Date: Wed, 3 Jan 1996 23:06:13 -1000 From: gf164@cleveland.freenet.edu (Philip J. Le Riche) Message-Id: <4cg5a5$g3l@madeline.INS.CWRU.Edu> Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA) Subject: Circumnavigation by kite? Here's a crazy idea. Or is it?? But it's no crazier than kite-skiing to the South Pole! I seem to remember reading somewhere that in certain seasons, or certain parts of the globe, there exist high speed winds in the upper atmosphere. Now, suppose you stuck a kite up there, with a long line and a drogue on the end dangling in slower moving air. Given favourable conditions, the thing might go for thousands of miles! Actually, you'd probably need some sort of control. This could be achieved with a simple wind turbine-powered 8 bit micro, which could control altitude by adjusting the angle of attack of the kite. A GPS receiver would be real cool, and you could achieve 2-way telemetry and control via the new generation of low Earth orbit satellites coming online in the next few years. And what's the point, I hear someone say. Well, what's the point of kiting at all, if it isn't just to have a load of fun? Happy New Year everyone! - Philip Le Riche -- ============================================================================= Philip Le Riche gf164@cleveland.freenet.edu (Malgre son nom, ce brave homme ne parle pas Francais) ============================================================================= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 15:08:11 -1000 From: johnsen@eskimo.com (Brian Johnsen) Message-Id: Organization: Tethered Airfoil R&D Pty. Ltd.(C)(R)(TM) CD CASS Subject: Re: Circumnavigation by kite? In article <4cg5a5$g3l@madeline.INS.CWRU.Edu>, Philip J. Le Riche wrote: > >Actually, you'd probably need some sort of control. This could be achieved >with a simple wind turbine-powered 8 bit micro, which could control altitude >by adjusting the angle of attack of the kite. A GPS receiver would be real >cool, and you could achieve 2-way telemetry and control via the new >generation of low Earth orbit satellites coming online in the next few years. Should probably add air navigation strobes on top, bottom and corners as well as radio avoidance transmitters and file a flight plan so as not to plaster itself over a 747 full of passengers. ;) -- Amazing Insane Dolphin With A Propeller Beanie From Belltown -- Brian Johnsen johnsen@eskimo.com Seattle, Washington USA = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =