| Allison's patent was approved on March 6th 1956.
The kite languished in this form with the
possibility of the use of plastic film for the
sail, from 1956 until about 1962
when Frank H. Scott of Ohio noticed an advertisement in a model
aircraft magazine. As with many
advertisement of a
small nature, no photographs appeared only
line drawings as the
cost for print plates of
photographs were usually high.
With only the image of the sketch to go
by Frank built one of his own
design. Frank been a kite enthusiast soon
found ways to improve on Allison design.
A vent was added to the lower half of the
kite and the sides were made
parallel instead of the windsock
taper that Allison incorporated in his
design, Scott retained the
three spars in the original
design. Scott's modifications made the kite
more stable and efficient
flyer. Because of the kites' simplicity to
build and requiring no tail to lengthen or shorten to tune
for stable flight and no bridle adjustments needed,
a novice could have one in flight from the first try.
Frank's father, Walter Scott was so
enthusiastic about the flexible kite that he built many and
sent them to friends in other parts of the
world. He sent one to Bob Ingraham, founder of
Kite Tails: The Kiteflier's
magazine, A short article in
the magazine by Bob Ingraham in 1964 put
Allison's concept and Scott's design on
the world stage. Frank Scott called his modified kite
a sled because it flew well and
was flexible making it a Flexible Flyer a brand
name for a snow sled that was popular with
children that was blessed with snow in the
winter months.
It never occurred to Scott to call his kite a sled
because of the shape of it's keels
while in flight. If
the airborne shape had influence him he may have called
his creation a Bonnet Kite, as the shape
resembles an early pioneers' bonnet
that were worn by the ladies of that era.
Webster's dictionary :
The word polymorphic : Poly
: meaning, many. Morphic : pretaing to
form : a combining form meaning
characterized by a (specified)
type of formation. Polymorphic
: having or occurring in several distinct
forms.
Allison reference to his flexible
kite as a polymorphic appeared to be a
prophecy of things to come, as the word poly meaning
many, which there have been of his
design. Morphic : characterized
by a (specified) type of formation.
His concept has taken on other forms. |
Allison's design in flight.
Allison's basic layout pattern.
 |
Scott retained the three spare
(spine) of the original design. The centre spar was used to stiffen
the flexible canopy to prevent the the leading edge of the canopy from
folding and causing the kite to collapse. The sides were
made parallel instead of the
windsox taper that Allison incorporated in
his design. A triangular vent was added, this force high-pressure
air from below the sail into the turbulent airstream above the sail, serving
to stabilise the Sled's flight. |
 |
Frank Scott designed a flexible kite for Ray Holland to manufacture
in 1967. The name Scott Sled is the title for the kite, registered
to the company. The original size 40 inches by 35 1/2 inches. Three spares
and a triangular vent are used. Colour of Polyethylene sail is yellow. |
 |
Flexible Flyer sled, the brand name that influenced Frank Scott to
call his improved version of Allisons' flexible kite a Sled. |
|
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