Allow me to pull a quote for you:-
- The first item on the agenda is to explain what adding weight is going to accomplish for you. This is pretty straightforward, and it’s all about the Center of Gravity.
Is it ? Have you ever actually seen how much (or how little) effect the amounts of weight we would normally use has on the static CoG of a kite ? It's not a whole heap. And when you think of how much that same weight is going to have on the kite when subjected to aero. loads too.
"All about the CoG" - really ?
He does go on to talk about rotational effects (and even throws in a little Newton, which is good) which I personally think is where the major effect of adding mass is happening. It's tricky to explain away LE/LS and centre-T weights in terms of CoG effects, given that they are so much closer to the unweighted, static CoG in the first place. Why add 20g at the centre-T when 10g further away at the base of the spine will have the same CoG shifting effect ? (I would suggest it is to balance the pitch effects (yoyos) with rotational effects (Backspins, Susans)).
Think on this:- what would happen if a kite had two large weights set equidistant on the spine from the unweighted CoG ?
If CoG placement really is the major issue, the answer would be nothing much.
If it's polar moment of inertia then this kite will roll up like a beast.
I just would like to know if I am thinking along generally accepted lines here. Or talking piffle. Not that the two are mutually exclusive.
Mike.