February 2001

Newsletter, Feb. '01.                            

A famous cosmologist, after giving a public lecture on the origins of the universe and everything, was approached by an elderly lady.  She said something like; 'young man, that was very interesting but of course we know that actually the world is supported by four elephants who are in turn standing on the back of a giant turtle.'  Believe it or not, this unlikely world view, from Hindu mythology, has had and possibly still has far more followers than one little old lady.  Terry Pratchet has used it very successfully as the cosmological underpinning for his humorous "Discworld novels, of which the latest is titled "The Fifth Elephant". 

Which brings me, in a round about way to kites, Arcs in particular.

There is a widespread and persistent belief that there is such a thing as a FIFTH generation Arc and some customers are refusing to order current Third generation versions because they think they are old models.  If there are fifth gen. Arcs then I don't know about them.  In other words, it's a good story, might have even started it myself accidentally, but it's myth, myth beyond myth even-as the latest Arcs are 3rd Gen.

Arc history goes something like the following.

The first gen. were 2 line, sold from Feb '00, mainly in Australia and New Zealand and we only made about 20 of them.

The second generation, sold mainly after March '01, were all four line.  The sizes were 3.3, 4.4, 6.6 and 8.8 (projected areas) with some having extra centre cells to cover the size gaps.  We made a hundred or so then superseded them with the current third generation from June '01.

This third generation come in sizes 460 (3.3), 630 (4.5), 840 (6.0) and 1120 (8.0), the first numbers being their flat area in square decimeters, projected areas in brackets.  Apart from the size changes, the main change from second to third gen. is straighter leading edges to reduce stalling.  As the third gen. have settled down in production there have been some incremental changes- deflation flaps, different printing, and a change to less but larger -and spanwise orientated- valves.  There are minor differences between NZ made and ex Holland Arcs- like the NZ versions have zips rather than velcro for deflation.  There have been no panel changes although there may be a few mm's difference here or there between Arcs from different origins.

We are not contemplating any changes that would be significant enough to be called a generational change this season, but we are always trying small changes, so there will certainly be incremental improvements.

Actually there's one 'in the wind' now although we haven't yet decided to make it a standard feature.

It is to fit adjustable tuning cords at the leading edge tips which can be used to exactly balance the Arc so that it will hang central hands off without drifting off one way or the other for much longer.  This adjustment can also be used, by tightening both sides, to pull the leading edge forward a little forward which significantly reduces stalling.  These cords can be added without opening the kite - no sewing required- and are user retro-fittable to all earlier Arcs, including first and second gen. models.

They work very well but it takes many months of testing by different users in the full range of conditions to be sure that even a minor change such as this won't cause some unexpected problem- hence we wont be fitting them to production Arcs just yet- even though it is a cost-less change.  There is also the theory that making things adjustable just adds to the possible ways to stuff them up.

Actually this is mainly lies- the real reason we aren't fitting these things as standard right now is that someone- probably me, would then have to modify the Arc instructions, draw silly little diagrams write explanations and then field 10,000 middle of the night (in NZ) northern hemisphere phone calls from users who can't understand what I've explained.  It is just possible that you will not be surprised by my confessing that I really dislike writing instructions.

Of course, this may yet change- consider what has happened with bags!  Previously having the same low status and priority as instructions there has been a culture change.  Just wait 'till you see the new Arc bags, WOW! 

On the other hand, the cats think middle of the night phone calls are great as they usually inveigle an extra snack as a result.  They're probably hopeful of finding some tasty left over bits of the fifth elephant (it crashed to earth)- avoiding the toxic BCB's* though of course.

See Ya,

Peter Lynn, Ashburton, 1 Feb. 01.

*burnt crunchy bits.