What is a double purchase system?
A double purchase system is similar, except that the load is on pull side, and arbor on the load side. The Arbor moves only one foot for every two feet of batten travel; can therefore be run from a flyrail located halfway to the ceiling, and still allow the pipe to come in to the floor.
What is a double nymph two fly setup?
The double nymph two fly setup is one of the most common two fly setups outside of the hopper-dropper. This setup allows you to double your odds at finding what the fish are feeding on and can also allow you to fish patterns at different depths in the water column to find fish.
What is the difference between pull and double purchase?
The load is twice the weight of the pull, and moves only half as far. A double purchase system is similar, except that the load is on pull side, and arbor on the load side.
What is a fly system?
Systems are typically designed to fly components between clear view of the audience and out of view, into the large opening, known as the fly loft, above the stage . Fly systems are often used in conjunction with other theatre systems, such as scenery wagons, stage lifts and stage turntables, to physically manipulate the mise en scène.
What is a double purchase counterweight system?
Double purchase counterweight systems are sometimes used where the vertical travel of the counterweight arbor would be inadequate due to limited fly space or stage-level wing space. In systems of this type, the operating and lift lines are double-purchased so that the batten will travel twice the distance of the arbor.
What is the difference between a single purchase and a double purchase system?
2:0310:23Double Purchase Fly system - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd a double purchase. System once our lift lines come over here to the head block. They go down toMoreAnd a double purchase. System once our lift lines come over here to the head block. They go down to the Arbor just like they would with a single purchase. But then they go right back up again.
What is a single purchase system?
Single purchase Counterweight The term single purchase indicates that it is a one-to-one system, not only in the weight as described above, but in its movement – if you pull the rope one foot, the load (scenery, for example) moves one foot.
What is a fly system in Theatre?
Flying systems are an important piece of stage machinery for proscenium-stage theatres. These systems are used to lift (or fly) scenery from the stage into a space above the stage (the fly loft) by means of mechanical hoists.
How do you use a fly system?
3:0815:04Learn About the Fly System with Don Hovis - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown well that's our goal here is to always stay in balance. So if the pipe always stays out thereMoreDown well that's our goal here is to always stay in balance. So if the pipe always stays out there we always need to keep the amount of pipe weight on the arbor.
What is a counterweight system?
Definition of counterweight system : a system for flying stage scenery by means of adjustable counterweights that are connected by cables running over loft blocks to battens which support the scenery.
What is a green room in theatre?
"The Green of the green room refers to youth. The green room was where understudies to major players would wait for their chance to appear on stage. They were the 'green' or immature actors." From TheatreCrafts.com. "It was where the shrubbery used on stage was stored, and the plants made it a cool comfortable place."
Why are thrust stages good?
One of the benefits of thrust stages is that they encourage a deeper connection between the audience and performers. While the audience is typically looking “in” at the performance on a proscenium stage, the performers are effectively looking “out” at the audience on a thrust stage.
What does a stage rigger do?
A rigger is one who works on ropes, booms, lifts, hoists and the like for a stage production, film, or television show. The term "rigger" originally referred to a person who attended to the rigging of a sailing ship.
What is a Purchase Line in theatre?
A purchase line [wire or rope connected to a counterweight used to balance the weight of scenery in a flying system] buys you nothing. A trap [trap door in the stage] will not catch anything.
Who invented the fly system?
Dissatisfied with the limited abilities of the Kirby Pendulum System, Foy founded Flying by Foy in 1957. He invented a new system called an 'inter-related pendulum'. This system used two separate suspension points, each one controlled by an operator.
What does a flyman do?
The FLYMAN, or FLY OPERATOR, directs and supervises the movements of the scenery between the fly floor and the stage during a show. The fly floor They move painted backdrops and key scenic pieces in and out of the audience's line of vision, during the show as well as helping with anyone or thing that leaves the ground.
Burlington High School Stage Crew
A student group at Burlington High School that is committed to 1) providing a professional technical crew for Burlington High School's Fogelberg Performing Arts Center, 2) cleaning and organizing the stage, its accompanying spaces, and its technical systems, and 3) ensuring knowledgeable students can assist teachers, faculty, and out of school groups in the use of the center's full capabilities..
Thursday, April 8, 2010
What is a double purchase fly system? Simply, its a way to move set pieces and curtains vertically on a stage.
What is a fly or rigging system?
Fly or rigging system:allows safe support and quick change scenery and lighting used in proscenium theatre.
Which stage has a flyrail?
Well equipped theatres often have a flyrail on both stage left and right.
How is an arbor kept in line of travel?
The arbor is kept in line of travel either by "shoes" engaging a T-track, or by guide wires. The first is called a T-track system and the latter a Wire guide system.
Can a winch be controlled by a single operator?
Primary advantages: can be run remote control by single operator. Using a control console, the operator can select and run several line sets at once.#N#Some forms of winches can handle far heavier loads than could be operated manually.
How does a double purchase counterweight work?
Double purchase counterweight systems are sometimes used where the vertical travel of the counterweight arbor would be inadequate due to limited fly space or stage-level wing space. In systems of this type, the operating and lift lines are double-purchased so that the batten will travel twice the distance of the arbor. In other words, for every foot of arbor travel, the batten travels two feet. This often results in the arbors remaining well above the stage deck, leaving the otherwise occupied wing space usable for cast and crew.
Where is the counterweight fly system?
Counterweight fly system at FirstOntario Concert Hall in Hamilton, Ontario. Locking rail and arbors. First introduced in Austria in 1888, counterweight rigging systems are the most common fly systems in performing arts facilities today.
What is a fly loft?
A fly system, or theatrical rigging system, is a system of rope lines, blocks ( pulleys ), counterweights and related devices within a theater that enables a stage crew to fly (hoist) quickly, quietly and safely components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects and, sometimes, people.
What is a flying rig?
Flying rigs are used to fly scenery or performers in a more elaborate fashion than typical line sets. A flying rig typically allows horizontal as well as vertical movement by paying out individual lift lines to varying lengths and/or through the use of tracks. Flying rigs usually involve specialized equipment and techniques operated by a relatively experienced crew. Peter Foy is known for his innovations in manual flying rigs, especially those used in theatrical productions of Peter Pan. Automated flying rigs, which synchronize multiple point hoists, are becoming more common as motor control systems become safer and more sophisticated.
How much weight can a fly winch carry?
This winch, which operates a high capacity electric lineset, has a quad-wide arbor and is rated for 1,200-pound (540 kg) loads.
Why are there precautions in fly systems?
Because fly systems involve large amounts of weight, and particularly because the weight is usually suspended above people, there are a number of common precautions taken to ensure safety and prevent injuries. Communication, inspection, and loading procedure are key to the safe operation of a fly system.
Why is flexibility lost in a hemp system?
Flexibility is lost because most components of a hemp system may be repositioned, while counterweight system components are relatively fixed. Old " hemp houses" lacked counterweight rigging, but today most manual rigging houses use a combination of counterweight rigging and, at least some, hemp rigging.
Theatrical Rigging Equipment
Stage rigging is a term generally describing how equipment on stage is suspended and/or moved. Rigging can be dead hung, manually operated or motorized, and serves many purposes. In a dead hung facility, the rigging is used to suspend equipment and does not move.
Single purchase Counterweight
This is the workhorse of the rigging world. Based on the simple understanding that if you have 200 pounds of stage equipment you need 200 pounds of counterweight to balance the load.
Double Purchase Counterweight
This is another example of the workhorse of the rigging world. It is different from the single purchase in that its design incorporates a pulley at the top and bottom of the arbor.
Motorized Stage Rigging Types
An affordable option combining counterweight rigging with motorized rigging. A motor is introduced into the system to move the load. Since the motor is not moving the entire load (it still needs to be a balanced load) the motor does not have to be as large as say if it were to lift the entire load.
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What is a double nymph fly?
The double nymph two fly setup is one of the most common two fly setups outside of the hopper-dropper. This setup allows you to double your odds at finding what the fish are feeding on and can also allow you to fish patterns at different depths in the water column to find fish. It’s extremely effective and one that has been around for many years.
What is a dropper fly?
For the sake of simplicity, the fly that is attached directly to the end of your tippet is what I consider the point fly. Any fly attached to a tag piece of leader or from the bend of the hook on a point fly will be called the dropper.
How long should a tippet be for a fly?
This can vary in length depending on the depth you want to fish. Some people choose to use a 10-15 inch length of tippet allowing your point fly and dropper to be closer together, giving the fish more options at once, while others choose to go with a 20+ inch length.
How to set up a point fly?
The first option for a two fly setup, and the easiest to start with, is attaching the dropper to the bend of the hook of the point fly. For this setup, you will rig up your leader and tippet as if you are going to fish with just one fly. Once you have that fly attached to your leader, it becomes your point fly. What you are going to do now is cut off a length of tippet material to be used to attach your dropper fly. This can vary in length depending on the depth you want to fish. Some people choose to use a 10-15 inch length of tippet allowing your point fly and dropper to be closer together, giving the fish more options at once, while others choose to go with a 20+ inch length. In my experience, the shorter the length of material you have, the more of a chance you have in accidentally snagging fish that go after the point fly and miss. I prefer a length of 20+ inches.
How to attach a point fly to a leader?
The first step is to attach this piece of tippet to your leader using a surgeons knot, blood knot, or other knot that is used to attach two pieces of monofilament together.
Where is the dropper fly attached?
The dropper fly is attached to a tippet section tied to the eye of the point fly.
How long should a fly tag be?
Just don’t make your tag too long or you’ll end up with many a tangled mess. I try to keep the tag in the 6 inch range. This allows enough to not tangle too much, yet allows for a few fly changes before having to retie the knot.

Overview
Fly system types
Fly systems are broadly categorized as manual or automated (motorized). Manual fly systems are more specifically categorized as "hemp" (a.k.a. rope line) or "counterweight" systems.
"Hemp houses" (a reference to the manila hemp once most commonly used to make the ropes) exclusively use the centuries-old tradition of ropes, pulleys an…
The line set
The line set is the fundamental machine of a typical fly system.
The function of a typical line set is to fly (raise and lower) a slender beam (typically a steel pipe) known as a batten (or a bar in the UK) by hoisting it with lift lines (typically synthetic rope or steel cable). By hanging scenery, lighting, or other equipment on a batten, they in turn may also be flown. A batten is said t…
Fly system components
Battens are linear members to which live loads may be attached for flying. Battens were made of wood originally, but today they are typically steel pipe. Loads mounted to battens include lights, curtains and scenery so they may travel vertically, be raised up into the fly space (flown out) or lowered near to the stage floor (flown in) by its associated line set. Battens typically stretch the wi…
Fly system infrastructure
Fly system infrastructure consists of the relatively permanent load-bearing and load-transferring structures of a stage house. The infrastructure, generally fabricated of structural steel members, is sized by a structural engineer during the design of a new theatre, or theatre renovation. Rigging system infrastructure ultimately limits a fly system's capacity.
Operation
Because fly systems involve large amounts of weight, and particularly because the weight is usually suspended above people, there are a number of common precautions taken to ensure safety and prevent injuries. Communication, inspection, and loading procedure are key to the safe operation of a fly system.
Except for during performances and some rehearsals, a standard practice in theatre is for the fly…