Triangular box kites are not quite as well-known as the traditional square box, but they are nearly as old. Like the square box kite, the triangular design has been used for many practical purposes as well as for pure fun flying. The simplest type has just 2 cells. That is, 2 sets of sail cloth are wrapped around a set of long spars with a gap in the middle. Just like a traditional box kite, except there are 3 long spars forming 3 sides instead of 4.
Many big complex 'cellular' kite designs are based on this concept. If you look carefully at some of these, you will find that the triangular box idea is in there somewhere.
The Simple 3 Sided Box Kite
It might look a little simpler than a 4-sided kite, but triangular box kites actually need more parts in order to stay rigid. Like square ones, they can be made permanently rigid or collapsible for easy transportation.
One way to make a triangular kite is to make up 2 triangular frames from 6 short pieces of wood, all the same length. After the frames are ready, 3 long spars are fitted, running through each corner of the triangular frames. Sail cloth is then wrapped around and secured to each end of the complete assembly to form the sail panels. These panels should be about a quarter to a third the length of the entire kite. Finally, a bridle can be attached to each end of one of the long spars. Like the square box, a bridle is not strictly necessary since the flying line can just be attached to a long spar about a quarter of its length in from one end.
If you actually make a triangular box kite that is of similar dimensions to a square one you already have, it will soon become clear that it requires a bit more wind to fly well. That's partly because of those short spars. The extra weight increases the 'wing loading' of the kite.
The Triangular Box Kite Sprouts Wings
Just like the traditional box kite, the triangular type was eventually modified with wings to lift better. This was first done in 1902 by an American called Silas Conyne. This idea was also the basis for the French Military kite of the early 1900s. These kites had some similarities to the more complex Cody military kites, except they used 3 instead of 4 main spars for each cell. Kite enthusiasts still fly winged triangular ones today. Not surprisingly, they are often referred to as Conyne or French Military kites.
The wings of the French Military design were quite short. A single short spar extended out from the top of the kite on each side, forming the pointed tip of the wing. Eventually, as delta kites began to be developed, someone had the idea of merging the 2 ideas. The result was the Delta Conyne which could fly at higher line angles and also stay up in lighter winds.
In the 21st century, just about any kind of kite is available from a shop, either on or off-line. Various kinds of triangular box kites can be bought. They are made from the usual modern kite materials such as rip-stop nylon or mylar for the sails and fiberglass or carbon fiber for the spars. To keep costs down, these kites are usually small to average sized.
In Conclusion
The original simple triangular box with just the 2 cells is not seen much now. However, its influence is considerable. These days, triangular box kites are most often seen as...
- components of large complex multi-cellular kites
- lifters of photographic equipment, in various Conyne configurations
- colorful shop-bought Delta Conyne kites being flown for fun
Tim Parish and his family are rediscovering the joys of kite flying. They blog their kiting fun on their My-Best-Kite.com website, and also research the kiting world. This site will introduce you to many kinds of kites and kite flying activities, including triangular box kites of course!
Source: www.articlesbase.com
