Aerostats are tethered balloons and often used for aerial surveying or surveillance. They are have been used widely in keeping an eye on our US - Mexico Borders, as well as communication temporary infrastructure after Hurricanes or Earthquakes when the power is gone and/or communication is out. Unfortunately during high winds they are unreliable and cannot be flown and thus limit our ability to use this technology for such important human endeavors. On windy days they are of no use to patrol the borders and on windy days the illegal alien border crossers can run faster with the wind at their backs compounding the problem. After Hurricanes have knocked out power and communication and FEMA and emergency crews rush in often the rear of the Hurricane is still operating at near Gale Force winds or at least well into the Tropical Storm strength winds on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Well, needless to say you cannot fly a balloon on a tether in winds such as those. But there is a way to design an aerostat, which can be flown in heavy winds. How so you ask? Easy, make it in the shape of a flying wing with a twin boom tail and 3D like a box kite combo. The tether will be attached to the mid center. In high winds it will fly like a kit with a very high angle of a attack, when the winds are calm it will fly like an airplane or blimp with a flat angle of attack. Think on this in 2006. |
