fly again. Next time, I'll use washi.
My friend Lynne brought out her phoenix kite and I brought yatko 2 and the circle box kite my friend John gave me. We had a great time!
The phoenix flew beautifully, especially when it crossed the sun's path. The sun's rays lit up the fabric wonderfully. The unsteady wind made the phoenix wobble, but it flew consistently.
The circle box kite went up, then immediately down each time I tried to launch. I think it needs steady wind.
Yatko 2 wouldn't fly either. It would arc to the left or right each time Lynne helped me launched. I attached tails, but still it crashed. Finally, we tightened the bowline and yatoko 2 flew beautifully! The tissue tore in several places, so it won't fly again. Next time, I'll use washi.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Build: Tissue and dowels make a stable diamond
It took me about 20 minutes to make this kite: tissue paper, two hobby dowels, packing tape and dental floss for the bridle. Strips of plastic produce bags made for a light-weight trio of tails.
Winds blew at about 10-15 mph with the occasional strong gust.
I fixed the bridle at the wrong angle, which made the kite wobble uncontrollably. The face of the kite hit the wind head on at maybe a 80 degree angle. That tore the tissue along the spar. Easy fix with packing tape.
After I pulled the kite down and adjusted the bridle to give the face a shallower angle, the kite flew well. It was very stable and shot into the sky faster than I could believe.
It unwound my entire spool. Maximum height: 60 meters or 198 feet!
Winds blew at about 10-15 mph with the occasional strong gust.
I fixed the bridle at the wrong angle, which made the kite wobble uncontrollably. The face of the kite hit the wind head on at maybe a 80 degree angle. That tore the tissue along the spar. Easy fix with packing tape.
After I pulled the kite down and adjusted the bridle to give the face a shallower angle, the kite flew well. It was very stable and shot into the sky faster than I could believe.
It unwound my entire spool. Maximum height: 60 meters or 198 feet!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
First kites, disaster and triumph
I don't have photos of the first two kites I built sometime in June. I built them at the same time using wooden dowels from the hobby shop and plastic bags.
The first kite was a type of eddy kite, measuring about 24-by-36 inches. The puny dowels snapped the instant wind inflated the sails. The black garbage bag sail crumpled and twisted in the wind.
Fortunately, I had made a back-up kite, a diamond kite measuring about 18-by-24 inches. It few erratically until I doubled the length of the tails. It flew well the rest of the day.
The first kite was a type of eddy kite, measuring about 24-by-36 inches. The puny dowels snapped the instant wind inflated the sails. The black garbage bag sail crumpled and twisted in the wind.
Fortunately, I had made a back-up kite, a diamond kite measuring about 18-by-24 inches. It few erratically until I doubled the length of the tails. It flew well the rest of the day.