Papillon (Bauplan)
Der Papillon ist ein Drachen der als Ein-, Zwei- oder Vierleiner geflogen werden kann und von Didier Ferment (Frankreich) erfunden wurde.
Durch seine sehr ausgeklügelte Waage macht er als Einleiner bei wenig Wind sehr viel Spaß.
The Papillon kite flights as a quadliner and as a fighting kite (a steerable single line kite). Its design is utterly simple, and its building as well. Netherless, its conception and its experiments were long and hard. The fighting version flighs in light wind even quite null : it takes off before the Delta kite, and it can do the 360° revolution.
· Spars a-l and e-k made of 2 m long carbon tube 4 mm, · Tip ! the 2 spars must be exactly the same; otherwise, the flight should be asymetric; ·spar f-g made of 104 cm long carbon rod 3 mm, · the angle of the sail at corner a-o-k and e-o-l is 90°, ·sail fobs : a-o = e-o = l-o = k-o = 98cm, · Tip ! the 2 sails (right and left) must be symetric ! otherwise, the flight will be not : the kite will turn in one preferred direction, ·at tips a, e, l, k : nock and 3mm sandow to stretch the sail, ·b-o = d-o = h-o = j-o = 59cm, ·f-o = g-o = 52cm, · the angles : a-o-f = f-o-k = e-o-g = g-o-l = 45°, ·bridles b-c = c-d = h-i = i-j = 40,5 cm ·at points c and i, the bridles are fixed by a button , ·bridle c-i = 74 cm, ·when the 5 bridles above are fixed, the lateral bending of the kite is about 14 cm, ·the 120 cm long bridle c-m-o-i slides (at point o) through a fishing ring ; the kite line is fixed at m : c-m = about 46 cm ; the pulling of the line pulls more on the the rear bridle, therefore the rear part of the kite is more bended than the front part.
To steer your "Papillon"
With your papillon kite, you will discover the "fighter flight".
The "fighter kites" are very fine machines which can be driven in every direction by mean the unique single line ! Such kites are used in Asia to fight themselves in traditionnal competitions.
To make the Papillon kite turn, let go the line : it will start to spin. To make it go in the direction you have chosen, pull the line a little to come out of the spin. Your Papillon kite will then go in this direction. If the kite takes a dive, don't pull on the line ! just let go slightly the line : the kite will take a turn, then pull the line to go back in the sky. One last tip when you will become a master : give a quick and gentle pull on the line when the kite spins, to increase the turning motion.
