Aviation Project - Introduction
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Introduction
Legends and stories surrounding kites
What is the difference between man carrying kites and man lifting kites?
Applications of the kite
Kites used for scientific research
Activities and tasks in connection to kites and electricity
Aeronautics and the first model glider
Vehicles pulled by Kites
War Kites and S.F.Cody
 


What is a kite?

A kite is a heavier-than-air tethered aircraft kept up aloft by the wind. A kite generally has three important characteristics: -
A structure designed to gain lift from the wind.
A flying line or tether. This prevents the kite from blowing away.
A bridle to direct the face of the kite at the correct angle in order for the wind to lift it. A bridle consists of a number of separate lines attached directly to the kite. The bridle lines are connected to each other and then to the tether.

How long has the kite been with us?

The kite has been with us for more than 2500 years.

What are kites used for?

Apart from recreational purposes the kite has been used for signalling over long distances, military observation, fishing, measuring, lifting people and objects and in scientific weather research.

It was influential in the creation of the aeroplane.

Most people believe that kites were first made and flown by people in China over 1000 years ago. Silk was being produced in China as early as 2600 B.C. The first kites were made using this silk and bamboo cane, which was plentiful in China at the time.

Who invented the first kite?

It is difficult to really know who developed the very first kite but it is thought to be a Chinese engineer called Kungshu Phan who lived in the fourth century B.C. He is credited with inventing a wooden bird that flew for three days without coming down.

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