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Go Fly a Kite: How Kites Influenced Some Famous Inventors and Inventions
One stormy night in June, Ben Franklin had an interesting, and dangerous, idea. At the time, lightning was a terrifying force of nature and a great mystery. Franklin, motivated by his scientific background and natural curiosity about how things work, sought to prove that lightning was, in fact, electricity.
Read more articles from the April 2006 issue of InventHelp's free newsletter for inventors |
And so the legend of Ben Franklin and his electrifying kite experiment was born. While flying a kite is an enjoyable springtime activity, you may be surprised to find out how many important inventions are linked to kites.
Kite flying is one of the most popular activities in the world. In the United States alone, more than 50 million kites are sold every year. It is now thought that the first kites, constructed from leaves, were flown over 2,000 years ago, which is 1,000 years before paper was invented!
For centuries, kites have been used in wars and battles, for signaling, for fishing, and for countless other tasks. Kite flying was even banned in Japan in 1760 because too many people preferred to fly kites rather than work!
Kites
also served as a way for people to communicate. Italian
inventor Guglielmo Marconi launched the first transoceanic wireless
broadcast with the assistance of a kite. Marconi used the kite
to support an antenna on the North American side of the transmission,
which originated from a tall mast in Europe. This development
ultimately led to the inventions of modern wireless communications
systems and radio broadcasting in the 1920s.
Kites have also long been used for mobilization. Samuel Franklin Cody was the first man to cross the English Channel towed by kites. Then in 1908, he was the first man to build and fly a powered aircraft, which consisted of a large box kite fitted with a small engine. The kite also inspired the inventions of the para-glider, delta hand glider and sport parachutes.
Despite its long history, kite flying continues to grow in popularity. The invention of new materials such as ripstop nylon, fiberglass and carbon graphite have made kites stronger and more durable, ensuring that they will continue to be a popular fair-weather activity for years to come.
In honor of National Kite Month, InventHelp® recognizes the important role kites played in bringing us the airplane, radio broadcasts and many other innovations. We also appreciate the inventive spirit and creative ingenuity of inventors like Samuel Franklin Cody and particularly Ben Franklin. Every year, one outstanding InventHelp® employee who best demonstrates our company's core values is recognized with the Ben Franklin Award. To read more about this award and how it relates to our core values, visit the Working at InventHelp® section of our Web site.
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