Rotch, 1898, Exploration of the Free Air

Abbott Lawrence Rotch. "The Exploration of the Free Air, by Means of Kites, at Blue Hill Observatory, Mass., U.S.A." Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, Vol. XXIV, No. 108, October 1898, p. 250.

Some kite history and discussion of use of Hargrave-type kites for meteorology at Blue Hill Observatory. Value of kites (compared to mountain stations and captive balloons) for meteorology.

The advantages of kites are now becoming generally recognized. The United States Weather Bureau has already equipped twenty stations with kite appliances to obtain synoptic data daily at the height of a mile in the free air for forecasting. M. Teisserenc de Bort is equipping his observatory near Paris with kites and apparatus similar to those at Blue Hill. General Rykatchew, at St. Petersburg, has lifted anemometers with kites, and M. Tacchini now porposes to employ kites at his mountain stations in Italy. Prof. Assmann, in the new section of aeronautical-meteorology of the Prussian Meteorological Institute at Berlin, intends to make important use of kites. At the recent meeting of the International Aeronautical Committee at Strassburg, the writer had the honour to report on the subject, and it appeared natural for the Conference to recommend that all central observatories should employ this method of investigation as being of prime importance for the advancement of meteorological knowledge. It is interesting to learn that experiments with kites have been undertaken in Scotland, which, it will be recalled, was the birthplace of scientific kite-flying, and it is to be hoped that the example of Messrs. Mossman and Anderson will be followed in England, where, as has been stated, Mr. Archibald revived the use of kites for meteorological observations fifteen years ago.

And an addendum on the highest kite flight, 11,444' above Blue Hill, and 12,074' above the surrounding area.

Captain B.F.S. Baden-Powell comments in the discussion that his kite designs are lighter and could go higher. To which Rotch replied that he had tried Baden-Powell-type kites but that they weren't stable enough in high wind.