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This topic thread will explore use of a certain novel method of flying for the purpose of launching one or more hang gliders into free flight. The first disclosure of the novel method of flying was posted in AirborneWindEnergy form. The first title of the general method: Powered Kiting by Polygonal Centroidal Cyclic Winching and Gliding. The general method may be applied to involve hang glider wing as payload or as participant in the flight up to the point of full release of the hang glider.
How might the method work? There are two dominant geometric arrangements, but other spider-web arrangements and other nets are to be explored. The two dominant simpler arrangements are the spoked arrangement and the polygon perimeter arrangement. The nodes or satellite wings at the end of the spokes or at the vertices of the polygon are equipped with powered winches. The spokes are tethers; or the perimeter edges of the polygon are tethers. Tethers connect from one wing to another.
When the winches are powered to collect tether, then the wings are kited; the polygon get smaller during the kiting phase. Once the kiting occurs and the centroid is close enough for comfort, then the many wings (two or more) stop powered winching; then the wings glide out away from the centroid (or some other point interior of the implied polygon). During the glide out some of the wings in the system may utilize updraft or be affected by downdrafts or other turbulence. When adequate gliding has occurred, then the system of wings may begin powered kiting again toward the centroid of the implied polygon or some other chosen point interior of the large implied polygon. The powered kiting will aim for another cycle of kited climbing up into the atmosphere.
One simple example of the method may be illustrated by having two hang gliders at the end of one tether. The hang gliders are facing each other. The long tether connects to the winches in the hang gliders; or one might choose to have no winch in one hang glider and a winch in the other hang glider. Begin operations: start the winching; close the distance between the two hang gliders during the kiting; both hang glider are being kited together; each hang glider is effective anchor to the other hang glider; they both climb up away from the surface of the earth. Once the tether is shortened enough, then the hang glider glide away while slackening the tether; the hang gliders soar as they might while still connected by a slackened tether; then upon reaching good distance from each other, the powered hang glider (or both) begin the cycle over again with a powered kiting phase; they then kite up more. Etc. No propellers; no jets; no rockets; no balloons, but just winching for the special kiting format. Then in this simple case, the two hang gliders may decide to cut free; one of the hang gliders would be given the line and the line would be collected into the hang glider. Off to soaring adventures they could go. Two hang gliders would then be into free-flight.
Three hang gliders could be tethered together in a triangle with tethers being the triangle perimeter edges. Alternatively the three hang gliders could use the spoke method.
Consider launching 10 hang gliders at once by the topical method; decagon. Climb up and exercise some cycles until desired altitude is wanted. Then release from the method and all ten hang gliders go into free-flight gliding/soaring.
The method may be used to travel some horizontally or to rise above a given region of earth or other planet. The method may be used in water depths with paravanes. The method might use the surface of lakes or seas or oceans for launch points. Or the vast ice fields.
kPower, Inc. is handling IP rights for the method; easy does it for non-commercial exploratory private uses of the method. Commercial uses of the method will be having a higher order of relationship with kPower, Inc.
Some investigators are exploring the general method for producing electricity. And other applications. If any readers have application ideas for the general method, consider posting your ideas.
Control, failure modes, and other safety matters are to be mastered for each expression of the subject method.
The method is a cousin to step-towing. And the method is a cousin of what Jack Lambie in early 1970s within hang gliding realm suggested: have earth surface as one wing; have winch in sailplane; set out the long tether; winch power kite oneself up to good altitude; remotely release from the earth wing and pull the tether into the sailplane (or hang glider). Soar some. Land. Set up another attaching of long tether to the earth wing; then power winch self up again; again release from the earth-wing anchor.
~Joe Faust