[Elecraft] RE: ridge vent as antenna?

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/27/06 5:31:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
rohre at arlut.utexas.edu writes:


> The problem with balloon lofted antennas is you cannot often have the 
> balloons only go straight up. 

A special type of aerodynamic balloon, called a kitoon, was developed to deal 
with the problem. Bacically it was a blimp with inflated wings. In still air 
it was a balloon, but when the wind blew it would turn itself into the windd 
(reducing drag) and the wings would provide some lift, helping to reduce the 
lean-over effect. 

WW2 military thing, IIRC. They used hydrogen instead of helium, Made the 
hydrogen in a chemical process involving water and a dry chemical.

I still prefer a tree and slingshot, or a mast.

73 de Jim, N2EY