Fig. 82. [↑]
Fig. 83. [↑]
Tetrahedral Kite. Out of the triangular has grown the celebrated Bell tetrahedral kites, which can be increased in size beyond that of any other kite. No attempt will be made to give an exhaustive description or full construction of these wonderful kites as Dr. Bell has written a number of good articles on the subject for the Scientific American and other magazines. There have been some wonderful kites made on this principle of construction. In simple kites of this construction we have a large tetrahedral frame composed of six sticks, [Fig. 80]. Owing to the bracing effect, remarkably small material can be used. For a kite four feet to an edge, 3/16” sticks were ample. All of the drawings given here represent the kite resting on its keel, tho a kite left in that position would topple over unless supported in some way. Now we will divide this large tetrahedral horizontally by four sticks, [Fig. 81], and in [Fig. 82] strings are run from the ends of the four horizontal sticks to the middle of the keel, also to the middle of the upper ridge stick. Some use sticks in place of the strings, but if the kite is not too large the strings are as good and in small kites better. [Fig. 83] shows a four-celled tetrahedral with the coverings on. [Fig. 84] shows a further division in which each cell of [Fig. 83] is again divided into four cells, making a 16-celled kite. The kite rides in the air tipped as shown in [Fig. 85]. Look up some of the articles given in the “Bibliography of Kites” for further discussions of this type.
Fig. 84. [↑]