Haldenereignis Emscherblick.
Tetraeder on top of the coal mine waste dump of the coal mine Prosper

See also: Oct.22.2000. Tetraeder at the Prosper coal-mine stone-hill in Bottrop, Germany

Built at: Dec.20.2004
Last update: März 19, 2005 		   Diese Seite ist auch in Deutsch verfügbar.

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.

Technical datas of the Tetraeder in Bottrop:    
Height over NN:   165 m
Alitude of the tetraeder:   58 m
Length of an edge:   60 m
Weight:   230 t
Material:   steel
Total length of the pipes with diameter of 400 mm :   1,5 km
Height of the three view platforms:   17m, 31m, and 37m
Data to the aerial pictures:
Date and time: 18.12.2004, 10:30 to 12:30
Site:   Germany, Bottrop, coalmine waste dump, Haldenereignis Emscherblick, Tetraeder
Wind: 3,6 m/s up to max 4,2 m/s 
Kite and Kiteline: 3m Delta, Polyester, 2 mm diameter
Camera: Canon A70, 3 Mega-Pixel, 2048 x 1536, fine, Programmautomatic
Equipment: KAP Rig # 5, Picavet # 2, Nikon Fisheye FC-E8
Number: 677 pictures, 625,2 MB on a 1GB Compact Flash Card

After a long time with November weather the sun came out on 12-18-2004 finally again. I also had the time to go KAPing. So I took the the rucksack, pulled on the warm parka (temperature in the morning 4 degrees C) and moved to the Tetraeder to Bottrop. I needed approx. 10 minutes for the ascent to the holding mound. After a small breather break I started KAPing.

  • Measuring wind speed. Average 3.6 m/s, max. 4.2 m/s. Ideal for my 3 m KAP delta.
  • Fastening hold cord at a bank.
  • Building up delta kite and fastening the 2 mm kiteline.
  • leaving out approx. 50 meters of line and 10 minutes test flies, then lattaching the picavet.
  • Putting camera into the Rig, switching transmitter, receiver and camera on.
  • Test of the remote control of the Rig.
  • Putting on leather gloves and detach the kiteline from the hold cord.
  • Making test photo. Everything clear .... lift the kite.

Evening atmosphere at 
the Tetraeder

Pictures made with the NIKON fisheye lens. 

360 degree bubble pano.

With my new Nikon Fisheye I have done some aerial pictures too. From such a 180 degree picture one can make a so called bubble pano. It looks like the viewer is in the middle of a bubble and can view in all directions.

You need Apple Quicktime (R) for viewing.

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