The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-30
KITES OF TODAY.

Kite flying is no longer to be regarded
as mere amusement for boys. 1t has
become science and an art to which
many learned scientists are now giving
earnest attention. Kites are needed
these days to explore the upper air in
the study of its meteorology, to carry
cameras on high, and for other possible
uses that may be developed.
American scientists have been particu-
larly active in this direction. Mr. A. q.
Meade, who is the Assistant Forecast
Official to the Government Meteorolo
gical Bureau. in San Francisco, is among
the pioneers who have embraced the &C.
cupation in the spirit of original re.
search. AS we have said, kite making
and kite flying are brand new things
from practical and scientific standpointe.
Toe science of the thing is in it's infancy.
The old coffin-shaped kite of our boy
hood days, with it's fatsurface, six sticks
and tail is crude thing that will stay
ia the air in good wind generally with
a good deal of darting about. Up to
two or three years ago nobody knew any
better kite. but now the Malay kite,
which presents concave surface to the
wind. and so needs no tail, has revolu
tiJnized the work. No scientifically
constructed kite has a tail. 1t is USE
less weight.
For practical use kites are wanted
which will carry light weights high into
the air. The maximum of lifting power
with the minimum of strain on the
string. the minimum of weight and bulk
aud the maximum of steadiness are chief
among the things sought for in kite.
TIE numbe of considerations that enter
into the kite problem is surprising.
The modern scientific kite is of what
is called the cellular" type. 1t looks
like combination of boxes. The prin-
ciple is that of supervising two or more
planes. one above the other. The idea
was originated in 1866 by Wenham. 1t
was not until four or five years ago that
the idea was worked out practically by
Hargrave. a wellknown Australian
scientist who has long been working at
flying machines. Hargrave lifted man
into the air with lot of his kites
Mr.. McAdie, however, has improved
on Hargraves device by making dia
mond-shaped kite which eits cornerwise
in the wind instead of horizontally as
did Hargrave's.
One of these winged kites achieved
marvellous results. 1t presented sixteen
square feet of surface and weighed thir
teen and one-quarter ounces. 1t few with
remarkable steadiness and with 500 IT..
o. string it rose to an angle of 70 de.
grees,
One of the most notable improvements
is the manner of connecting kite and
string. A rigid stick projects forward
eighteen inches. and to this the string
is attached This acts as lever, which
holds the kite steady. and it brings the
point of suspension farther in front of
the center or resistance.
Another original popularity is that it
changes shape somewhat in the wind
through the framework being made of
rather flexible sticks. This is new
idea. and it may become great secret
of the success of the scientifically con-
structed kites of the future. The strong
or the wind the more will the shape be-
come oval and the more will the wings
bend backward, thus lessening the sur
face presented to the wind and decreas.
ing the tension on the string. To a Ger.
tain extent this kite adapts itself t, the
force of the wind. -Science Siftings.