Talk:Airborne wind turbine

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This concept seems pretty flakey to me. I've split this out from the Wind power article because that article is already too long, and this idea was allocated equal space with onshore and offshore installations, both of which are widely practiced.

If this concept is anything other than a crackpot idea, I'd like to see this article fleshed out to answer several questions:

• If the rotor blades are also used as a lift mechanism, then the thing is a helicopter. What is the steering mechanism?
• Are counter-rotating turbines used? If not, what cancels the rotor torque?
• Are winds aloft any less variable than low altitude winds? Why?

I believe they are very much so. They're driven by global patterns rather than local factors. For example, the equator is always much warmer than the poles, so the basic Hadley cell is always there. dsws 15:57, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

• Identify any patents on this idea, companies/research groups pursuing it, and test articles or prototypes.

Iain McClatchie 20:20, 29 September 2005 (UTC)

• I'd also like to know how much 30,000 feet of wire weigh. Wouldn't that weigh the thing down so it would be spending all its energy to get lift up?

• Does it get lift from wind blowing over its wings? Or by rotors?

I tried contacting the company via their email form, but have not yet heard back.