Abstract: A kite having separate forward and aft sails, each arched about a common longitudinal kite axis and each sail disposed concave downward in flight. The concave shape of the sail funnels the wind through the kite. Lift is derived from the central portions of the sail while the lateral portions of the sail, which are nearly vertical and are parallel to the wind direction, provide lateral stability. The proportional lift and weight balance provided by the aft sail, in combination with the bridle arrangement, provide longitudinal stability.

Abstract: A kite having a prism-shaped three dimensional frame, spanned by aerodynamic surfaces on its two downward disposed faces. The top or upward disposed face is spanned by a novel aerodynamic surface called an air dam which operates to stabilize the flight of the kite while greatly increasing the lift. A tail consisting of struts spanned by an aerodynamic surface is also provided. The frame is built from a number of identical struts and identical connectors. Each aerodynamic surface consists of two unitary congruent sheets positioned facewise against each other and joined together along their edges. The struts are inserted between the sheets along the edges where the sheets are joined together. This simple basic structure facilitates assembly and reduces cost while providing a high strength-to-weight ratio and stable flying qualities. Combination kites may be assembled by joining several basic kites in various ways.