2 definitions by parakite
World ParaGliding Association has para-glider as a gliding kite where the "mooring" is let to fall by the attraction of gravity while the kite line is tensed against the kiting action of the the wing or wings. A para-glider was first first describe functionally in 1896 concerning an 1895 incident of a fugitive set of wings called parakites were coupled by a single tether; the lower wing acted as the resistive mooring to the upper wing; together the para-glider flew a long distance and glided down eventually. See book by Woglom called Parakites which is fully online available for reading.
Paragliders used in radio-controlled scale modelling are para-gliders, sometimes powered and sometimes not powered. Also, huge industrial para-gliders or paragliders are used. See Atair Insect for an example. Then there are the manned hang gliders that are gliding kites with one or more tethers as the kite lines to the wing coupled to the payload or pod to carry a mass of stuff or robot or engine or human pilot ...many choices.
by parakite November 2, 2011
A kite for aircraft flying cannot be just wing mechnanically. Rather, for kiting action to occur and to have a kite in such action, the aircraft machine "kite" must be a collection of three parts: wing, tether, and resistive subassembly (mooring). The mooring is often moving and can even be falling through the air. Essentially the line or tether couples the other two parts of the kite so a net positive tension occurs in the connecting line or tether. A default "kite" is often applied to the wing, but just the wing only gives non-kite glider. K={w,t,r). Thus paragliders are gliding kites. When underwater, kite is named "paravane"
A paraglider is a kite that has its mooring or resistive part as a falling mass tethered to a wing set (one or more wings).
A toy kite consists of a wing, a kite line, and a resistive part that might be the hand-body of a child; the hand may move in many ways by waving, pulling, or on top of a running child.
A hang glider with a single tether holding a pilot is a free-flight kite; the pilot's mass is the resistive part pulled by gravity; the tension couples the lifting/dragging wing. The three parts form a kite hang glider. Such a hang glider is also a type of paraglider.
A toy kite consists of a wing, a kite line, and a resistive part that might be the hand-body of a child; the hand may move in many ways by waving, pulling, or on top of a running child.
A hang glider with a single tether holding a pilot is a free-flight kite; the pilot's mass is the resistive part pulled by gravity; the tension couples the lifting/dragging wing. The three parts form a kite hang glider. Such a hang glider is also a type of paraglider.
by parakite November 2, 2011