Alexander
Graham Bell,
inventor of the
telephone, also
experimented
with aeronautics
in the 1890's.
Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, also experimented with
aeronautics in the 1890's. While living in Nova Scotia, Bell embarked on a
program of kite tests aimed towards establishing the most stable form of kite
capable of carrying a man and an engine. He decided upon the tetrahedral cell
kite, a structure found to possess great lift as well as strength. In 1907, a huge
tetrahedral kite lifted a man to 200 feet while towed behind a boat, however, a
powered version of the kite proved unsuccessful. Nonetheless, Bell's kite
experimentation led him to other more conventional designs which eventually
resulted in a successful powered aircraft.
While living in Nova Scotia, Bell embarked on
a program of kite tests aimed towards
establishing the most stable form of kite
capable of carrying a man and an engine.
He decided upon the tetrahedral cell kite, a
structure found to possess great lift as well as
strength.
In 1907, a huge tetrahedral kite lifted a man to
200 feet while towed behind a boat.
A powered version of the kite proved
unsuccessful.
Nonetheless, Bell's kite experimentation led
him to other more conventional designs
which eventually resulted in a successful
powered aircraft
The tetrahedron is
theoretically the
strongest, most rigid
symmetrical structure
that can exist in
nature. Cover any two
sides of the
tetrahedron with
fabric, and you have
the basic cellular
structure that Bell
used in his kites.
Note the uncanny similarities between this and the Wright
Brother’s first designs. Can you figure out what the Wright
Brothers gliders and airplanes had that made them
successful ?
Large
tetrahedral kites
can be
assembled into
many
configurations
& sizes.
Straws,
Paper,
String,
Tape,
Scissors.
Tie off the ends using a
square knot.
This is the classis overhand
knot you use to start tying
your shoes, done TWICE.
QuickTime™ and a
GIF decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The trick is to send the right
string over the top on the 1st
overhand knot, then the left
string over the top on the
second knot.
Right over left,
Left over right.
Send
another long
piece of
string
through one
of the straws
Another square
knot
Thread another straw,
and tie off with another
square knot….
Voila !
Make 3 more !
Don’t tie
them
together
yet. Just
put them
near each
other &
admire
your
progress.
Put 2 together on the
paper you’re going to
use.
Use a pen to trace the outline
of the paper you’ll need. Note
the angled corners…
Fold…
…& tape…
…& tape…
…& tape…
4 beautiful
cells !
Join the cells
together with
left over pieces
of string. Trim
loose string &
extra paper.
Here’s
how the
bridle sits
when the
kite is in
the air.
Make sure your
bridle is tighter than
shown in the red
drawing : no more
than 2 cm (an inch)
of slack.