Old coal mine buildings, winding towers and monuments in the German "Ruhrgebiet"
Part # 1: Tetraeder at the Prosper coal-mine stone-hill in Bottrop

Built at: Oct.21.2000 Last update: Dezember 20, 2004

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Not only Alexander Graham Bell can build big tetraeders. In Bottrop, Germany, you can be amazed about a gigantic tetraeder, which can also carry human. But this tetraeder will, in opposite to Bells tetraeder, never fly because his weight is approximately 230 tons and it consits of steel. (For thouse, which are no kiters: Mr. Bell has made experiments with big tetraeder-kites that carry human).
This tetraeder is a work of art and stands on a stone-hill of the coal-mining "Prosper". People can use it as a viewpoint. At night, the edges of the tetraeder are illuminated, so you can see it as an light-work of art all over Bottrop and the vicinity.

I am always searching for new KAP - objects and because of the greatness of the tetraeder, I thought: "Why not the tetraeder?" It is standing on a stone-hill of the coal-mining Prosper in Bottrop, Germany. This hill is closed for the coal-mine, that means, they don´t use it for storage stones any more. Those stone-hills are renatured, that means, the hill gets a layer of soil and people build walking trails, barbecue-places, kite-meadows and so on. In wintertime you can use it for sleigh-riding.

On top of the hill there is a big place, where you can kite and KAP on wonderful ....., I thought.

First attempt, Oct.16.1999:

At the 10th of October 1999 the wather was fine: Blue sky without any cloud and a wind-speed of aprox. 4m/s. Best weather for KAPing.

I used my 1,75m² Flowform. Just at the start of the kite, I noticed that there is something different with the wind. The kitestart was very heavy. The wind always pressed my kite down to the earth. Finally as the kite was in the air, it was flying very bad and restless. I want to protect my KAP-equipment and fly riskless. So I did fly my kite for a while without the KAP-Rigg. After some minutes, the kiteline was 40m, the kite gets higher and higher, and at the end, it stands upright over me. The pull was very low and the kite was staggering. What has happened?

The tetraeder is standing on a stone-hill, so there are strong turbulences at the edge of the hill. These turbulences are the reason for the unnormal flight of my kite. The wind pressed it on the ground and lifted it up. Unfortunately, in spite of the wonderful weather, it was impossible for me to take KAP-pictures. After I had no luck with KAP at this wonderful day, I made a picture of the tetraeder from the bottom. In the middle, behind the tetraeder, there is flying a red blimp.

Tetraeder Bottrop (Oct.16.1999). Camera: Olympus AF1

Second attempt, Oct.20.2000:

After I have worked on my KAP-Rigg #3 for a while, I have had to wait for good KAP-weather for a long time to make the second attempt. It was the first time with my new rigg. The first kite was the 1,75m² Flowform. But the new rigg is robuster and more heavy in weight as the second one. So the kite would not carry the rigg at this windspeed. Also the kite was flying very bad and restless, too. I was ready to have a break and go home, as I felt that the wind was getting stronger. I took my 1,7m² Hexagon and what will I tell you, it was flying very good in spite of the turbulences. After a while I mounted my rigg an let it fly. Unfortunately there came a lot of clouds with the wind. So I could not take some good pictures at this day, too.

Tetraeder Bottrop (Oct.20.2000), approx. 05:00 pm Kite: 1,7m² Hexagon "Ghost Buster" Windspeed: approx. 4,5 m/s Camera: SONY DSC-F505 Cyber-shot, 1600x1200 fine

Third attempt, Nov.04.2000:

My third attempt I started with fine weather. But I had to break it, because there came dark rain-clouds. After landing the kite, I had climbed onto the tetraeder to take some pictures from above.

Tetraeder Bottrop (Nov.04.2000) ~ 12:00 am Kite: Flowform # 1 Windspeed approx. 6,0 m/s Camera: SONY DSC-F505 Cyber-shot, 1600x1200 fine	Upstairs to the view plattform of the tetraeder Bottrop (Nov.04.2000) ~ 00:30 pm Camera: SONY DSC-F505 Cyber-shot, 1600x1200 fine

Forth attempt, Nov.05.2000:

What has happend this time? At the first start with my 1,75m² Flowform, everything was allright, but the pictures are not so good I think. I have to go nearer to the tetra next time. The second start I made with my 1,7m² Hexagon. When I was finish and pulled in the line, the kite came over me. That was because of the strong turbulences on the top of the hill. I had to pull the line very quickly to hold it strong. I could get the camera in the last second befor the kite begann to turn around.
		Tetraeder Bottrop (Nov.05.2000) ~ 11:20 Uhr Kite: Flowform # 1 Windspeed: approx. 6,0 m/s Camera: SONY DSC-F505 Cyber-shot, 1600x1200 fine	Tetraeder Bottrop (Nov.05.2000) ~ 12:40 Uhr Kite: Hexagon 1,7m² Windspeed: ca. 6,0 m/s Camera: SONY DSC-F505 Cyber-shot, 1600x1200 fine
After the kite has landet second time I took a look at the display of the camara to see what pictures I had shoot. But there were only five new pic´s: As the kite was in the air I switched off the transmitter accidentally. When I noticed that and switched it on again the three-minute-timer of the camera was run out, and the camera has switched off.

The next and last attempt I only will try with a new, bigger kite.

To be continued.....

In fact, I have an other introduce of taking KAP-pictures from the tetraeder.

Upright from the top,
very near at the view-platforms, so you can see the people,
the whole tetraeder......

Links to other KAPers and more you can find in my Surfers Guide.

I like to be available for questions, suggestions or experience exchange.

I would be very pleased about an entry in my visitor's book.

Manfred
http://KAP-Man.de

Manfred