The name "Military Kite" is used since a number of nations have experimented with kites of this type for military observation work. It was reported that the Germans used such kites but of enormous size for sending observers aloft from their submarines. The correspondent giving this information indicated that cruising at a rate of 10 or 12 knots per hour would give the necessary "run" to lift a light man 150 feet or so in the air. They did not say how the observer got down or what happened if the string broke.
Kites during War
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, kites were used for lifting military observers to heights from which they could observe the disposition of enemy forces.
During World War II (1939-1945), kites were also used as gunnery targets.
French Military kites have long been popular with kitefliers. Their lifting power and stability make them ideal for high altitude flying.
