230 



The National Geographic Magazine 



aeroplane surfaces form substantially 

 two pairs of wings, arranged dragon-fly 

 fashion. 



FIG. 19 — AERODROME KITE IN THE AIR 



The whole framework for the boat 

 and wings is formed of tetrahedral cells 



having the form of the regular tetra- 

 hedron, with the exception of the diag- 

 onal bracing at the bottom of the super- 

 structure ; and the kite turns out to 

 be strong, light, and a steady flyer. 



I have flown this kite in a calm by 

 attaching the cord — in this case a Ma- 

 nila rope — to a galloping horse. Fig- 

 ure 18 shows a photograph of the kite 

 just rising into the air, with the horse 

 in the foreground, but the connecting 

 rope does not show. Figure 19 is a 

 photograph of the kite at its point of 

 greatest elevation, but the horse does not 

 appear in the picture. Upon releasing 

 the rope the kite descended so gently 

 that no damage was done to the appa- 

 ratus by contact with the ground. 



Figure 20 shows a modified form of 

 the same kite, in which, in addition to 

 the central boat, there were two side 

 floats, thus adapting the whole structure 

 to float upon water without upsetting. 



An attempt which almost ended dis- 

 astrously, was made to fly this kite in a 

 good sailing breeze, but a squall struck 

 it before it was let go. The kite went 

 up, lifting the two men who held it off 

 their feet. Of course they let go in- 

 stant!} 7 , and the kite rose steadily in the 

 air until the flying cord (a Manila rope 



FIG 20— FLOATING KITE 



