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Rocket Kite

Gets to altitude quickly
  (+9)(+9)
(+9)
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The most annoying thing about launching a kite is, the wind at the ground is often just barely enough, or even too little, while the wind at altitude is just fine. So, this Idea suggests attaching a simple rocket engine to a kite, to loft it to the altitude where the wind actually is. We may actually want a rather modest-thrust rocket engine, compared to what is typically put in model rockets, because kites are typically somewhat more fragile than rocket bodies. On the other hand, a kite might be designed to be folded at launch, and unfolds when the rocket thrust ends (note its vector) and the wind thrust takes over (different vector).
Vernon, Jan 15 2016

Hostoric rocket kite launch... attempt https://www.youtube...watch?v=BxxbMfYY9Bw
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 15 2016]

Not quite what [bs0u0155] suggested Drone_20Kite_20Service
[Vernon, Jan 16 2016]

[link]






       [+] autobun.
FlyingToaster, Jan 15 2016
  

       Hmm,elasticated double skin mylar kite filled with hydrogen with remote release mechanism.
not_morrison_rm, Jan 15 2016
  

       Somebody is trying this exact idea out. [link]   

       Great idea, apart from the "kite" part.
8th of 7, Jan 15 2016
  

       Why would you want the rocket thrust to end?
pocmloc, Jan 15 2016
  

       Attach a couple of powerful brushless motors and you won't need any wind.
bs0u0155, Jan 15 2016
  

       [bs0u0155], are you going to post that as a separate Idea ("drone kite"), or shall I?
Vernon, Jan 15 2016
  

       + bun if the rocket falls off after its ascent...
xandram, Jan 16 2016
  

       Love it.
blissmiss, Jan 16 2016
  

       [xandram], model-rocket solid-fuel motors are mostly made of heavy paper, a tube with a ceramic nozzle at one end. They don't weigh so much that the emptied-of-fuel motor needs to be discarded at altitude. Obviously you would want to replace the motor at ground level, to be able to use a new engine to loft the kite again, but why encourage littering?
Vernon, Jan 16 2016
  

       Not so much littering, more encouraging small heavy smouldering items falling out of the sky at high speed with no warning.
8th of 7, Jan 16 2016
  

       [8th], those exist already, and are called "meteors". Exhausted model rocket engines are a very poor imitation.
Vernon, Jan 22 2016
  
      
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