Kites
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Presented Online
Did you know that the first aeronautical object in the National Air and Space Museum collection is a kite acquired in 1876? Kites aren’t only fun objects to fly at the beach or on the National Mall, they have a long and important history. The Wright brothers tested their wing warping theory with a kite and kites have also been used during wartime. In this episode of STEM in 30 we’ll look at not only how kites fly but their importance to aviation history.
This program is made possible through the generous support of Boeing.
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Paul E. Garber holds the Mark I target kite he designed for ship-borne anti-aircraft practice when he was a Navy commander. Just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Garber began working with the Navy to create aircraft models and train recruits on aircraft identification. He left the Smithsonian for five years to serve in the Naval Reserves, during which time he created his innovative target kites for Navy gunnery training. They proved so effective, 300,000 were built by the end of the war. His kites are credited with saving an American carrier from enemy attack. During a target kite training exercise, Japanese Zeros attacked and because gunnery trainees were in position and ready, they quickly downed the enemy planes.
Featured in National Air and Space Museum: An Autobiography
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