new kite train

[jim in paris]

hi folks
during the 6 weeks i've spent in Ajaccio , i had time to just relax , split bamboo with a jazz radio and a few cool drinks
the result is a train of around 60 kites made of plastic bags
2 short vids
the 1st one in the garden to check the tails and spacing (there are knots on the line to stuck each kite in the right place)
the 2nd one is the flight ...although it's not on the vdo , the gendarmes came to see the train and asked about the altitude because the spot is less than 6km from the airport
i ensured them that with a total length of 180m and an angle of 45° the distance to the ground shouldn't be more than 100m

fine, have a good day said the gendarme with a smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2L5wPDW6dQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSOfIXthV5w


jim

[ta0]

It's so awesome to see the long train climbing to the sky! It reminds me the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk.
That you are recycling plastic bags is a plus.

If 100m was the height limit, you were lucky that the policemen were not good at math. For a train 180 m long  at an angle of 45 degrees, it's height is 180m/sqrt(2) = 127m! 

[Jeremy McCreary]

A thing of beauty! Even the inspection walk.

So many questions...

Q1: Is there a physical (as opposed to legal or financial) limit on the number of these particular kites that could be flown in one chain?

Q2: How would modify this design to increase that limit?

Q3: Have you considered selling advertising space on the kites?

[Neff]

Beautiful!

[the Earl of Whirl]

A very clever use of recycled bags!  Terrific!!!

It makes me dream a little bit...

[jim in paris]

thanks for the nice words !

Jorge : Pythagore theorem is not taught in Corsica
Jeremy : number of these particular kites that could be flown in one chain?
any single kite flown at high altitude can climb high but after a while it can't drag the line , so it stays at a relatively low angle
with a train of kites , each kites holds /drags a section of the line , so it can continue to climb at a high angle and you can add as many kites as you want, provided you have a strong main line, because the drag of each kite adds up
to add more kites without too much drag , I would "diet" them :  same size but with less surface (star shape), or simply smaller kites or making the surface porous by adding holes
commercial advertising ? yes i have done that at a small scale for a butcher shop in ajaccio he paid me in nature : mountain ham
kites are great for a logo or a simple message


jim