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I recently purchased this box kite which was carried with the WW2 RAF multi-man emergency dinghy for hoisting the aerial aloft for the emergency transmitter. It took a fair amount of fiddling around with to get the thing set up correctly. How you were supposed to do it in a rubber dinghy, in rough seas, I've no idea.
I imagine keeping it aloft long enough to transmit a message may be a challenge! If you dunk it in the drink you'll probably need to dry it out before it'll fly again.
Are you going to try and fly it?
What dimensions is it?
I didn't measure it when I had it set up but it's about half the length and half the width of a single bed, so relatively large. It didn't come with any sort of cord but, presumably, the original cords had a metallic element to them to act as the antenna.
The mule-man dinghies also carried a "reasonable" first aid kit of which I have the metal tin but not the contents.
A bigger question would be how to row the dingy fast enough to get it in the air !
Chris
Perhaps that is why a box kite design was chosen, so that the dinghy didn't have to be rowed fast? Presumably there is more lift with a box kite design than a conventional kite design?
You don't need to row at all, the wind out there will catch this and take it. If you don't have wind you can't use it.
Unless you were unlucky enough to ditch in the Doldrums, I would have thought that it could be flown most of the time going on the markings on the kite, i.e. it could be flown with only 7 mph of wind.
Yes, could happen but being out at sea without a destroyer is unlucky at best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
Lightning rod ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
That would be shocking .Quote:
Originally Posted by painter777
Chris
One would only need to fly the kite for long enough to make contact and signal, i.e. a calculated risk. One isn't flying the kite for one's amusement, i.e. one isn't on vacation.
It's a great find. Amazing to me that someone thought of it.
Do agree quite a challenge to assemble in rolling seas. But if it meant being located, I'd hate to be the one trying to get it together, busting it and having to face the others in the raft.
As kids box kites were our favorites we could get them so high, then tie them off while still flying, go in have dinner and come back out and right back at it.
Only problem was the time consuming task of winding back the line. Found some type of kite string reels that helped a lot.
Should look great on a high wall or ceiling display. First I've ever seen or heard of being War time use.
Appreciate you sharing it.... Enjoyed it :thup:
And if you were really lucky the old kite could tow you towards land!
Here is another one flying.
WWII Vintage Gibson Girl Box Kite - YouTube