Editing Kite control systems (section)

=== 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>