Editing Kite control systems (section)

== Hang-gliders ==

=== Unpowered short-tethered hang-gliders ===
Unlike the long-lined power kites used in extreme kiting sport, the focus in this section is the short-lined framed large kite.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wvteched.k12.wv.us/word_docs/rogallo.pdf |title=Rogallo's Wing |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701045155/http://wvteched.k12.wv.us/word_docs/rogallo.pdf |archive-date=2007-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mapquest.com/travel/hang-gliding.htm|title=How Hang Gliding Works|date=May 31, 2001|website=MapQuest Travel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.collegemarketplace.com/INsider/hanglide.html |title=''Hang Gliding It's Not Just For Hanging on to Dear Life Anymore'' by Angelo Mantas. |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-date=2008-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827205943/http://www.collegemarketplace.com/INsider/hanglide.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>http://www.aka.org.au/kites_in_the_classroom/chap2.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20001002112704/http://www.aka.org.au/kites_in_the_classroom/chap2.htm |date=2000-10-02 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> The kite line or "hang line" for best controlling the flight of the [[hang glider]] kite needs to be carefully lengthened; then the line frequently splits to two, three, or four main tethers that connect to the hung kite operator's or pilot's harness. Mike Meier, kite glider author, wrote How ''To Get The Right Hang Height''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.willswing.com/articles/Article.asp?reqArticleName=RightHangHeight |title=''How To Get The Right Hang Height'' by Mike Meier |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208091104/http://www.willswing.com/articles/Article.asp?reqArticleName=RightHangHeight |archive-date=2012-02-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> NASA used mass-shifting in the [[Paresev]] hung-pilot aircraft with a stiffened-frame kite. The hang tether was also stiffened, differently. In sport hang gliding kite systems using the short hang line, the hang loop or first section of the hanging [[kite line]] is a flexible webbing, then the main lines to the harness are cords and sometimes webbing that are flexible. Control of the attitude of the kite's wing is achieved frequently by the pilot's grabbing the kite's stiffened airframe part called the [[Triangle control frame|control frame]] and pushing or pulling the kite's airframe left or right or forward and aft in various combinations; this control system is most commonly called "weight-shifting" although mechanically the situation is altering positions of mass to alter the center of gravity of the entire system relative to the aerodynamic center of pressure in order to effect leveraging moments to control the flight.
 
The place on the kite airframe where the tether is tied is very important as in all kites; such connection or bridling takes into consideration the aerodynamic center of pressure and the system's center of gravity. A key article by Mike Meier, ''Pitch Stability & Center of Mass'' ''Location'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.willswing.com/articles/Article.asp?reqArticleName=CenterOfMass |title=Pitch Stability & Center of Mass Location by Mike Meier |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215233425/https://www.willswing.com/Articles/Article.asp?reqArticleName=CenterOfMass |archive-date=2007-12-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> focuses on this concern of control.

While flying the kite hang glider, there are times during flight instruction that instructors will have the student fully release from holding the triangle control frame, and simply hang. The hanging (gravity pulls the student's body downwards and results in a tensional tugging of the kite's wing) student experiences that the properly bridled and trimmed wing will fly stably.<ref>[http://www.stationr.org/flying/tandem.htm Flight]</ref> The student experiences that the letting go of the control frame will let a properly trim stable flight. However, since gusts occur, the student learns that hands-off flying is not the normal status—rather the kite [[Aviator|pilot]] is almost always handling the [[control frame]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.northwing.com/products_hang_freedom.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305063201/http://www.northwing.com/products_hang_freedom.shtml | archive-date=2008-03-05 | title=North Wing Design - Freedom Hang Glider }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.expertvillage.com/video/49389_hanggliding-intro-control.htm|title=How To Control a Hang Glider in the Air.|access-date=2008-03-18|archive-date=2008-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409011627/http://www.expertvillage.com/video/49389_hanggliding-intro-control.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Powered short-tethered hang-gliders ===
Here the unpowered kite is tethered to a pilot who arranges to have a harness to which is attached a thrusting prime moving engine or motor; the total system is a [[Powered hang glider|powered aircraft]] while the kite itself remains unpowered (very differently is when an engine is mounted on a wing). The control system includes the control system of the similar system where the pilot is not thrust by a harnessed prime moving engine or motor; however, in controlling flight, adjustments for center of mass are respected. Further, while the pilot's thrust is on, the pilot positions so that the kite's kite line is angled so tugging of the wing is accomplished in the familiar kiting manner where the kite line begins upwind and angles upward downwind (relative wind is to be the wind in attention here).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pagesperso-orange.fr/pulma1/Liens/Mosquito/AndyBuchanPowerHangGlider.pdf|title=Powered Hang Gliders: Climbing & Airspeed}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wind-drifter.com/technical/BarPositionPower.php|title=Effect of FLPHG Engine Thrust on Bar Position|website=www.wind-drifter.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bhpa.co.uk/pdf/FLPA_Training_Syllabus.pdf |title=FOOT LAUNCHED POWERED AIRCRAFT (FLPA) TRAINING SYLLABUS - POWERED HANG GLIDING |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010155601/http://www.bhpa.co.uk/pdf/FLPA_Training_Syllabus.pdf |archive-date=2008-10-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.airshow-1.netfirms.com/mosquito%20video%20page.htm |title=Flying the Mosquito |access-date=2008-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114094341/http://www.airshow-1.netfirms.com/mosquito%20video%20page.htm |archive-date=2008-01-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mosquitoamerica.com/FourYears.pdf|title=Four Years With a Powered Harness Richard Cobb - 2005}}</ref>

=== Under tow by airplane ===
<gallery>
Image:Hg tow instruction.jpg|The kite hang glider is readying for being a kite in two ways; during kiting tug by the ultralight powered hang glider ''trike'' the system is a long-line kite being towed; then upon release from tug, the kite hang glider is a short-kite-lined free-flight kite with a dominant aim of gliding.
Image:Hg tow start.jpg|Complex control: The kited hang glider pilot is the main decision maker; the ultralight tug pilot has control duties. Hang glider on a runway, ready to start by UL-tow. The kite hang glider is sitting in a three-wheeled trolley while the trike is starting its engine.
</gallery>

=== Under static-line tow ===
Here the tug kite line stays the same length during the kiting operation. The ground vehicle driver has special control duties. The kited hang glider person controls the kite in some ways different from other tow methods; careful distinctions are learned in professional instruction. Controlling things when unexpected events occur is a large part of instruction.

=== Under non-static-line tow ===
[[Image:Windenstart apr1987.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Hang glider tow with stationary winch in 1987; pilot: Manfred Laudahn in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. The red item on the long kite line is a line parachute that will soften the fall of the released kite line. After release, the human will hang from a short hang line only to tug the kite hang glider wing; he then moves the [[triangle control frame]] to control the attitudes of the kite's wing. The fall of the pilot's mass provides the tension to fly the wing.]] The complex control system includes the operator of the winch. The length of line starts long and then gets shorter as the winch reels the tug line; this alters the control decisions by the kited hang glider pilot. Instruction for controls is available for new winch operators and hang glider pilots who want to be so kited. Distinguish this method from static-line (tug line stays same length during the tow). The control system for the shortening-the-tug-line method of kiting is different.

=== Under bungee-line launch===
Bungee launch control systems for kited hang gliders has its own special details. The tug kite line is very elastic; when tensed, the line is long; during use for launch, the kite line shortens. Controlling the kite's wing attitudes is up to the pilot who frequently is hung from a short kite line while controlling a [[triangle control frame]] or other airframe part or even aerodynamic surface controls. Professional instruction is highly recommended. Inelastic portion of the bungee assembly is used to help guard against what can happen if the bungee breaks and snaps back toward the pilot; a tug-line parachute can be used to lower the speed that the released bungee will fall. Bungee launch is used most frequently for launch off slopes when free-foot-launch is not easy (site structure or pilots who have not the use of their legs), or for flatland short-flight demonstrations.