I think I understand what you were saying, but...?

I was addressing the 'crack the whip' idea that someone thought
might could be used to toss the tow-ee into orbit.

First, the tow line 'can't' break for this maneuver, or the whole
idea 'breaks down' with it. But we'll come back to that after the
commercial.

Next, remember that we want to be as high as practically possible.
VERY high density altitude?

Stall speed at extreme altitude would not the benign 180 knots,
but something appreciably higher (can you help me out with the
high altitude 747 data - actual stall speed at FL 450?).

I believe the OP was suggesting something on the order of 20 kilometers
(!) of cable? (That part I don't even want to think about!)

We are cruising fat and happy at FL 450, pulling a bunch of miles of
cable with a real slick 'kite' on the end.

The kite supplies enough drag to keep the cable tensioned. (?)
(and carries it's half of the cable weigh too!)

That drag reduces the 747's speed by some amount, causing the 747 to
have to fly at a higher angle of attack (AoA) already.

Then the kite starts the pull up maneuver, (which by the way is going
to increase the amount of cable load that _it_ is carrying).

The pitch up increases drag on the kite due to the zoom climb.

THAT will be (eventually - cable stretch?) will be applied to the 747.

And the 747, although massive, WILL decelerate due to the increased
cable load (and probably cable drag too, since the cable is no longer
in trail).

As the angular difference between the two aircraft increases so the
cable load on the 747 increase.

The kite's speed has increased during this maneuver. Sure enough,

But it is PULLING AGAINST the 747, and sure as God made little green
apples, that load will also decelerate the big momma.

So we get to the disconnect point.

ALL the energy transferred to the kite comes from the 747.
All of it.
All of that energy is removed (just as quickly?) from the 747.

And at some critical point, big momma finds herself below critical
flight speed and above critical AoA, and things could get a little
- critical?

Now in reality, all of that could probably be dealt with. Some of
those perimeters would define the limits of this kind of operation.

From a PAWKI standpoint, it's probably cable tensile strength.

But if that held, I'd suspect this event is going to feel a lot like
catching a Three Wire - at FL 450.

Richard

Standard disclaimer:

Take all this with a grain of salt.
If I really knew what I was talking about,
I'd be working for Burt...

Ta, Yaw'll