Raaseri story

Copyright © 1994...1999 Simo Salanne
Version 2.3, 22-Jul-99

Raaseri is a high performance dual line stunt kite designed for individual precision and ballet flying. As Raaseri flies rather slow, it has been used for pair and team flying, too. Raaseri will axel and do some other "radical tricks" but it is not a genuine trick kite.

To build a Raaseri, start reading about the copyright in the construction plan.

Raaseri was born in 1993 when I suggested to n@r.k to build a Tracer like kite as a winter project for Fanø '94 meeting. All five members of n@r.k built this dual line delta stunter, showing national colors of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Germany.

n@r.k family portrait with Raaseris left to right: Simo Salanne, Peter Ulfheden, Esben Collstrup, Stein Hjelland and Bernhard Malle. (Image size 64 KB) (Photo:Peter Ulfheden)

Raaseri prototype was flown by many rec.kiters indoors on Fanø '94. Photo of Andrew Beattie flying Raaseri prototype in tennis hall on Fanø (Image size 50 KB) (Photo: Michael Schneider)

Raaseri prototype had Icarex P31 sail and RCF-6 frame, weighting more than 250 g, not a real indoor kite - fortunately the kite didn't know it was too heavy, but flew!

After Fanø '94 I built a set of three Raaseris to cover the whole wind range:

• Raaseri-L for light winds, upto 6 m/s (13 mph)
• Raaseri-M for medium winds, from 4 m/s (9 mph) to 10 m/s (22 mph)
• Raaseri-H for heavy winds, from 8 m/s (18 mph) to 30 m/s (76 mph)

In September 1994 World Cup took place in Le Touquet, France. (I was just a tourist there.) Winds were extremely strong, all top class teams had difficulties to handle them. First time I had opportunity to fly vented Raaseri-H in 25+ m/s winds. Together with Pierre Marzin we had fun to play with Raaseri-H in those grazy winds.

Next week in Dieppe, some asshole realized how good kite Raaseri-H was, and stole it from my kite bag, when I was flying my ballet demo with Raaseri-M on the main arena.

I flew Raaseri-L in European Cup '94, St. Moriz, both in individual precision and in ballet. I didn't score very well, but it's not the fault of the kite! Raaseri tracks and turns very precicely, even in slow speeds and on the edge of wind window. It's also radical enough to be used in freestyle and ballet.

Raaseri - what does it mean?

For Fanø '95 n@r.k had a small batch of Raaseri pins made. They had the same colors as the kites in the n@r.k family portrait.

Raaseri vs. Tracer

• Higher aspect ratio
• Catenary shaped trailing edge.
  y = (a/2)* (exp(x/a)+exp(-x/a)). The shape a chain or a rope takes when hanging from two points.
• 2 x 4 legs cross shunt bridle.
• Bridle cross legs cross more.
• Every bridle leg is independently and continously adjustable.
• Panel layout, vents in Raaseri-H.
• Spine in sail tunnel.
• Double sail tensioners at spine.
• Exel & SkyShark frames.
• Icarex sail.

Some of the comments on Raaseri

From: micha@ekpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de (Michael Schneider)
Subject: raaseri report
To: Simo.Salanne@csc.fi (Simo Salanne)
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 08:40:45 +0000 (WET)

Happy new year and always Smooth Winds from behind!

It's really time to report my experiences with the Raaseri. 
Up to now I have built 3 raaseris. For the first one I used 
a different panel design and made an error with the leading 
edge:-( I enlarged the kite 2cm along the LE. I used a cheap 
6mm cfk frame and got a not a very good kite, but had also 
fun with it. 

I built the second one exactly as you described and it flies
really great. The best stunt kite I ever had on my lines.

[ clip 8< - - - - - - - - - - ]

Smooth Winds
Micha

Date: Sat, 11 Nov 95 13:27:56 0000
From: Diego 
To: Simo.Salanne@csc.fi
Subject: bravo!

Hi Simo!

My name is Nino Gualdoni and I am an italian kitebuilder and 
kiteflyer. I have seen in your home page the description of 
the raaseri and downloaded the plan in postscript format. Of 
course i have built the kite and... it flies great, great 
and great. Gratulations! 

Maybe, raaseri will be the new light wind kite for my team 
(The Rin Tin Team) instead of the Phantom. Really, you made 
a great job. 

Have smooth winds

Subject: raaseri baby 
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 00:52:02 +0100 
From: eharter@dialup.francenet.fr (Francois Harter)
To: simo.salanne@csc.fi


Hi Simo

I'm Paris suburbs kite flier with tramontana, trix, skylite, 
rev1.5 clone, aerial pseudo clone, home made roller, home 
made 3/4 stunt delta (for my son), ultra mini mono delta 
(for my daughter), eddy (for my wife), and strong dependence 
to kite flying and making... 

I'm pleased to announce you a new version of your original 
raaseri. With your permission i'll name it "raaseri baby" : 

   * 1.3 m wing span (0.6 reducing ratio)
   * P31 sail
   * CX1 leading edge
   * 2 mm rods
   * Topline 25 kg bridling
   * 12 kg spectra lines
   * around 45 gr weight
   * and a nice shape

My objective was to made an indoor/light wind small kite and 
my first flight reveals a very good potential.(and maybe 
somes tuning) 

I exactly follow your bridling instructions but i'm not sure 
that cross bridling fit to a so small kite like that. I'm 
inexperienced with indoor/small kite flying but it's over 
react to my actions. 

I notice that the depth of the sail at wiskers was around 16 
cm. Isn't it a little too much for 1.3m span ? 

Tanks you very much to help me and for your plan on the net. 

Francois Harter

Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 08:56:08 +0100
From: tom@minster.cs.york.ac.uk

[ clip... clip...]

ps Forgot to say that I got the mini-Raaseri finished and it 
flies very well indeed.  It is remarkably stable for such a 
small kite (about X4i size), and will axle, float and still 
tracks very straight.   I was surprised but pleased with the 
results.  I sparred it in 3mm in the end, and it seemed to 
be a good all round compromise.   Thanks for your help with 
the plans. 

Photo of Tom's mini-Raaseri

Subject: First flight for the Raaseri
Date: 04 Jul 1997 11:05 EDT
From: "Anton Forte" 
To: Simo.Salanne@csc.fi


Hi Simo

We finally got our Raaseri to a stage were My wife and I 
could try it out for the first time.  The wind conditions 
were very light 2-3 kph max.

The kite soared up into the sky first time, and flew very 
well, at least as well as my Pro Comp Tramontana.  We are 
very pleased.  My wife (who did all the sewing) was jumping 
for joy.  This is a really great kite.

Thanks for all the help you give, and for a truely 
fantastic kite design. This was the very first kite 
we have made, we are very pleased with the results.

Thanks again for making it easy to make a really 
great kite.

Anton Forte

Subject:      Re: Raaseri just wont play!
From:         gell0007@gold.tc.umn.edu (Matt)
Date:         1997/10/07
Newsgroups:   rec.kites


Phil,

I there is one problem, it is next to impossible to make that kite so
it works very well.  I am one of about 15 people i know who have made
this kite and our suscess rate is horrible.  So good lucky, ask Simo
he is very helpful.  

8r


On Mon, 06 Oct 1997 22:46:15 +0100, Phil Hurman 
wrote:

>I am a novice kite builder who has just completed a Simo Salonnen
>Raaseri. Whilst its a nice looking kite (very close to a Tracer) it
>refuses to play. All of the bridle legs are individually adjustable and
>I started with the legs set as per the instructions in the plans. By the
>way its a cross bridle.
>The kit is absolutely leaden. Very, very slow, over steers all over the
>sky and will not even fly in a moderate wind. As soon as it looses the
>wind it turns over and heads towards terra firma. No amount of bridle
>fiddling has produced any significant results and its still extremely
>slow. I think that the balance is wrong as when I walk towards the kite
>instead of hovering for a moment it just drops tail first and then turns
>towards the ground.
>The frame is Beman Pro comp14(5.5mm), the sail is standard weight
>ripstop.
>While I'm asking the "knowledge" out there.....I have been having
>problems getting neat results sewing the panel seams on the kites that I
>have been playing with. Looking at a Prism (very pretty kites) it has
>all of the seams glued together before sewing. What adhesive has been
>used, and can it be obtained here in the UK?
>
>Any help that anyone can give will be gratefully received.........I'm
>going mad with the unplaying Raaseri....!
>
>Phil.
>
>--
>Keep your back to the wind and your lines tight.....
> - Good Flyin -
>
>

Subject:      Re: Raaseri just wont play!
From:         marty_sasaki@harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki)
Date:         1997/10/07
Newsgroups:   rec.kites


In article <34395C26.64326B75@mindless.com>, Phil Hurman  writes:
|> The kit is absolutely leaden. Very, very slow, over steers all over the
|> sky and will not even fly in a moderate wind. As soon as it looses the
|> wind it turns over and heads towards terra firma. No amount of bridle
|> fiddling has produced any significant results and its still extremely
|> slow. I think that the balance is wrong as when I walk towards the kite
|> instead of hovering for a moment it just drops tail first and then turns
|> towards the ground.

Check the bridles again. I haven't seen the plans, but maybe they are incorrect
with the bridle you are trying to use.

In any case, what you describe is often an indication that the bridle is set too
low. Try shortening the top bridle line (the one that goes to the top spreader)
or lengthening the bottom two bridle lines. The outhaul (the line that goes from
the point where you attach your lines to the lower spreader) might be too short
as well. It's hard to know just by your description.

|> While I'm asking the "knowledge" out there.....I have been having
|> problems getting neat results sewing the panel seams on the kites that I
|> have been playing with. Looking at a Prism (very pretty kites) it has
|> all of the seams glued together before sewing. What adhesive has been
|> used, and can it be obtained here in the UK?

If you are using fabric for your kite, then you really don't need to use adhesive.
There are problems with some adhesives. When you are using films and film
laminates, like Prism does with most of their kites, you have to use adhesives,
otherwise the films will tear.

What you really need is just to practice sewing. After a while you will be able
to sew most things without help from adhesives.

|> Any help that anyone can give will be gratefully received.........I'm
|> going mad with the unplaying Raaseri....!

It's a fine kite once you get everything worked out.

-- 
Marty Sasaki 

Subject:      Re: Raaseri just wont play!
From:         "Bernhard Malle" 
Date:         1997/10/07
Newsgroups:   rec.kites


... clip ...

Simo has spent a considerable amount of time to put the plan
together and also to put it onto the WEB. And he was the 
first to do so! 

... clip ...

Bernhard

	
Subject:      Raaseri has come out to play!
From:         Phil Hurman 
Date:         1997/10/12
Newsgroups:   rec.kites

Hi Everyone,

Just a short note to say a heartfelt thankyou to all who 
responded to my "Raaseri wont play" post.

After reviewing the information offered I changed the 
x bridle and created a dynamic item and added two more 
stand-offs. Went out this afternoon to evaluate what, 
if any, improvements had been made. Straight out of 
the bag and into the air. Much lighter crisp performance, 
still moderately slow but thats how Simo designed it to be.

This is a brilliant novice kite. Thanks to Simo for 
putting the designs on the net. If anyone who responded 
that they too had terrible trouble with this kite would 
like more info and measurements of the changes made, give me
a shout. I must note that the original designs are by 
Simo Salanne and as such acknowledge him as the owner 
of these designs and hope that he doesn't mind me altering 
a couple of minor items. Changes were forced probably 
due to my crap construction techniques, but they are 
getting better.

Again many thanks everyone.

Phil H.
-- 
Keep your back to the wind and your lines tight.....
 - Good Flyin -