REV tails

[johnnmitchell]

There seems to be no topic dedicated particularly to tails, though tails have been mentioned a number of times in other topics.

The attached picture is the only one I know of existing of my RWB REV 1.5 with 6 RWB tails.

These tails are 15 meters (aprox 50ft) long. They are 20mm wide. They are made of Icarex polyester.

They were cold cut which was a major mistake as they tend to fray and hang excessively upon each other.

That is why I rarely ever flew with these tails.

They should have been hot cut and about 25mm(1inch) wide.

The hot cutting eleminates the fraying and the tails hanging on each other.

The extra width would allow them to flow better in the wind.

The advantage of polyester over nylon is weight and the fact that nylon tails hang on each other easier. Polyester slips nicley.

The disadvantage of polyester is the cost, availability of material and the fact that when wet polyester almost glues to each other where nylon does not.

Polyester tails have to be made, because strips are NOT available. Nylon strips are available in some colors.

[Morrunya]

I have thought about getting some tails, but it's not really my style.

[johnnmitchell]

I have thought about getting some tails, but it's not really my style.

Festivals are the key.

I fly with them more for the public, not so much for myself.

[johnnmitchell]

This is a custom Rainbow REV I from 1997 with rainbow tails.

These tails are 15 meters (aprox 50ft) long. They are 25mm wide. They are made of Icarex polyester.

They were HOT cut which eliminates the fraying and hanging upon each other.

About one square meter of Icarex polyester is needed for each tail.

Basically you need to cut the sq mtr of material down the middle and sew the short ends together.

You repeat this until you have have 25mm(1in) strip of about 15 meters long.

You will need to calculate this more precise to get 25cm wide. Too narrow looses the nice effect.

[Ruud]

I was thinking of making some tails from an old videotape, did you try this John?

[johnnmitchell]

I was thinking of making some tails from an old videotape, did you try this John?

I would think that it might be good to the point of understanding the effect of tails on a REV.

They will surely be a bit too light because of the width and material weight, thus may lack the nice trailing effect of the tails I mentioned.

Use Velcro to attach them to your REV. Mine are all attached to the inner trailing edge. The reason for this is to have less effect on the controlling of the REV, thus making it not too sluggish on turning.

[Jim Foster]

I have added "trylby tails" to my Rev a couple of times.

Kind of fun.

[Ruud]

I have tried de videotape as a tail and for our purpose its working, because the tails are very light and slick they don't wrap up, not even when we do the vertikal teammoves.

[johnnmitchell]

I have tried de videotape as a tail and for our purpose its working, because the tails are very light and slick they don't wrap up, not even when we do the vertikal teammoves.

Excellent!

Now try attaching several along the inner trailing edge and see what you think.

[Choccy]

Tails are lovely at festivals but as you mentioned they are not without their difficulties.

See the tangled knot they can get into here for TFS, UK, June 2007:

http://www.ukkitemap.org.uk/pics/bas10.jpg

[johnnmitchell]

Tails are lovely at festivals but as you mentioned they are not without their difficulties.

See the tangled knot they can get into here for TFS, UK, June 2007:

http://www.ukkitemap.org.uk/pics/bas10.jpg

This is more a characteristic of tails made from nylon. Polyester(Icarex) tails rarely knot if made properly.

[steveb]

I sometimes fly with a pair of 100' Skywriter tails from Gomberg Kites. Apologies for the terrible photo- the winds were cranking and my one-handed flying with a Rev II is marginal at best.

[Scott Weider]

John,

I don't fly tails outdoors but I have some ultralite tail for my indoor, I fly about 12 to 15 ftlines but the tail in this video (sorry no still photo) is at least 30 ft. it hardly ever touches the ground.

Have seen any tail like this?

[johnnmitchell]

John,

I don't fly tails outdoors but I have some ultralite tail for my indoor, I fly about 12 to 15 ftlines but the tail in this video (sorry no still photo) is at least 30 ft. it hardly ever touches the ground.

Have seen any tail like this?

In another thread, somewhere in this forum, someone found some mylar or similar tape material used for scaring away birds from fruit trees. Is this possibly what you are talking about.

Strange thing is, these light tape type tails seem to have only minor influence on the light wind characteristics of the REV.

The tubular ones really put a drag on.

[steveb]

One thing that I've noticed about flying with tube tails (I use them in higher winds only) is they make the kite nearly Bow-tie immune.

The extra drag on the bottom of the verticals prevents the tips from flipping around if you overdo the reverse inputs.

It's kind of fun seeing how fast you can reverse the kite with tails on without worrying about bow-tying it.

[steveb]

It was blowing 20-25 knots yesterday, so I got out my Vented Rev II and added a pair of tube tails to slow it down. A bit of a challenge to fly it one-handed, so I could take a few photos:

[Choccy]

A bit of a challenge to fly it one-handed, so I could take a few photos:

Bravo Steve, wonderful flight and piccies

I'm not envious at all

I just had a brief fly this evening in too light a breeze for my liking in grass up to my knees = not ideal

[steveb]

Bravo Steve, wonderful flight and piccies

I'm not envious at all

I just had a brief fly this evening in too light a breeze for my liking in grass up to my knees = not ideal

Thanks! I enjoy taking pics almost as much as flying. Too bad there's seldom someone else to fly with around here.

If Red ever arrives, I'll send measurments for the screens. The Vented Rev II may be an ideal fun-sized kite.

[sailor99]

Nice pictures Steve. You won't be surprised to hear I liked the one with the clipper bowed yawl in the background!

[steveb]

Nice pictures Steve. You won't be surprised to hear I liked the one with the clipper bowed yawl in the background!

I was thinking of you when I took that pic!

I was flying in the lee of the isthmus, so the winds were reduced considerably from what the windsurfers and boaters were getting on the open water.

[fortflyer]

OK question for you tail guys?

Are you better off attaching the tails to the leading edge caps as opposed to the wingtips ?

I tried using micro tubes once and all I managed to do was pull the bottom endcaps off and spend 25 minutes looking for my fallen down spars

[steveb]

Tails that have very much drag seem to affect the turning speed more if you attach to the leading edge caps. It's less a case with ribbon tails than tubes.

I like attaching the tails to the bottom of the verticals best, as it makes the kite nearly bow-tie immune.

An alternative is to have a leader a bit longer than the middle sail panel and attach to the bridle loop that goes through the middle of the leading edge. That seems to have the least effect on speed and turning performance.

[dean750]

Or you could just assume that the tubes, (in the wind you tried) don't work and thus you would try the ribbon tails instead. I only ASSUME, (note the ass part) that tails are really meant to slow the kite or stabilize it. Never tried it, just boning up too my village idiot status.

Dean

[steveb]

Today I flew a pair of 100' ribbon tails on my full Vent B-Series with 4 Wrap Equipped frame on 120' x 90# lines in winds up to 28 knots. The tails helped keep the speed down, which reduced the pull noticeably. The civilians in the park loved the tails too.

[Choccy]

Today I flew a pair of 100' ribbon tails on my full Vent B-Series

Hello Steve,

Lovely lovely tail piccies

Its fun... I am awaiting a 2nd tail so I can experience the very same

[kellykelly]

I love flying my REV with my 75 foot black tails!! It looks sooo cool.