# Airborne wind generators

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airborne-wind-generators/488414>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 5, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airborne-wind-generators/488414 "2009-03-05T18:09:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airborne-wind-generators/488414/1 "2009-03-05T18:09:43Z")

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In addition to mention of space-based solar power, I have also seen mention of airborne windmills for power generation. I am talking about the tethered generators which fly in the jet stream like a really big kite. Are these just pie-in-the-sky (heh) or might these become feasible in the foreseeable future?

Thanks,  
Rob

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airborne-wind-generators/488414/2 "2009-03-05T23:40:02Z")

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I’ve read of these, too. Kites with propellers, sending electrical power down their line-cord strings. It sounds good to me - the wind is much better up there, and it’s pretty easy to haul them down for maintenance. Don’t know why they aren’t up there yet.