New Power-Kite Pilot-Station Design
The Texas AWE Encampment generates many key designs and methods from operational necessity, not just armchair-speculation. The latest novel AWES tools to emerge are Power-Kite Pilot-Stations made from steel hardware, T-posts, guy-cables, and "dogstakes". The pilot sits comfortably holding a control-bar, and steers large kites with ease. The thrill of incredible power is felt in the hands; the kite even moans impressively. Everything is rigged to be failsafe: If the kite ever uproots the station rig, the flier just lets go and remains seated unharmed (a kite-killer automatically activates). Now we can fly aerobatic giants almost anywhere, without killing ourselves (see Peter Lynn's Newsletter this month, with his kite test-pilot career lament, for lack of this method). Combine the Power-Kite Pilot-Station with the Power-Kite Power-Take-Off, and powerful pumping work is easy. We are currently focused on pumping flywheels to drive generators; on track for AWEfest next year. Ed will soon post images, video links, etc., of the two Pilot-Station prototypes; a high-power version for giant-kites, and a sweet single-fencepost version suitable for flying common sport power-kites. Both designs have worked well, right off the bat, but many cool refinements await.
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