Skysails First flight

The quality of this Skysails copyrighted material is not the best regarding its brightness. Although I share the joy of this little team after their having achieved this very first flight. I can't help wondering yet how such tiny a wing compared to this huge iron mass of the ship, could bring a significant energy to the latter. I guess that in production more than a kite or a much bigger one would be used.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• skysails
• kite
• german
• windpower
• madagascar
• malagasy
• consumption
• reduction
• ecology

[linolinco]

Don't be deceived by the size of the kite - compared to a fixed sail (which is what you intuitively expect) a kite develops 5-10 times as much power per area, for 3 reasons:

a) no spillage due to heeling of the ship,

b) stronger winds at altitude where kite flies,

c) "working" the kite (loops or figure-8s) to fly at up to 4x wind speed.

Having said that, yes they're going to double kite size every year up to 5000 m^2 (though this ship will max out at 320 m^2, double that shown in the video).

[joetke]

I do love global knowledge! Thanks for your precisions linolinco. They're really convincing and I don't have any doubt on how this technology will go rapidly forward. I would add yet a fourth point, say d), Hydro and Aerodynamics of ships profiles would help multiplying the efficiency of kites.

I'm still amazed about the "simplicity" vs efficiency of this technology. Once again, thanks for shedding much lights on it!

[KazzanJP]

It´s amazing! A simple and fantastic idea!

[endeffector]

wow a very big kite.......