Synergy Deca Random Info

23/12/1994

From: Jason Robbins <75677.3217@CompuServe.COM>

If anyone is having difficulty with their Deca kite, this may help...

Tuning of this kite is critical to proper performance.. after the first few hard flights, the front lines will stretch and the bow lines will exhibit considerable slack...This in itself is not the problem, the problems occur when the lines stretch unevenly and the kite gets "torqued" and pulls unevenly to one side or the other. With much patience and time it is possible to get this kite "tweaked" to where it is very stable...

Guildworks has improved the line used on their kites.. the old line was dacron sleeved spectra, the new lines are kevlar-cored dacron that resists stretching. If any of you have discovered any new tricks / techniques, please pass them on. Most people I have spoken with like the kite but find it's handling characteristics to be a bit strange,as compared to the Revolution.

25/02/1994

From: Doug Foss <afoss@gate.net>

Subject: Re: Synergy-Deca Info

I've had the UL version since April '94. I enjoy it very much. I've had a little trouble keeping it tuned so that it is neutral when my hands are together, but I'm getting better at it.

I spent about 90 minutes putting it together the first time! Now it only takes about 2 minutes. It just seems like you're going to break something the first time!

There is nothing in the sky like it! Be prepared to answer questions from the onlookers.

Doug

Err... forgot to say what the problem was! Right, with no manual and never having seen this type of kite before, how is it flown? I mean, it does a truly excellent yo yo but we're not even sure which way is forwards, other than hoping the screen printing goes to the front! The main problem is just a complete lack of information on what is a truly radical kite design. (This designer must have found a truly awesome mushroom patch somewhere...)

I have the Zero Wind Great Deca. It is the largest one, about nine ft. wide. The basic flying controls are like a Rev. But with the deca you will get to a point just past maximum foreward speed where the leading edge of the sail gets wind behind it and it will flip the kite forward. this often causes mine to crash. I think this forward flip is the preliminary move of unique Deca trick called an invert, however I have not mastered it yet. On mine, the screen printed Synergy logo is on the BACK of the kite. The kite is facing up for launching when the logo is right side up. You should not see most of the long bow rod when you are flying the kite because it is at the back of the kite.

--

Kent

Well, you got the invert bit right - this one is small and needs a fair breeze. If that drops, so does the LE. A gentle continuous pull will hold it just at the stalling point. But then you run out of field and slip down the ditch and it crashes anyway! :O)

27/2/1995

From: sandy.wagner@nycps.nycenet.edu

The Deca is an interesting that flies well and can (it has) be competitve.

I have all models and find they can do everything a quad should including moving sideways (although some might disagree). It moves like no other quad line kite and can do some very interesting tricks like rolling up on its own lines and unrolling in the air. The indoor model.. Deca Zero flies very well indoors and can handle around 8mph outside.

As far as tuning the kite.. I find that the back lines are somewhat insignificant in tension.. but should never be very tight. The lines on the front should be VERY tight and even on both sides.

The kite is easy to put together after the first few times although it can be tough the first time.

They retail for about 280 dollars US.

The kite is not as quick as a revolution.. nor does it spin as tight...It is very different....

30/08/1995

From: George W. Gilchrist (gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu)

Subject: Synergy Deca Tuning

Newsgroups: rec.kites

I picked up a Synergy Deca 31 at WSIKF and I love it, but I'm curious about adjusting all those little strings. There is about one paragraph in the manual that suggests tuning via the three upper lines so that the spars crossing the chord of the sail are parallel. But what about tension in those lines? How tight should they be? On my sail, the leading edge is under less tension than the trailing edge. Is this correct? How do some of you Deca experts set up your sails? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, George

==============================

George,

Don't worry about the lines on the rear of the kite. they should be loose. The most important line is the one connecting the gold cap and the silver one. This line should be under tension, big time, and is crucial to correct tuning. Eyeball the kite on the floor and see if it is torqued or not. If not, do nothing. Since each kite is built and tuned by hand, don't count on measurements of bridle lines to help you. "Use the force" happy quad lining.

Jason Robbins

21/02/1996

From: George W. Gilchrist (gilchgw@zoology.washington.edu)

Subject: Synergy-Deca review

Newsgroups: rec.kites

Guildworks Synergy-Deca

I doubt that many would argue with the statement that the Synergy-Deca kites are the most unusual controllable kites on the market. The kites are tensegrity structures, using Buckminster Fuller?s synergestic design concepts, hence the first part of the name. Tensegrity refers to the principle of loading stiffening components (like spars?)in compression with a series of tension lines (and a sail?). The spars stretch the lines at 10 different points, hence the latter portion of the name. Much more about the design principles is explained in Guildworks accompanying booklet, which is long on interesting theory but short on practical advice about adjusting the kite. Workmanship is better than average, and the factory will cheerfully (but very slowly) tune and upgrade your kite to current specs at no charge.

The Deca comes in 4 basic models*, designated by the number of panels that make up the sail. The 1 is an entry level kite, with a single Carrington nylon panel that is stretched into an airfoil shape. The 6, sewn in Icarex, improves on this by contouring the junction of the wings and the main portion of the sail. The 15 and the 31 use Icarex fabric; the elaborate piecing of broadseamed pieces creates a 3 dimensional sail that (especially in the 31) is more aerodynamically efficient. The 1, 6, and 15 are of similar size, while the 31 is a bit smaller due to its greater efficiency. What you get, as you increase the number of panels, is a surprising increase in quickness and maneuverability. The 1 or 6 are excellent entry level quadlines, with slower, more stable performance. The 15 combines greater speed and agility with some of the stability of the entry level kites. The 31 is fast, agile, and incredibly responsive, but a bit less stable than others in the family.

These kites are unlike any other quadline, so comparisons against the Rev are somewhat pointless. Still, that is what most folks want to know so, here goes. Both the Rev and the Decas use similar hand controls. The Rev's are much heavier pulling; the Decas are all light in the hand, even in heavy winds. The Rev is easier to slide across the window and is a bit faster. A Deca 1 or 6 is slower than a Rev 1, whereas the 31 is nearly as quick as the Rev 2. The 1, 6, and 15 are very reluctant to slide sideways; the 31 does better. The three dimensional shape of the Deca allows a series of unique tricks (called inversions) that involve flipping the kite parallel to the ground with the wings pointed up or down. The 1,6, and 15 are easy to hold in the inverted position; the 31 requires more practice. You can also roll the kite up along the lines, then unroll it. And axels from the inverted position are possible. If you are taking up quadlines after some dual line experience, the Decas provide a much easier transition. The kites respond predictably to dual line controls (although you quickly learn that quadline controls yield better results), whereas the Rev simply crashes as you pull on one side.

The Deca design is incredibly tough, since forces are distributed throughout the tensegrity structure. A hard crash is usually followed by a spring-like bounce back in the air. The kites all have a broad wind range of ~5 to 30 MPH, and that's for real.

The real joy for me in flying the Deca is its beauty in the air. The graceful arch of the sail as it fills with air, the dance as the kite windmills effortlessly, the surprise of a quick inversion or a sudden arresting hover; flying my Deca leaves me relaxed and serene. Mastering the Deca, like any quadline kite, takes time and practice, but on the way you can drift with the Synergy as it skips across the sky and carries your spirit with it.

Synergy-Deca 1: Carrington nylon on Avia pultruded carbon, 7-25 mph

Weight: 7 oz (220 g)

Dimensions: 89"L x 21"W x 28"D (224 cm x 53 cm x 71 cm)

Synergy-Deca 6: Icarex polyester on Avia G-force and Excel carbon, 5-30 mph

Weight: 6.1 oz. (192.7 g)

Dimensions: 89"L x 21"W x 28"D (224 cm x 53 cm x 71 cm)

(UL version also available)

Synergy-Deca 15: Icarex polyester on Avia G-force and Excel carbon, 4-30 mph

Weight: 5.7 oz. (175.4 g)

Dimensions: 89"L x 21"W x 28"D (224 cm x 53 cm x 71 cm)

(UL version available)

Synergy-Deca 31: Icarex polyester on Avia G-force and Excel carbon, 3-30 mph

Weight: 4.1 oz (128 g)

Dimensions: 82" L x 17"W x 17"H (208 cm x 43 cm x 43 cm)

* And also available:

Synergy-Deca Zero Wind: Icarex on Avia G-force and Excel carbon, 0-3 mph

Weight: 3.8 oz (120 g)

Dimensions: 104"L x 30"W x 18"H (267 cm x 76 cm x 52 cm)

and the Minergy-Deca series, which are smaller, quicker, and will be reviewed on their own.

(Note: these reviews are done as a favor for my local kite shop, Great Winds Kites, here in Seattle. I am employed by neither the manufacturers nor Great Winds. The opinions expressed are solely my own.)

26/11/2000

From: WALTER PARK (WALTPARK@prodigy.net)

Subject: Re: Synergy Plan

Newsgroups: rec.kites

I think the Decca is still being made in one-off's by Mark Ricketts (sp?) so you shouldn't be building a decca per say. After Treasure Island, I was really wanting a Great Decca, but couldnt find one for sale. So then I thought about building one, but all the tensegrity lines and everything looked kinda intimidating. Also I was playing with ideas about dynamic depth in the sail. Anyway, this was all for indoor/reallly light wind. In more wind, I think I like the flight characteristics of Rev's better, but then I have never flown a decca so I am not exactly sure what they feel like. Anyway I came up with an alternative that I think is similar to a decca, but as I've not gotten to try a decca, I dont know. Mine is very simple to build, and is very forgiving in dimensions to the point where you can pretty much just eyeball it. The basic frame is like: --|------|-- but all the rods are bent using the sail for tension. the verticals can be either in the front or the back of the sail. The horizontal is where the dihedryls on the side come from. It's also a curve and goes through the sail through a hole where the verticals would cross the horizontal line. The horizontal bow is in front of the sail in the middle part, and in back of the sail at the tips. Lines are attached at the ends of the veriticals. The edges are all scalloped. The horizontal can make for some very interesting dynamics by changing the length. If you make it more bowed, then in slack, its very stable since there's more dihedryl and it's in front. If you slack it, it will belly down and float because the bow is like a ballast. If you make the horizontal shorter, it will be mostly flat and be less stable, but it will slide better. Here's the thing, even if you made it flat, it will gain depth with sail pressure, since the pressure pushes the middle part back and forces a deeper bow making it track better, so really the amount of bow has the most effect in light pressure. Also another interesting effect I found was the amount of scallop in the leading edges.

If you have more scallop, you have less flutter, but the flutter can make directional glides. When the leading edge flutters, and the trailing edge does not, it will glide in a forward direction until you change the pressure and stop the flutter. Anyway, these are all things you can play with if you want to experiment with this design. If you cant picture this I have some pictures online. I built that one out of toray and solid microcarbon and used jaco sail nubs as end fittings. It's about 6.5' long and is very easy and stable because I left the bow kinda heavy. You can take a look at

http://www.cs.uwm.edu/wpark/decca-like/ I think this is significantly different enough from the guildworks ideas that it would not infringe on their copyrights/patents, etc. If Mr Ricketts is out there and feels differently, please let me know and I will take the stuff down. I am not wanting to offend anyone or violate anyone's intellectual property here, just trying to share some ideas about design that I think havent really been experimented thoroughly. I'm hesitant to put up dimensions because I dont think I have ideal dimentions yet and really, I'm still playing with the ideas. Please feel free to experiment with this, and if you find any improvements, or ideas let me know. So far, all the ones I've tried have flown fine. I have experimented with non parallel verticals, and will say that in this case, it sux. Parallel verticals work much better. I hope these ideas are helpful to the kiting community.

Walter Park

Peace and Good Winds.

===========================

The Deca is a truly unique kite and I think that the folks at Guildworks deserve to get the credit (and the money) for their hard

work and innovation. Once you look at it, the structure is very straight forward. (Actually, you need some familiarity with tensegrities too, but there are books out there that describe these.) I'm starting to experiment again with similar structures (I built several tensegrity based box kites about 10 years ago). 31 g Icarex would make a nice sail and properly reinforced Skyshark 3p should work well as the spars. My Deca has an Icarex sail and uses Advantage 2 wrap.

I've been told that the reason that Guildworks uses Advantage is that Advantage provides them with custom cut and reinforced spars. The stress on the ends of some of the sticks is pretty high and un-reinforced ends are easy to split (at least that's what Guildworks says, and it makes sense to me).

01/12/2000

From: Marc Ricketts (ricketts@guildworks.com)

Subject: Re: Synergy Plan/ Synergy's available

Newsgroups: rec.kites

Yes, GuildWorks is still producing all of the Synergy line, Synergy Deca's and 333's and the new TetraFoil line. We are only producing them in small numbers and for custom orders, so you won't find them in a kite store. However if you call or email us directly anything in the line can be produced in the colors you would like. I also ask you to please not produce the plans that Walter Park or anyone else is posting, this is an infingement of my patent, and I can also guaranty that the kites you buy from us will be better made and have far greater performance. To answer the question about HQ/Invento, they were licensed to produce the kites for two years. I discontunied this arrangement beacuse there customer service/representation on and of the products was poor, not to mention other issues. So as I said everything in the line is still be produced, and GuildWorks has been focusing on Indoor performance. For thoes in the Midwest or ready to take a winter trip come and see us at Kites on Ice in Madison WI the first weekend in Feb. we will be putting on a full indoor performance,on stage with lighting etc.. and if you are interested in any of our products of services give myself or Curtiss Mitchell a call.

Synergetic Skies,

Marc Ricketts

GuildWorks

608 437 1141

ricketts@guldworks.com\