Flying Machine
In 2015 my best friend from elementary school contacted me to ask if I would be interested in designing a kite in conjunction with a feature she was putting together for Design New England. In partnership with Romo fabrics they tasked various designers with building a kite to showcase Romo’s newest line. As someone who is always up for a design challenge I got straight to work!
As a researched different kinds of kites, I was immediately drawn to the sketches Leonardo DaVinci’s did as he studied birds and flight. With the large wingspan, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to showcase the fabric.
Leonardo DaVinci’s sketches of a Flying Machine sourced from www.leonardodavinci.net
After drafting a few ideas I settled on a final design with a huge seven foot wingspan, and central arched body. I was worried about how the wings would connect to the body of the kite, I wanted them slightly elevated showing the first few beats a bird takes as they set off to soar. Initially I had though I would sew the fabric into the wing shape, and attach to the foraged stick body with pocket sleeves for the ends of the frame, and ties at the cross parts. With so many components that became a bit too complex and messy looking. So instead I thought about using wooden dowels, easier to form to the curvilinear shapes I wanted, and a bit simplistic in appearance.
Design drawings of my flying machine
Initial wing construction using scrap fabric and foraged sticks
I soaked wooden dowels in the tub, and the formed them in the shape I wanted, and affixed the secondary framework with lots and lots of hot glue.
Once the wings were done I had to tackle to structure of the body, and figure out how I was going to create the lift of the wings.
Additional sketches of my Flying Machine, showing the body structure
The final body allowed for the wings cantilever from the frame by threading through the structure, weaving between the top and bottom frames.
One the framework was complete I contimplated how I was going to attach the fabric. I really wanted to create a hemmed edge all around the wings and body, but between the fabrics gauzy weave, the complexity of curves and shape, and my own lack of skill I decided to just hot glue it all in place. I’m not sure I have ever had so many hot glue burns in my life!
My fabric finally arrived!
Finally completed, the day of the photoshoot arrived and I packed up my kite and headed down to Hingham, MA to World’s End, a gorgeous 250 acre coastline property. With blue skies and just enough breeze to put a flutter in the kites wings we spent the afternoon photographing all the kite designs.
Getting the shot of the Flying Machine air born.
And we even gave it a little extra line and tested out if it flew. So nerve-wracking, but it flew!
What a fun project to be a part of, to design the kite, and to see my work in a magazine was so much fun. A little confidence boost for getting myself out there and starting to think about a future outside of the engineering world.
Final photo of my kite in flight!