Risky Ventures: The Fascinating Story of George Pocock and His Charvolant Carriage

In the 19th century, an English teacher with a passion for kites invented a carriage pulled by a pair of giant kites that could reach speeds of 32 km/h. The unique carriage was named the “Charvolant” by its creator, George Pocock. Pocock’s fascination with kites began in his youth and led to daring experiments with kites and even involving his children in his endeavors.

One such experiment involved lifting his daughter on a kite more than 30 feet high and flying her over Avon Gorge. Despite the risks, the children survived these risky experiments, and Pocock’s passion for kites continued to grow. After applying for a patent for the Charvolant in 1826, Pocock described it as a carriage consisting of two kites on a long string that could pull several passengers at a relatively fast speed using wind power. The steering mechanism involved control lines attached to the kites and a T-shaped bar for directing the front wheel, with braking achieved by pressing an iron bar against the road surface.

Despite Pocock’s efforts to popularize the invention, the Charvolant did not gain widespread attention. However, he and his family continued to use it for picnics until his death in 1843. His inventive spirit and passion for kites left a mark in history, showcasing the potential for alternative modes of transportation and harnessing the power of wind for travel.

Pocock’s love for flying things started early on when he learned how to fly birds as a child. He later developed an interest in flying fish during his travels abroad.

Years later, after he returned home from abroad, he continued experimenting with different types of flying machines. He built gliders and studied their mechanics extensively.

Eventually, he came up with an idea to build a carriage pulled by giant kites that could travel at high speeds using wind power.

He spent months working on this project alone but eventually succeeded in building it.

On January 8th, 1822, George Pocock set out from Bristol on this unique carriage with his wife and children on board.

The journey was successful despite facing some challenges along the way.

After returning home safely from Marlborough, George realized that there was still much work to be done before people would accept this new mode of transportation.

However, he continued using it regularly until his death in 1843. His legacy lives on today as an inspiration for anyone looking to create something new or explore alternative modes of transportation.