TETRAHEDRON KITES

B Y AN T H O N Y L

E W I S

Day 2 Monday 7/23/2012So far we made one of the four pyramids of our Tetrahedron kite. We are using 4 big and small string. 45 inches and 25 inches. We are also using 24 straws and colored tissue. And we are use tape and a stick of glue as a bond. We use 6 straws, 1 long string, and 1 short string for 1 pyramid at a time and we taped and glue the colored tissue on the pyramid. Day 3 Tuesday 7/24/2012Finally we tape all the pyramids together in the same direction.

So far

I would like to learn; How to build and fly a kite. How well my kite will fly? How high will it fly?

What I like to learn

There are 4 basics of flight. The first one is physics. Physics include: 1. Thrust: Is the force that pulls the aircraft

forward.2. Lift: The force the pulls the aircraft

upward.3. Drag: The force that pulls the aircraft

backward.4. And Gravity: The force that pull the aircraft

downward

Basics of flight: Physics

The 2nd basics of flight is Movement Vectors. Movement Vectors include: Pitch: The up and down movement of the

aircraft’s nose around the horizontal axis. Yaw: The rotation of the nose of the aircraft and

the center of the aircraft around the vertical axis. Roll: The tipping of the wings up and down. And Bank: The combination of the pitch and roll

making a banking turn.

Basics of flight: Movement Vectors

The 3rd basic of flight is Control surfaces. Control surfaces include: Elevators: Flat, hinged surfaces on the tail plane (horizontal

part).They stabilize the aircraft in flight Rudders: The vertical version of the Elevators. They aim the

“nose of the” left to right. Ailerons: Thin flat hinged surfaces on the tailings on each wing

(near the end). They move the wings up, down, or roll the plane.

Flaps: Same as Ailerons but closer to the plane. During takeout they allow the plane to gain lift.

And Compressibility: A condition that renders the control surfaces useless. It occurs during very high speeds.

Basics of flight: Control surfaces

The final basic of flight is Basic Flight Maneuvers. Basic Flight Maneuvers are: Takeoff: Rising off the ground. Climbing: Rising in the air. Descending/diving: lower the plane deceasing lift and drops

altitude. Banked turns: Banking (bank) Landing: Landing the plane Stalls: The loss of lift causing plane to fall. And Spins: Special type of Stall. One wing loss lift while the

other doesn’t.

Basics of flight: Basic Flight Maneuvers

Through research there is 11 different kites I found.1. Inflatables 1. 2.

3.2. Parafoils3. Deltas 4. 5. 6.4. Rokkakus5. Cellulars 7. 8.

9.6. Diamonds7. Sleds8. Novelty 10. 11.9. Traditional10.Stunt11.Traction

Different types of kites

A bird and a kite can take flight. However birds can fly and glide but, kites

only glide. Flying squirrels also glide like kites. Some species of lizards can glide too, such

as the draco lizard.

Comparisons/Differences

Day 5 Thursday 7/26/21012Yesterday we have flied our kites. While we were running our kites started to fly. Based on my design, when the kite pick up wind, it started to rise. If I had to change the design I would use something stronger than the straws we used to hold everything in place. Because, while I was flying my kite it started to bend. But I had to grade my kite I would give it an A.

The test of flight