Helikite

A helikite is a combination of a helium balloon and a kite to form a single, aerodynamically sound tethered aircraft, that exploits both wind and helium for its lift. The balloon is generally oblate-spheroid in shape although this is not essential.

Helikites are a new improved type of aerostat. They can fly in far higher winds than balloons, blimps and most kites. They are lighter than air so also fly without wind. They fly far higher and in far worse weather than normal tethered aerostats and seldom require a ballonet. They are used for aerial photography, lifting antennas, radio-relay, advertising, agricultural bird-control, position marking, and meteorology. The military also use Helikites as jungle marker balloons, for lifting radio-relays, and raising surveillance equipment.

Helikites are lighter than air, however, they also utilise aerodynamic lift in a stable manner when wind is available. Due to their rounder shape, Helikites have a better surface-area-to-volume ratio than blimps so have greater aerostatic lift in no wind. This round shape also eliminates the need for a ballonet in any weather or for altitudes up to 7000ft. Helikites have a spine made of carbon-fibre, so they are a semi-rigid design. In wind, the main aerodynamic lift and also the aerostatic lift on a Helikite is at the front. The spar weight and keel is at the stern, therefore the Helikite of the same size remains stable in far higher winds than comparable blimps. Although they can be made large if required, the ability of Helikites of any size to cope with high winds also enables them to be very small and efficient.

External links

* [http://www.helikites.com/ Helikites.com]
* [http://www.allsopphelikites.com/ Allsopp helikites limited] - Manufacturer of aerostats

See also

*Kite applications
*Kite types
*Kite line
*Kite mooring
*Kite books