Date:	Mon, 21 Jun 1993 04:07:19 -1000
From:	jdc@cci632.cci.com (James D. Cronin)
Message-Id: <1993Jun21.140719.5338@cci632.cci.com>
Organization: Northern Telecom, Inc. - Network Application Systems
Subject: Maximum kite altitude ("deep sky")?

Is there any 'best' way to get kites up to extreme heights?

For example, when using trains of kites, what is the optimal
spacing of kites?  Is there more to consider than length of
line, which adds weight and wind resistance, and the kite's pull?

And what about the kite itself?  It seems like something that
flies at a high angle is the best choice.  How about a train
of very light sleds?

Also, is there any absolute maximum altitude?  Where does the air
thin out too much to generate sufficient lift?

Jim


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Date:	Tue, 22 Jun 1993 10:36:06 -1000
From:	sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki)
Message-Id: <1993Jun22.203606.12788@das.harvard.edu>
Organization: Harvard University
Subject: Re: Maximum kite altitude ("deep sky")?


In article <1993Jun21.140719.5338@cci632.cci.com>, jdc@cci632.cci.com (James D. Cronin) writes:
>Is there any 'best' way to get kites up to extreme heights?

No, like many problems, there are many solutions. Each has it's good
points and it's bad points.

>And what about the kite itself?  It seems like something that
>flies at a high angle is the best choice.  How about a train
>of very light sleds?

At a certain point, kites like sleds don't really make sense. Sleds
aren't all that efficient. To maintain a high angle you want something
with a lot of lift compared to drag.

>Also, is there any absolute maximum altitude?  Where does the air
>thin out too much to generate sufficient lift?

There probably is an absolute theoretical maximum, but the engineering
problems with getting kites that high are enormous.

One thing about all of this talk about high altitude stuff is that in
the USA, you really do need FAA clearance to fly a kite really high.
The FAA has rules about this...

--
Marty Sasaki            Harvard University           Sasaki Kite Fabrications
sasaki@noc.harvard.edu  Network Services Division    26 Green Street
617-496-4320            10 Ware Street               Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
                        Cambridge, MA 02138-4002     phone/fax: 617-522-8546