Power Kite Forum - G e o r g e .. P o c o c k

This mode of travelling is of all others the most pleasant: privileged with harnessing the invincible winds, our celestial tandem playfully transpierces the clouds, and our mystic moving car swiftly glides along the surface of the scarcely indented earth; while beholders, snatching a glance at the rapid but noiseless expedition, are led to regard the novel scene rather as a vision than a reality.

An extract from his book 'The Aeropleustic Art or Navigation in the Air by the use of Kites, or Buoyant Sails' published in London by W. Wilson in 1827. The book is primarily concerned with the use of kites in transport. If you're interested in a detailed look then please click on the book image below.

Here are two videos I found of George P o c o c k that I think are worth keeping in the dusty vaults of PKF. The first one is from the BBC archives and the other I found on Vimeo which is just a short clip dubbed into Spanish. I cannot find the whole program unfortunately. If anyone can help with the translation then that would be great! I will credit you with the subtitles in the video when I re-edit and upload it. You can PM me if you prefer.

George P o c o c k ' considered the father of kite traction was an English schoolteacher and an eccentric inventor whose previous inventions included an automatic caning machine which he used to beat his boys without effort.

He invented and patented his Charvolant buggy or kite-drawn carriage. It was built to carry four people and achieved speeds of up to 25 mph. P o c o c k and his passengers recall an incident where their Charvolant overtook the royal coach of the Duke of Gloucester, an act considered very rude and improper.

However, the Duke was so impressed he invited him to demonstrate at Alexandria Palace to great success after which P o c o c k and his kites enjoyed a cult following.

P o c o c S-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s contraption confused toll keepers. At this time a tax was levied on the number of horses used to pull a carriage, and apparently the keeper was puzzled as to what the charge would be for a carriage without horses.

P o c o c S-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s fascination with kites didn't stop there. In 1824 he used a 9m kite with a chair rig to lift his daughter Martha over 270 feet into the air and also flew her over the Avon Gorge to the amazement of assembled crowds.

Later the same year and continuing to use his family as subjects, he lifted his son to the top of a cliff outside Bristol. His son briefly dismounted from the chair at the top of the 200-foot (60 m) cliff and then concluded the test by releasing a clip on the kite line which allowed him to slide down the line in the chair and return to earth.

Admin, is it possible to use George P o c o c k s name without censoring it ? It would make searching for it easier and would be paying proper and due respect to the man.