Gizmodo: Kites

Wind-Powered Model Helicopter? Go Fly a Kite

Charlie White — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:10:47 EST

A remote-controlled helicopter, powered by the wind? Well, not exactly. This wind-powered helicopter is more kite than copter, and it needs a pretty stiff wind of at least 13mph to stay aloft.

It does use the same lift principles as helicopters, though. You start its rotors spinning so the craft can lift off, and then you're holding its string and flying it like a kite. With Spring on the way, this might be a good way to celebrate the upcoming thaw, if it ever arrives. It's available now for about $30. – Charlie White

Product Page [Crazy About Gadgets, via The Uber Review]

Cursor Kite

Travis Hudson — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 10:43:58 EDT

Very rarely is a simple idea, like this, able to wow my pants off. But I can safely say that my pants are now around my ankles. It is a kite, that looks like the traditional black mouse cursor. Sure, it won't be able to fly around the sky nimble and elegant, but it will make you look like the biggest—and coolest—geek outdoors. The real question remains: what the hell are you doing outside in the first place? This kite is part of the WindFire Designs OS series of kites and isn't on sale yet, unfortunately. – Travis Hudson

WindFire Cursor [Via MAKE]

DIY Aerial Kite Photography

Travis Hudson — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 13:07:34 EST

Spring is almost here. Now while it is rainy and blustery in my neck of the woods, it is surely nice out there somewhere, right? Spend this weekend putting together your own Google Maps with a kite camera. This project could be done for less than $20 and produce some really interesting photos to boot.

Weekend Project: DIY Kite Camera [Lifehacker]