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Thread: WW2 RAF Emergency Dinghy Kite

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    WW2 RAF Emergency Dinghy Kite

    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.
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    Contributing Member 30Three's Avatar
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    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?

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    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.

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    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
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    A bigger question would be how to row the dingy fast enough to get it in the air !
    Chris

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    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?

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    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.
    Regards, Jim

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying10uk View Post
    in the Doldrums
    Yes, could happen but being out at sea without a destroyer is unlucky at best.
    Regards, Jim

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying10uk View Post
    presumably, the original cords had a metallic element to them to act as the antenna.
    Lightning rod ?
    Charlie-Painter777

    A Country Has No Greater Responsibility Than To Care For Those Who Served...

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    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by painter777 View Post
    Lightning rod ?
    That would be shocking .
    Chris

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