| The Dopero kite has a well-earned reputation for | | | | and this 'towing point' is shifted fore or aft to trim |
| being an excellent light wind flier. It flies at high line | | | | the kite according to wind conditions. |
| angles like a delta, and yet has very good stability | | | | Ripstop nylon sails are popular, but some of these |
| and lifting capacity as well. The Dopero is basically | | | | kites are made with the more expensive Icarex |
| two Pearson Roller kites side by side. The name | | | | P31 material for added performance. |
| was extracted from the words DOuble PEarson | | | | Dopero Kites In Action |
| ROller. | | | | With the increased availability of these kites from |
| This kite is a favorite of KAP (Kite Aerial | | | | shops now, many are flying with no KAP rig |
| Photography) enthusiasts since it lets them get a | | | | attached. It's a great kite to pull out on those |
| camera up even on very light wind days. Some | | | | nearly-dead-calm days! Even on windier days, a |
| influential kite photography people, such as Brooks | | | | Dopero kite still comes in handy for flying 'line |
| Leffler, say it is the best light wind kite they have | | | | laundry'. For example, inflatables, spinners and |
| ever flown. | | | | windsocks. |
| Typical Dopero Kites | | | | On the other hand, a lot of Kite Aerial |
| The original Dopero kite was under 3 meters in | | | | Photography is being done with these kites. The |
| span. The Maxi Dopero was made shortly after, | | | | large Maxi Dopero is a useful lifter even in the |
| and had a more impressive span of 3.75 meters | | | | lightest breezes. Even though the kite can take a |
| (over 12 feet) Both sizes are copied today, with | | | | while to assemble, at least shots can be taken |
| small variations. The basic outline does not vary | | | | when other kites won't fly at all. |
| much, with most people choosing to copy the | | | | Some Dopero Kite History |
| original shape fairly faithfully. Also, quality kites are | | | | In a way, the history of this kite goes way back |
| now available from a small number of kite shops | | | | to 1909, when its ancestor the Roloplan was first |
| and manufacturers. | | | | sold. The Roloplan was a German design which |
| It does not need tails. However, some like to add | | | | was refined in the early 1970s to become the |
| tails just for the visual effect. Also, KAPers often | | | | well-known Pearson Roller. The Roller was and still |
| add tails to kites that don't strictly need them, | | | | is a very good light-wind kite. |
| just for additional stability. | | | | Finally in 1994 a young German KAP enthusiast, |
| Most of these kites are valued for their flying | | | | Ralf Beutnagel, made a kite like 2 Pearson Rollers |
| characteristics rather than their looks. Hence the | | | | side by side. This resulted in a somewhat bigger |
| decoration is usually limited to simple areas of | | | | kite with 4 bridle points instead of 2. The extra |
| color and straight lines. However, with such a large | | | | lifting power was needed to get the camera gear |
| area of sail there's nothing to stop someone from | | | | aloft, the Pearson design being a bit too small for |
| getting arty with one of these kites! | | | | the job. |
| The 4 point bridle consists of 2 loops, with a | | | | Driven by demand from the KAP community |
| connecting line. The top loop connects to where | | | | mainly, the Dopero kite has been produced |
| the longerons cross the main cross spar. The | | | | commercially since the Millennium and remains a |
| other loop is connected at both ends to the | | | | favorite light wind kite for that purpose. In fact, in |
| longerons also, near the leading edge of the rear | | | | 2006 a Dopero was used to re-create the |
| sail. The flying line attaches to the connecting line, | | | | famous San Francisco earthquake photo of 1906. |