THE KITE AS AN AERIAL FACTOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 66, 11 December 1907, Page 7

THE KITE AS AN AERIAL FACTOR.

." . .. '.PLEOTY.:OR.."LIFT. BY TELEQnArn—MESS ASSOClATlON—corrfiioffliu , London, December 9. . A _Mr. Alexander Grahtfm 8011, lifted Liout-enant Solfridge Halifax one hundred feet in tho air.; Dr> Graham 8011, inventor of the telephone, has been at -Halifax, (Nova Scotia) for some time carrying on his experiments in aerial navigation. Tho kite has attracted a good . deal of attention • from military authorities, and it is an .important", part of tho"aerial "; fleet at AJdershot. The use' of kites has been suggested for : signalling' long distances' (by ; earning up flags-or lamps or semaphores), and for floating torpedoes on .hostile positions. As ■ much as two milcs-of line have been .paid out. For purposes of photography a small kite, carrying a camera to n "considerable- height, may bo caused to float over a fort or other : place of which a bird's-eye view is required, ' the shutter being operated by electric wire, or ■ slow, match, or clockwork. Many success- .•■ ' ful photographs • have been thus obtained in England and America. '. : Tin;'problem of- lifting a man by means of kites instead of by a captive"; balloon, is a ,still, mofe important one. The chief advantages 'to be gained are: (1) less transport Is required; (2) they can be used in a strong ■' ' wind; (3) they aro not so liable to damage, either from tho enemy's fire or. from trees, etc., and aro easier to mend; (1) they can be brought into use J more quickly; (5) they aro very much cheaper, both in construction and in maintenance, not requiring any costly gas. Early in tlio Ninetecnth Century one Pocock suggested the use of man-lifting kites for military purposes. At Chatham in IS7G an apparatus wa3 tested, but failed to lift the man. Captain ' Badon-Powell has, ; during the last decade, ~: beer, credited with several ascents, by means of a.kite, to 100 ft. Dr Graham Bell is credited with having a flying machine, ".constructed on the tetrahpdral cells principle," which is to demon- \ strate tho success of .the "heavier than, air" principle:' Ho claims for. his machine navigability -at slow speed. Thcro is a 10-h.p. motor, .weighing 1201b.