[Paddlewise] Kites, Balloons etc [ was Visibility etc]

	Matt et al,

	Good point about a metalized balloon for radar visibility.  Am I right in
suggesting that meteorologists once used radar balloons to compute wind
velocities at different altitudes?
	As for kites,  I use a 15 sq.ft. parafoil to tow my kayak in appropriate
weather conditions, and find that once it is in clear air, say about 30ft
above sea level, it is remarkably stable.  Depends on the wind of course,
but I find anything above 15 knots will almost certainly guarantee a kite
launch from the kayak and enough stability to stay launched all day if needed.
	The ellipse I described launched in less wind velocity [ I like that word,
ellipse!]  and  climbed effortessly. And because it was bright spinning
aluminium foil, it flashed even on overcast days. 
	Of course the ellipse was not intended as a towing device, or even as a
fun thing, it just went up and stayed up and as such proved an excellent
radar reflector and visibility device.
Peter Rattenbury
Wollongong
Australia.

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