Giant kite chariot

From his passion for kites, a British teacher invented a cart pulled by a pair of giant kites that could run at 32 km/h in the 19th century.

George Pocock's kite chariot replica. Photo: Amusing Planet

January 8, 1822 marked a special trip from Bristol to Marlborough. An English teacher named George Pocock took his wife and children on the 112-mile journey in a chariot pulled by two giant kites instead of horses. Pocock designed the chariot himself and named it "Charvolant," according to Amusing Planet .

Pocock was fascinated with kites from an early age. While playing and experimenting with kites, he realized that kites had tremendous lifting power. The young Pocock used to tie many small stones to the end of the kite string and watch it soar into the air. As Pocock grew older, his experiments became more daring and dangerous, even involving his children. In one experiment, he placed his young daughter on a wicker chair, lifted her in the kite 30 feet high, and then let her fly over the Avon Gorge. Luckily, she survived. In late 1824, Pocock let his son fly to the top of a 200-foot cliff on the outskirts of Bristol.

Two years later, Pocock patented the Charvolant. The Charvolant consisted of two kites on a string 457–549 m (about half a kilometer) long, which could pull a carriage carrying several passengers at a relatively fast speed. Steering was done by four control lines attached to the kites and a T-shaped bar that controlled the direction of the front wheels. Braking was done by pressing an iron bar against the road. Not long after the invention and many daring experiments, Pocock published a book describing the experience of traveling by Charvolant. "This mode of transportation is the most pleasant of all," Pocock wrote. "By harnessing the wind, the carriage glides swiftly over the ground, affording a rapid but noiseless ride."

According to Pocock, during testing, Charvolant traveled at 20 mph over long distances. The vehicle was able to travel a mile in 2.75 minutes, even in traffic. Because the vehicle’s weight was partially supported by the kite, the vehicle glided over any potholes, making for a less bumpy ride.

Pocock attempted to gain publicity for his invention, claiming that the Charvolant could run freely through toll booths because tolls were collected according to the number of horses pulling the cart, which Charvolant did not use. Pocock also promoted other uses for the kite, such as auxiliary propulsion for ships, anchoring, and salvage from wrecks. Despite his efforts, the Charvolant was not well received due to the difficulty of maneuvering the cart. Nevertheless, Pocock and his family continued to use the Charvolant for outdoor trips until his death in 1843.

An Khang (According to Amusing Planet )

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