Kites : Their Theory and Practice

Extract

The Kite, one of the oldest of inventions, familiar to everyone and to every nation under the sun, is nevertheless but little understood. It has always been the custom to look upon this contrivance as a toy and nothing else. Very seldom indeed, until the last few years, has it been put to any practical use. Yet it is full of promise, and those few who have made regular and careful experiments in this line have all been impressed with the satisfactory results obtained. A kite sailing in a wind gives a very considerable pull on its line, which pull can be converted into lifting power or tractive power. This appliance may then be used for lifting great weights, such as that of a man, lagh into the air, or it may be used for towing carts or boats. Kites can be made to ascend to very great heights, carrying up automatically registering meteorological instruments, or may carry a string to communicate with places a long distance off.