January 20, 2012

Collection Name: Scott Skinner Collection

Collection Number: 1990

Post Type: Kite Object or Accessory

This item was entered by Ali. They assume full responsibility for all content.

Artist or Author: British Military ?

Creation Year: 1940

Length: 36.25 inches

Height: 16 - 7/8 inches

Width: 34.5 inches

Summay:

There are few of these Rocket kites in circulation. This particular kite was found in the basement of a Bristol, England townhouse by Martin Lester in the early 2000s. It is of a lightweight cotton/muslim sail and aluminum struts, spars which are engineered with a spring system to open and close the kite. It is connected to a long bridle, which is packed into it's own "release" holder. These were rescue kites/system to be used when a soldier needed to be found. See Discourse article https://www.drachen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/september2011-Discourse-Issue-10.pdf Go to page 28. There is a rocket kite in the Imperial War Museum, England.

Related Links: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30005216

Geographic: United Kingdom

Kite Type: BoxCellular

Materials: Cotton

Significance: Commercial, Historical, Scientific

https://drachenkite.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rocket-Kite-Dimensions-PDF-web.pdf

Images: (Click to open in viewer.)