Kite applications

{{Main|Kite aerial photography}}

File:PicEddyKite.jpg|William Abner Eddy patented a kite. He used kites for aerial photography (KAP).

File:US646375.png|US646375 Willian A. Eddy kite patent image.

File:San Francisco in ruin edit2.jpg|Photo of the ruins of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake by George Lawrence of Chicago. Photographed using a kite system to loft a panoramic camera.

William A. Eddy, the maker of Eddy-kite fame, lifted cameras to take photographs of cities and landscapes. Today kite aerial photography (KAP) is the hobby of many enthusiasts, is a tool for surveying land and animals, and a mode for artistic expression. Professor [http://www.arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/ Charles Benton] illustrates how KAP can grow in one's life. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030224125306/http://scotthaefner.com/kap/ Scott Haefner] has one of the most extensive collections of KAP photographs; he shares his technology. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080321114332/http://www.drachen.org/special_events_earthquake.html San Francisco.] Those who do KAP are called Kapers [http://www.vogelblik.nl/index.php?title=Main_Page KAP].

The kite is frequently used along with a vehicle for teaching aerodynamics, mathematics, physical education, and problem-solving.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinakite.com/maindoc/en/htm/chanpin/jiaoyu.htm |title=Kites for Education |publisher=Chinakite.com |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://kitehistory.com/Miscellaneous/kites_go_to_school.htm |title=Kites Go To School |publisher=Kitehistory.com |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.intime.uni.edu/video/025iaue/2rus/lesson.htm |title=LESSON PLAN: Oh, Go Fly a Kite! |publisher=Intime.uni.edu |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208114808/http://www.intime.uni.edu/video/025iaue/2rus/lesson.htm |archive-date=8 February 2012 }}[http://www.kitesintheclassroom.com/orders.htm Kites for School]{{dead link|date=January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://classroom.kitingusa.com/activities.htm |title=Kites in the Classroom |publisher=Classroom.kitingusa.com |access-date=3 January 2012}}

{{main|Kite rig}}

File:Charvolant.jpg|George Pocock's contribution being illustrated.

File:Charvolants2.jpg|Painting of kite tugging wheeled vehicle.

File:Buggy Winds.jpg|Getting around in a kite buggy.

File:Cody manlifter02.jpg|Transport people up into the sky with man-lifting kites for observation, entertainment, photography, and recreation.

File:Cody manlifter.jpg|Man-lifter kite designed by Samuel Franklin Cody (1867–1913). As the kite observes its enemy it raises its antenna.

File:Kite333.JPG|A quad-line traction kite, commonly used as a power source for kite surfing. Application: sport, recreation, exercise, rest, product demonstration.

Long-distance travel across the land,{{cite web|url=http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/mar2001.html |title=The Aeropleustic Art or Navigation in the Air by the use of Kites, or Buoyant Sails |publisher=Special.lib.gla.ac.uk |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209163535/http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/mar2001.html |archive-date= 9 December 2006 }} ice, and sea started centuries ago, but today significant tasks of moving people and goods from point A to point B are occurring; this is so in part from the advances in kites and kite systems designs and technology, a better understanding of winds, and use of computers and GPS. In 1889 kite sailing was carefully instructed via controlling large kite systems towing boats.

Using kites to reduce the work done by an engine in propelling a cargo ship is an idea that is gaining traction as a result of increasing fuel prices and environmental concerns. For example, SkySails GmbH have developed technology that they estimate can reduce fuel usage by 10–35% per day on average.https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL33360.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{cite web |title=SkySails GmbH – Advantages |url=http://www.skysails.info/english/skysails-marine/skysails-propulsion-for-cargo-ships/advantages/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324030005/http://www.skysails.info/english/skysails-marine/skysails-propulsion-for-cargo-ships/advantages/ |archive-date=24 March 2013 |access-date=4 April 2013}} A trial on board the MS Beluga resulted in fuel savings estimated to be worth £800 per day.{{cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Steve |date=23 January 2008 |title=Gone with the wind on 'kite ship' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7205217.stm}}

Free-flight cross-country hang gliding kites both in the hang glider style and the paraglider style are permitting trips of hundreds of miles; records are recorded by the FAI. George Pocock (inventor) was an early pioneer in kites for transportation. NASA continues to explore free-flying kites for delivering goods to the earth surface and non-earth planet surfaces, including Mars.{{cite web|url=http://www.robotfrontier.com/papers/griffon-article.pdf |title=Griffon: A Man-Portable Hybrid UGV/UAV |access-date=3 January 2012}} There are several projects for using very large kites to sail cargo ships currently underway: KiteSail and KiteShip along with a series of patents and improvements in control of large ship-carried kite systems aim to save significant amounts of fuel.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7093803 |title=Apparatus and method for aerodynamic wing David A. Culp |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/29/transportation-tuesday-wind-powered-cargo-ship-takes-sail/ |title=Using Kites to Pull Cargo Ships Across the Seas by Jorge Chapa |publisher=Inhabitat.com |date=20 March 2008 |access-date=3 January 2012}}

{{cite web|author=Homepage-Baukasten |url=http://www.beluga-group.com/ |title=Beluga Group |publisher=Beluga Group. |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201063136/http://www.beluga-group.com/ |archive-date= 1 December 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://paraflite.com/MegaFly%20Summary.htm |title=MegaFly Summary. Very large Jalbert parafoil kite for governed-free-flight delivery of payloads |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806101451/http://paraflite.com/MegaFly%20Summary.htm |archive-date=6 August 2007 }} Kiting one's kayak is getting a significant following [http://sciencephotography.com/andy/kitekayaking.htm A. Kinsman – kite kayaking tutorial.].

Kite yachting may have started with Benjamin Franklin's pond pull.{{cite web |author=|url=http://www.plumcreekmarketing.com/articles/kite/kitehistory.html |title=Kite History. Recant of Benjamin Franklin's using a traction kite to be pulled across a pond |publisher=Plumcreekmarketing.com |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004063448/http://www.plumcreekmarketing.com/articles/kite/kitehistory.html |archive-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080821124501/http://www.amphi-kiting.com/html/amphi-kiting.html English Channel crossing.]

Anne Quemere has crossed the Atlantic Ocean solo using power kites. And on 4 November 2008, she started her bid to cross the Pacific Ocean under power kites as sailing power to pull her in her small boat called Oceankite.{{cite web |url=http://www.anne-quemere.com |title=Pacific Solo |publisher=Anne-quemere.com |date=6 June 2011 |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629025849/http://www.anne-quemere.com/ |archive-date=29 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}

SkySails has developed ship-pulling kites as a supplemental power source for cargo ships, which was first tested in January 2008{{cite news| url=http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/look-its-a-freighter-its-a-sailboat-its-both/ | title=Look. It's a Freighter, a Sailboat. It's… Both | author=Andrew Revkin | work=The New York Times | date=23 January 2008 | access-date=7 May 2010}} on the MS Beluga Skysails. Trials on the {{convert|55|m|adj=on}} ship indicated that, in favorable winds, the kite increases fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent. This system was planned to be in commercial production in late 2008.{{cite web|url=http://skysails.info/index.php?L=1 |title=Skysail ship pulling system |publisher=Skysails.info |access-date=3 January 2012}}

MS Beluga Skysails is the world's first commercial container cargo ship which is partially powered by a {{convert|160|m2|adj=on}}, computer-controlled kite which can reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent. Launched 17 December 2007, it was scheduled to leave the north German port of Bremerhaven for Guanta, Venezuela at 1700 local time (1600 GMT) on 22 January 2008. SkySails managing director Stephan Wrage said, "During the next few months we will finally be able to prove that our technology works in practice and significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions."{{Update inline|date=March 2023|reason=What happened in the next few months?}} Verena Frank, project manager at Beluga Shipping (SkySails' partner), said: "The project's core concept was using wind energy as auxiliary propulsion power and using wind as a free of charge energy".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7201887.stm |title=BBC NEWS, Kite to pull ship across Atlantic |work=BBC News |date=22 January 2008 |access-date=3 January 2012}}

The idea of using wind to power sailing ships is an old one. Large kites have advantages over traditional sails. A well-designed kite can generate up to 25 times more power per unit area than a sail. Kites can be flown high above the ship, taking advantage of stronger, steadier winds. A kite flying on a {{convert|200|m|yd|adj=on}} line will have twice as much available wind energy as a kite on a {{convert|10|m|adj=on}} line.{{cite journal|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080208/full/news.2008.564.html|title=Ship kites in to port|journal=Nature|first=Katharine|last=Sanderson|date=8 February 2008|doi=10.1038/news.2008.564|url-access=subscription}} A kite's shape blocks air like a traditional sail and acts as an aerofoil, with the combined forces of lift and drag pulling the boat through the water.{{Cite journal|last1=Naaijen|first1=Peter|last2=Koster|first2=V.|last3=Dallinga|first3=R.P.|date=1 Jan 2006|title=On the Power Savings by an Auxiliary Kite Propulsion System|url=https://content.iospress.com/articles/international-shipbuilding-progress/isp013|journal=International Shipbuilding Progress|publisher=IOS Press|volume=53|pages=255–279}} All that is needed to operate the kite is a winch and a storage area near the front of the ship, which can be fitted with little modification at low cost. A sail requires a mast, which is much more expensive and reduces the cargo area on the ship's deck. Kites have also been proposed for logging, to lift logs out of areas without roads.{{Cite web | url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US3326392 |title = Kite logging}}

Kites can also be used as light-effect carrier, e.g., by carrying glow sticks or battery-powered light effects. Companies may buy large quantities of kites that feature their advertisement. Messages are sometimes displayed by lighting systems that are built into the kite system.

Many kite stores fly kites regularly so that people will see the kites; one of the final purposes is for the store to profit from the flying of the kites.{{cite web |url=http://www.fdkf.org/performers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705015624/http://www.fdkf.org/performers |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 July 2008 |title=Kite Performers |publisher=Fdkf.org |access-date=3 January 2012 }} Kites are necessary to increase sales of kites.

File:Ruhepause mit Schwalbedrachen.JPG|Resting during recreational kiting.

File:Heiligenhaus - kite festival 2007 28 ies.jpg|Recreationally meeting the challenge of designing something attractive, fun, interesting: hobby designer Frank Vincentz.

File:Heiligenhaus - kite festival 2007 26 ies.jpg|Frank Vincentz plays soccer in the sky for fun.

File:Kites-Lake Harriet-Minneapolis-20070120.jpg| Winter playing on the ice.

File:Chinese dragon kite (Berkeley, California - 2000).jpg|Chinese dragon kite more than one hundred feet long that flew in the annual Berkeley, California, kite festival in 2000.

Kite boarding, kite surfing, kite buggying, kite buggy jumping, kite landboarding, freestyle kite landboarding, snow kiting or snowkiting, downhill speed kiting, hang gliding, and kite high jumping are among the extreme kite sports wherein competitions are held.

Peter Powell's development and promotion of two-line stunt kites or sport kites helped to move stunt kiting into a popular activity as well as a competitive sport. Also, the parafoil stunt kites feed the same sporting activity. Events for kites of more than two control lines are common. The four-line Revolution kite has been setting new standards in precision flying. Informal field competition and formal sport competition support a stunt-kite industry; seemingly endless refinements to the kite wing and kite line along with accessories continue unabated.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattleairgear.com/ |title=Wild Dance Parafoil Stunt Kites |publisher=Seattleairgear.com |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070822070118/http://www.easternleague.net/pdffiles/SpectatorsGuide.pdf Spectator’s Guide to Sport Kite Competition]}}

{{Main|Fighter kite}}

A kite has two essential parts: wing and tether line. In kite fighting, the kite line plays a huge part in the activity. Sport kite fighting is perhaps 2000{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} years old; participation worldwide is high.{{cite web |url=http://nafka.net/rules/nafka%202004%20wc%20rules.pdf |title=Fighter Kite Line-Touch 2004 World Cup Championship Competition |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209142315/http://nafka.net/rules/nafka%202004%20wc%20rules.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}

North American Kite Fighter Association ([http://nafka.net/ NAFKA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229015900/http://nafka.net/ |date=29 December 2007 }})

[http://www.stimparavaner.se/historia_eng.html Trawl-board and paravane innovator]

File:Zama kite festival.jpg|Kite festival, Kanagawa, Japan. May Kite festival, first attempt to fly 40' x 40' handmade kite. On the Sagami River. Teaming at a festival.

File:Heiligenhaus - kite festival 2007 11 ies.jpg|Kite festival in Heiligenhaus, Germany, 15./16. Sep. 2007 Source: self-made Date: created 16. Sep 2007 Author: Frank Vincentz

File:Bali Kite Festival (Padang Galak).jpg|Bali Kite Festival (Padang Galak Beach)

File:RayBethell.jpg|Professional kite flyer and aerial ballet master Ray Bethell performing at the Berkeley Kite Festival. This photo shows Ray flying three stunt kites simultaneously.

File:Châtelaillon-Plage Cerf-Volants 2001.jpg|Kite festival at La Tremblade beach, Charente-Maritime (17), France. Festival de cerfs-volants sur la plage de la Tremblade en 2001.

Frequently kites are used to entertain observers.[http://64.33.116.68/brandon-july28.html Landsailing in Ireland. While wind was light, some of group entertained others with kite flying.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010051657/http://64.33.116.68/brandon-july28.html |date=10 October 2006 }}. This application is part of recreational uses, but sometimes part of commercial uses.

File:Wicket, Shirone Station, Niigata Kotsu Railway.jpg|Train station decorates waiting platform.

File:Roloplan Steiff Museum Giengen.jpg|Roloplan and stuffed animals in the museum of Margarete Steiff company. Giengen Germany.

Still kites are hung decoratively in rooms of homes and businesses to set the tone of a home or selling environment.{{cite web |author=Terri Egleberry |url=http://www.im4kidz.org/mykites.html |title=Mrs. E's kites. Home decorating with kites |publisher=Im4kidz.org |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213113946/http://www.im4kidz.org/mykites.html |archive-date=13 February 2012 }}

File:USpat5000110waterkitetowlinedepressor.jpg|Tow-line depressing water kite

File:WaterkiteFishingKiteUSPat2273209.jpg|Water kite for fishing

File:USpat1897109fig1FishLureWaterKiteParavane.jpg|Water kite (paravane) as lure for fishing.

There are several ways kites are used in recreational and sport fishing, including lofting drop lines, control-kite trolling of bait, aerial photography of fishing environment using kites, and out and back cycles of trolling bait using a kite. Kites such as net-spreading underwater kites and soil kites (kiting anchors) are commonly used. Recreational fishing, commercial fishing, and scientific and military uses of depressors of tow lines use water kiting to accomplish the effects wanted. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071215122550/http://www.thekitesociety.org.uk/Kite%20Fishing.pdf The Use of Kites for Fishing—George Webster] wrote comprehensively on kite fishing. [http://bluemako.customer.netspace.net.au/jetty.htm Jetty/Pier Fishing.]; _

[http://www.stimparavaner.se/stim97_eng.html Paravanes for Sportfishing.]

A plan view of a Solomon islander's leaf fishing kite is shown in a photograph held by the Pitt-Rivers Museum is viewable at [https://web.archive.org/web/20080725014003/http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/editors_pick/1957_04_pick.html Natural History Magazine online; Pick from the Past, Natural History, April 1957: "Go Fly a Kite"].{{cite web|url=http://tobi.gmu.edu/tobithings/fishing/baldwinkitefishing1977.pdf |title=Kite Fishing in Palau/ |access-date=3 January 2012}}

In Kite Fishing by the Salt-Water Natives of Mala or Malaita Island, British Solomon Islands T. W. Edge-Partington, leaf kites are described. The sago palm or ivory nut tree has leaves from which natives of Mala or Malaita Island made kites for fishing.

{{cite journal|jstor=2787807|title=4. Kite Fishing by the Salt-Water Natives of Mala or Malaita Island, British Solomon Islands|first=T. W.|last=Edge-Partington|date=1 January 1912|journal=Man|volume=12|pages=9–11|doi=10.2307/2787807|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449504}}{{Cite web |title=404 |url=https://coastfish.spc.int/News/Trad/9/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=389 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=coastfish.spc.int}}

File:ParavaneUSPat4729333.jpg|Water kite

Net-spreading underwater kites and kite vanes aid the control of large fishing nets. [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4729333 Remotely controllable paravane Robert A. Kirby et al.]

Kites have been used for military uses in the past for signaling, delivery of munitions, free-flight kiting payloads from aircraft to ground positions, kiting troops to points where they could parachute to destinations, underwater kiting via paravanes to perform various underwater duties, lifting payloads from one point to another, raising rescue signals from rafts or stressed areas, raising communications antenna, and observation by lifting an observer above the field of battle, and by using kite aerial photography. Barrage kites have been used in both open frame kites and kytoon types to defend against enemy aircraft.[http://www.sole.org.uk/saulkite.htm Harry C Sauls Barrage Kite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523063728/http://www.sole.org.uk/saulkite.htm |date=23 May 2013 }}, The Sole Society. (Retrieved 17 November 2015){{citation needed|date=November 2015|reason=kytoon use needs sourcing}}

Kim Yu-Sin (or Kim Yushin), a Korean general, in 637 C.E. rallied his troops to defeat rebels by kite lofting a burning ball.{{cite web|url=http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ow-Sh/Park-Linda-Sue.html |title=Linda Sue Park Biography |publisher=Notablebiographies.com |access-date=3 January 2012}}

Kites were also used by Admiral Yi of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (1392–1897) .{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), Admiral Yi commanded his navy with kites. His kites had specific markings directing his fleet to perform his order. Admiral Yi was said to have over 300 such kites.{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}} The war eventually resulted in a Chinese and Korean victory and the kites played a minor role in the war's conclusion.

In more modern times the British navy also used kites to haul human lookouts high into the air to see over the horizon and possibly the enemy ships, for example with the kite developed by Samuel Franklin Cody.{{cite web|url=http://www.aero.lr.tudelft.nl/~frits/cody.html |title=Cody kites |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205061348/http://www.aero.lr.tudelft.nl/~frits/cody.html |archive-date= 5 February 2007 }} Barrage kites were used to protect shipping during the Second World War.{{cite web |url=http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze26db3/Miscellaneous/Warkites.htm |title=Kites on the Winds of War By M. Robinson |publisher=Members.bellatlantic.net |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121223847/http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze26db3/Miscellaneous/Warkites.htm |archive-date=21 January 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.sole.org.uk/saulkite.htm |title=Barrage Kite |publisher=Sole.org.uk |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-date=23 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523063728/http://www.sole.org.uk/saulkite.htm |url-status=dead }} Kites and kytoons were used for lofting communications antenna.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldkitemuseum.com/exhibits.html |title=World Kite Museum |publisher=World Kite Museum |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406033715/http://www.worldkitemuseum.com/exhibits.html |archive-date=6 April 2009 }} Submarines lofted observers in rotary kites.Focke Achgelis Fa 330 The Rogallo parawing kite{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BKTuTXrXQu0C |title=The Parachute Manual: A Technical Treatise on Aerodynamic Decelerators By Dan Poynter |access-date=3 January 2012|isbn=978-0-915516-35-3 |year=1984 |last1=Poynter |first1=Dan |publisher=Para Pub. }} and the Jalbert parafoil kite were used for governable parachutes (free-flying kites) to deliver troops and supplies.[http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2001/Aug/Army_Aims.htm Army Aims for More Precise Ways to Drop Troops, Cargo] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325115856/http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2001/Aug/Army_Aims.htm |date=25 March 2007 }}

File:KitingbuoyUSPat4890568.jpg|Lighter-than-water kite as tailing buoy

Wea01178 (11952087855).jpg|Kite of the US Weather Bureau carrying meteorograph c. 1910

Kites have been used for scientific purposes, such as Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment proving that lightning is electricity. Kites were the precursors to aircraft, and were instrumental in the development of early flying craft. Alexander Graham Bell experimented with very large man-lifting kites, as did the Wright brothers and Lawrence Hargrave. Kites had an historical role in lifting scientific instruments to measure atmospheric conditions for weather forecasting. Francis Ronalds and William Radcliffe Birt described a very stable kite at Kew Observatory as early as 1847 that was trialled for the purpose of supporting self-registering meteorological instruments at height.{{Cite book|title=Sir Francis Ronalds: Father of the Electric Telegraph|last=Ronalds|first=B.F.|publisher=Imperial College Press|year=2016|isbn=978-1-78326-917-4|location=London}}

Collecting kited spiders with kited nets: Kites are used to take samples of upper air and to collect things found in the upper air. The spiders that kite to disperse (so-called ballooning spiders) have been found in nets raised to upper air for collecting;{{citation|doi=10.1016/j.agee.2004.02.010|url=http://www.insectecology.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/AGEEPearceetal2005.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610004636/http://www.insectecology.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/AGEEPearceetal2005.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-06-10|title=Spider ballooning in soybean and non-crop areas of southeast Queensland|journal=Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment|volume=105|issue=1–2|pages=273–281|year=2005|last1=Pearce|first1=Sarina|last2=Zalucki|first2=Myron P.|last3=Hassan|first3=Errol}} the method is noted carefully in Spider Ballooning: Development and Evaluation of Field Trapping Methods (Araneae){{cite journal|jstor=3705318|title=Spider Ballooning: Development and Evaluation of Field Trapping Methods (Araneae)|first1=Matthew H.|last1=Greenstone|first2=Clyde E.|last2=Morgan|first3=Anne-Lise|last3=Hultsch|date=1 January 1985|journal=The Journal of Arachnology|volume=13|issue=3|pages=337–345}} Balloon kite of the so-called ballooning spiderlings; the spiders' kite is not a balloon.

File:Wright Glider being flown as a kite. -1900 10457 A.S..jpg|Wright kite with aim to get a powered aircraft.

File:WrightBrothers1899Kite.jpg|Early quad-line steerable kite by Wright Brothers as they aim for powered flight.

Kites were the precursors to aircraft and were instrumental in the development of early flying craft. Alexander Graham Bell experimented with gigantic man-lifting kites, as did the Wright brothers and Lawrence Hargrave.

File:Drachen mit Windgenerator 1.JPG|Kite lofts wind-driven rotating wings

File:Kettenwindgenerator 2.JPG|More rotation.

Both air and hydro kites are used to generate electricity; the kite is set in the stream of air or water; various schemes are used to extract some of the stream's energy for converting that energy to electricity.

A major research and development project called Makani Power, based in California and funded by Google.org, is investigating the use of kites in harnessing high altitude wind currents to generate electricity.{{cite web |url=http://www.makanipower.com/ |title=Makani Power website |publisher=Makanipower.com |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-date=24 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124040134/http://www.makanipower.com/ |url-status=dead }}

Tidal kites operate underwater, using the tidal stream's greater mass to generate far more electricity than available in wind-borne environments.{{cite web|last=Carrington |first=Damian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2011/mar/02/underwater-kite-turbine-green-electricity |title=Underwater kite-turbine may turn tides into green electricity | Damian Carrington | Environment |work=theguardian|date=2 March 2011 |access-date=3 December 2013}}

Video links for generating electricity by using kites:

• Over 700 kite-energy videos within the AWES industry are collected and open for free view to the public through the [http://www.energykitesystems.net/AWESMuseum AWES Museum].
• Back and forth taking kite generates electricity:.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSHH_djn94 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QlSHH_djn94 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=KiteGen (kite wind generator) |date=27 December 2006 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cbignore}}
• MagGenn (Magnus-effect kite wind generator): a Magnus-effect rotating kite electricity generation system: [https://web.archive.org/web/20081211041521/http://www.magenn.com/ Magenn Power, Inc.];
• NTS GmbH is German company developing X-Wind technology. This technology assembles three existing technologies into X-Wind Plant : Kites, track system and servo motor to steer the kites.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S0G23rHlo4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8S0G23rHlo4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title= X-Wind technology by NTS Gmbh |website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}
• KiteGen (kite generator). Italian company is working on several methods of generating electricity from kite systems. One key method is the "stem" system.[http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/5538 High altitude wind power: an era of abundance?]
• Makani Power's 10 kW test platform autonomously generating power:.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH-GpeXC5Jk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lH-GpeXC5Jk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Makani Power Autonomous Flight. June 18, 2010 – HD |date=19 July 2010 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cbignore}}

Kites can be used for radio purposes, by kites carrying antennas for MF, LF or VLF-transmitters. This method was used for the reception station of the first transatlantic transmission by Marconi. Captive balloons may be more convenient for such experiments, because kite carried antennas require a lot of wind, which may be not always possible with heavy equipment and a ground conductor. It must be taken into account during experiments, that a conductor carried by a kite can lead to a high voltage toward ground, which can endanger people and equipment, if suitable precautions (grounding through resistors or a parallel resonant-circuit tuned to transmission frequency) are not taken.

File:SP000515HMSCanningWithBalloonAloftSalonikaNovember1915.jpg|Antenna raising in 1915. The kite balloon ship HMS CANNING anchored off Salonika with kite balloon aloft, November 1915.

File:Kite Balloon From USS Arizona.jpg|Kytoon equipped ship. US Navy photo. A kite balloon has been deployed from the USS Arizona. The kite balloon has a two-man crew.

[http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/kite.html Kites for Lifting Antennas]

Kites can be used to carry light effects such as lightsticks or battery powered lights.

File:Leaf suspended in spider web.jpg

There are natural kites that play a part in shaping what happens on earth. Some leaves kite to relieve wind pressures, pump fluids, and to disconnect annually to fertilize the soils. Poet Pablo Rosenblueth expressed his understanding that children see leaves as kites. Poet Marvin Bell recognized leaves are kites in his Nightworks: Poems 1962–2000. The leaf wafts in the wind held by the tethered leaf stem; when it is fall time, the leaf stem has a de-mooring disconnect process; the wind then easily interacts with the leaf to cause it to fly off the trees and into a gliding fall to the ground.{{cite web|url=http://ncnatural.com/wildflwr/fall/science.html |title=The Scientific Basis For Autumn |publisher=Ncnatural.com |access-date=3 January 2012}} There is a following of kite makers that bridle leaves to fly them again as kites.{{cite web|url=http://www.kiteman.co.uk/Indonisiankites.html |title=Indonesian Kites |publisher=Kiteman.co.uk |access-date=3 January 2012}}[http://www.drachen.org/journals/a10/CavePainting.pdf Just How Old Is This Kite Cave Painting? Drachen Foundation Journal Fall 2002. Leaf kites are in focus in the article.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723184645/http://www.drachen.org/journals/a10/CavePainting.pdf |date=23 July 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.kiteman.co.uk/LeaveKites1.html |title=Leaf Kites |publisher=Kiteman.co.uk |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-date=13 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213113952/http://www.kiteman.co.uk/LeaveKites1.html |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|Ballooning (spider)}}

Billions of spiders use kiting to travel, disperse or to build bridge lines for their webs. Spiders hanging in the moving air on their silks are deflected to various points where they make anchor points for web building.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gvrt2eIVG7YC&q=spider+ballooning+is+really+kiting&pg=PT24 |title=Spiders By Ann R. Heinrichs. Google Books. She observes that the so called ballooning is like a kite or balloon; she is mechanically correct about the kite part, as no true balloon is ever formed by the spider as told in the other references |access-date=3 January 2012|isbn=978-0-7565-0590-5 |year=2004 |last1=Heinrichs |first1=Ann |publisher=Capstone PressInc }}{{cite web |url=http://www.snerdey.com/sky/index.html |title=Flying Spiders over Texas! Coast to Coast. Chad B., Texas State University Undergrad: He correctly describes the mechanical kiting of spider "ballooning" |publisher=Snerdey.com |access-date=3 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126042510/http://www.snerdey.com/sky/index.html |archive-date=26 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVFRqYun1EoC&q=spider+ballooning+is+really+kiting&pg=PA28 |title=Artificial and Natural Flight By Hiram Stevens Maxim. Chapter on "Flying Kites", the "Balloon Spider" is correctly seen as mechanical kiting |access-date=3 January 2012|year=1908 |last1=Maxim |first1=Hiram Stevens }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ssa.org/myhome.asp?mbr=5811273455&show=blog&id=760&archive=5/1/2005 |title=Richard Miller. His book Without Visible Means of Support describes the mechanical foundation for the mechanics used for the spiders kiting when doing so-called ballooning: free-flight two kite system |publisher=Ssa.org |date=5 January 2005 |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0528/p22s02-hfks.html |title=Super-powered spiders. Bug specialist describes the kiting of ballooning spiders, in interview by author Pamela S. Turner |publisher=Csmonitor.com |date=28 May 2002 |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6_wQ_nOAg88C&q=spider+ballooning+is+really+kiting&pg=PA187 |title=Tales with Tails: Storytelling the Wonders of the Natural World by Kevin Strauss |date=30 April 2006 |access-date=3 January 2012|isbn=978-1-59158-269-4 |last1=Strauss |first1=Kevin |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated }}{{cite web|author=George, Doug, and Ken |url=http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcobweb.html |title=Are cobwebs made by spiders? wherein three staffers recognize that ballooning spiders actually are kiting |publisher=Straightdope.com |date=7 February 2002 |access-date=3 January 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/traps_spiders_facts.htm |title=Pest Control Solutions, the ultimate source for Pest Control Products. The company signed to their understanding that the ballooning spiders actually are kiting |publisher=Pestcontrol-products.com |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906110728/http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/traps_spiders_facts.htm |archive-date=6 September 2012 }}[http://www.rarespecies.org/kids/weird.htm Rare Species Conservatory. Wildly Weird Facts. They carefully distinguish that the spiderlings actually kite even though the term "ballooning" is sometimes used.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302053534/http://www.rarespecies.org/kids/weird.htm |date=2 March 2008 }} Carol Frost, biology researcher of the University of Alberta, Canada, observed kiting in spiderlings.[http://www.canadianarachnology.org/newsletters/CA2005_Frost.pdf Ballooning in Dolomedes Triton (Pisauridae)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725134050/http://www.canadianarachnology.org/newsletters/CA2005_Frost.pdf |date=25 July 2011 }} The paper has a clear photograph of the spider letting out the strand of silk from its spinnerets that would be used in the kiting or so-called ballooning. Photographer: Tyler Cobb.

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://www.blueskylark.org/zoo/uses.html Uses of Kites]
• [http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/kites/games/ Kite Games and Competitions]
• [http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/part101.html FAA Regulations for Kites/Balloons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325031925/http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/part101.html |date=25 March 2008 }} FAR Part 101
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080229053715/http://www.fly-ul.com/far-103.html#103.1 Ultralight aircraft. FAR Part 103] Some manned kite systems are ultralights under FAR Part 103.

{{Application of wind energy}}

{{Kites}}

Category:Kites