Skynasaur Tracer

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[Zeke]

1. I saw one a couple weeks ago with the lower bridle of each side connected to the Center T.

2. I ran across one the other day with the bridle lower bridle lines crossed and connecting to the opposite lower spreaders; left bridle line connecting to the right spreader. There was an added know so I suspect that the bridle line had broken at some earlier time. I was told the kite was almost 20 years old.  The center-T section was about 6"wide with the lower spreaders fitting into it. This kite also lacked standoffs. 

3. I gave a similar one to a friend for her birthday (her first kite) and the center-T section was almost 9" across and the lower bridle legs connecting to the opposite side spreader, just like in 2. only the lower bridle is intact.

1. trick kite ?

2. and 3. ballet kites ?

it's no big deal, but any thoughts as to why ?

[zippy8]

it's no big deal, but any thoughts as to why ?

People mess with stuff. Sometimes 'cos they don't understand, sometimes 'cos they just like to mess with stuff.

A Tracer is going to need a cross bridle and, dear god, some standoffs for pity's sake. 

Mike.

[chilese]

Always believe zippy8.
7 point bridle and standoffs on the Tracer for sure.

Clickable links:


The bridle when slack can take on some interesting shapes:
Jim Byrne at the controls.

[Zeke]

I guess the other one I saw at Brenton Point had broken the lower bridle leg and someone knotted it and added a short piece of line around the spine where the center-T would have been. Thanks for the info

[Sketch]

Ahhhh yes!
I still have my beloved old HOT PINK Tracer...but sadly that HOT PINK..within a couple of week end flying sessions...IS NO LONGER HOT PINK...but has faded to a very very pretty-lady PANTY PINK today.

That is the first kite that was soooooooo EZ to tuck into a turtle.....and perhaps due to the cross bridle...it was just sit there upside down in the sky, hovering as long as the wind was brisk enough..
and talk about LAZY SUSANS??? LAZY BIG ON YER BACK BUTHA'S might be a better name.
(however adding a carefully attached trailing edge "TRICKITY-TREAT" line
really helped recovery out of the TURD=les and spine tingling'-tangles.
Still....FEW KITES over the years can track straight lines and turn as tight wing tip crisp corners as a TRACER.
That kite won many many many precision events during those early 90's.
I take that kite out of the bag...from time to time...JUST TO RELIVE THE MEMORIES.
Peter B' master of our wind...then took that Tracer and its cross bridle up onto a whole new level, with his beautiful BADBOY-VANTAGE POINT series which also still today TRACKS straight and true...just like that TRACER that perhaps was also one of our fore-daddy-muttas of fancy active-dynamicalllllyyyy bridles of today? Hummm?

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[chilese]

You may mean a "trick line" and not a "leech line".

The leech line is unseen as it resides inside the trailing edge reinforcement material.
There is a tutorial on installing leech lines in the link below:
http://kitelife.com/forum/index.php?/topic/3240-installing-a-leech-line-step-by-step-tutorial/

The "trick line" is more of an old school way of either:
1 keeping the pilot's lineset from wrapping on a wingtip
2 or  bending the leading edge to a desired shape.

Trick lines aren't used much anymore. There may be the occasional kite with an "M-shaped" trick line, but for the most part, trick lines prevent many pitch oriented slack line moves and so have been relegated to the past.

I am including links to several kites with prominent trick lines.

[Sketch]

You may mean a "trick line" and not a "leech line".
AHHH GEE--DAAAA? TRICKITY TREAT DOES SOUND BETTA? but I guess most of us know whut uhhhmean [/b]Trick lines aren't used much anymore. There may be the occasional kite with an "M-shaped" trick line, but for the most part, trick lines prevent many pitch oriented slack line moves
(that is why I doodled the red TRICKITY-TREAT LINE on the Tracer...this one works quite well and doesn't seem to bother "pitchity movity-doovies"and so have been relegated to the past.
 
I am including links to several kites with prominent trick lines.

Uhh....Even dumboloddo me...knows the difference between a trailing edge leech line from a trickiteeee trailing edge line...(see whut huppins when ya getttaabeeemyage? 
HUGE SORRY FOR THE BRAIN FART

[kiten00b]

found this on google, it might help you.

[chilese]

There's a 3rd bridle line to the leading edge?

REALLY?

skb, is one of my heroes, but my Tracers don't have that line. 

[kiten00b]

REALLY?

that Tracer is the SUL. the lighter frame might have needed more support

[Allen Carter]

The "trick line" is more of an old school way of either:
1 keeping the pilot's lineset from wrapping on a wingtip
2 or  bending the leading edge to a desired shape.

3. keeping the bridle from snagging on the spine.


That's the main reason to have the "half" trick line on a kite like the Tracer. Long bridle. A keeper line added to the bridle is a good alternative on some kites.

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