Articles | Volume 11, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-911-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-911-2026
Research article
 | 
23 Mar 2026
Research article |  | 23 Mar 2026

Wind tunnel load measurements of a leading-edge inflatable kite rigid-scale model

Jelle Agatho Wilhelm Poland, Johannes Marinus van Spronsen, Mac Gaunaa, and Roland Schmehl

Download

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on wes-2025-77', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Jelle Poland, 01 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on wes-2025-77', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Jelle Poland, 01 Aug 2025

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
AR by Jelle Poland on behalf of the Authors (11 Aug 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (25 Sep 2025) by Alessandro Croce
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (26 Sep 2025) by Alessandro Croce
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (22 Oct 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (24 Oct 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (14 Nov 2025) by Alessandro Croce
AR by Jelle Poland on behalf of the Authors (04 Dec 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (22 Dec 2025) by Alessandro Croce
ED: Publish as is (22 Dec 2025) by Paul Veers (Chief editor)
AR by Jelle Poland on behalf of the Authors (31 Dec 2025)  Manuscript 

Post-review adjustments

AA – Author's adjustment | EA – Editor approval
AA by Jelle Poland on behalf of the Authors (02 Mar 2026)   Author's adjustment   Manuscript
EA: Adjustments approved (05 Mar 2026) by Alessandro Croce
Download
Short summary
We tested a small model of an energy-generating kite in a wind tunnel to study its aerodynamic behaviour. By comparing measurements to computer simulations, we validated the models and identified where they match the real performance and where they fall short. These insights will guide more accurate aerodynamic modelling and inform design choices for kites used in airborne wind energy systems.
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint