Construction plan Nasa Para Wing (model 5)
in dutch (1st plan), dutch (n-th plan), dutch (last plan), english, or french.
Use my printable "JavaScript" based calculator.

Tips:

• Consider building a NPW5 according to the Peter de Jong plan. His plan gives more power (pull), more speed and a bigger window. Note that he changed more then just the bridle !! A calculator is available.
  
• You can get very close to the required bridle length when you :
  - use a (dacron) line which was used for 1 year for a 1 line kite,
  - measure and mark the line when it is pulled by a 2.5 kilogram weight.
• Bridle tuning for 4-lijn NPW 5 !!
  
• For improved performance replace the 35 kg dacron line by dyneema.
  I use a 50 kg dacron line for all bridle lines and for all reinforcements. The most common dacron line has a coarse structure, feel hard and rough, and very light yellow shaded white color. Latest version of dacron lines have: fine structure, feel very smooth and have a very light grey shaded white color. They are also thinner.
• Use for the sail mylar fabric. Try a 4 line LK=1.25 (LK=KL=LQ) version for winds above 5 beaufort. You will be suprised: enough power, faster then fast and VERY direct control. La Bombe !!
• For versions greater then LK=2:
  Bring together bridle lines (A1..A3) and (A4..A10 & B1..B5). Then bring these two together. By adjusting the (A1..A3) bridle you can vary the angle of attack (wind) a little and thus control the force, helps in weak winds.
• The commercial versions have their reinforcements sewed on the backside of the sail instead of through the tunnel. This also applies to the reinforcement used in the seam at the B1..B6 sides. But there it results in the need for extra reinforcement because without it will be ripped of, at the B1..B6 sides. Read next bullet.
• For versions greater then LK=2:
  The sail fabric may not be strong enough between the bridle points B1..B6. Add an extra dacron line on the sail that zigzag's from B1 to B2 to ... to B6 (V-shaped between B1 and B2, and so on).
• The 0 line option is the original design by NASA. Change the parachute of your jumping bear into a NPW5 and let it float like a bird back to earth. Make a 2 line LK=0.5 - 0.8 version. Use up to 10 kg lines for the bridle and reinforcements. Change the bridle (with knots) so that the centre part B of the sail is almost horizontal in the air when it floats (with you bear attached to the 2 lines of the kite).
• Don't use knots to tie the bridle lines. They tangle the lines.
  Dacron lines are hollow, like a tunnel. This tunnel is very tight when the line is pulled. Or wide when forced together with your fingers. Give every bridle line 10-12 cm extra line at each end. Put pencil marks where the extra cm's starts. Cut the line with scissors. Do NOT melt the ends, they must be able to ravel. With a needle bring the end of the line just 2 millimeters above the mark into its own, forced wide, tunnel. Leave the wide tunnel after 7-8 cm. Remove the needle and pull the ravelled end firmly for a tight fit around the inforcement in the sail. Then pull the bridle line by letting the wide tunnel slip through your fingers (the ravelled end will disappear into the tunnel).
  This procedure may need some excersize before you do it right.
  Test if the NPW5 flies OK. Adjust the bridle lines where needed ( by change the point where you enter the wide tunnel). Secure them with 10-seconds glue close to the sail.
• They are not expensive to buy. Check The VliegerShop.
• Tie lines. See photo. The nose is folded so that you can see front and back of the kite. The tie lines starts (back side kite, left side photo) 2-3 cm under the attachment point. It is sewed on the fabric, goes over the nose (right side photo). With a needle the line is driven through the fabric and the middle of the sewed on tie line. A knot prevents it from slipping back. Use a pencil to mark the exact tie length. The mark is at the fabric when the tie line is secured with the knot. The "orange" NPW5 LK=2.5 has 5 square meters. I have never had any problems with the tie lines. Also my NPW5 LK=4 with 12.3 square meters doesn't have problems.
• Mail me your tip and I add it, if it is usefull.