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Displacing fuel and slashing costs-
Wind-Powered Aviation
To displace fuel consumption directly with kites is
true energy awareness and mastery. The most exciting such kite use is to
directly displace conventional fuel-based aviation. Not only is there the
ecological benefit, but high costs are slashed: Aviation is thus made
affordable to virtually everyone.
Initially the expansion of kite-based aviation is confined to special
niches. Generally these niches are in "low and slow" local markets. KAPers
(Kite Assisted Photographers) are severely eroding the market-share of
elite helicopter-based wedding photography, while creating a greatly
expanded aerial photography market. Now even a middle-class child's party
can be affordably captured from above. The absence of noise and greater
safety also count. Avgas, by the way, still has lead added.
We see how kites can serve agriculture. We see how wind-driven wildfires
will be fought by kite. Once again, existing aviation sectors can be
directly displaced. A kite system set high above in good wind can raise
almost anything with simple tackle. Kite-based pick-and-place over a
cluttered surface of massive out-sized objects can be very competitive
with Skyhook service.
Cool aviation sports need not involve high fuel use, if windpower will do.
Skydiving will become widely popular when two-dollar kite jumps replace
twenty-five-dollar airplane jumps. Kite-towing gliders aloft is the kind
of open niche almost anyone can study and figure out. A kite can tension a
bungee to launch sport aircraft and humans ballistically. Kites are a most
playful revolution in a desperate practical world.
To be "cheaper than coal" is hard; coal is so damn cheap. To be "cheaper
than fueled aviation" is far easier, more like just being "cheaper than
diamonds." Anyone who wants to make a nice quick buck in AWE: the new
fuelless aviation is the way.
CoolIP*
~Dave Santos 21Mar2012 AWES5842
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If all the costs of coal energy were applied, then what would be the cost
of coal energy?
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