[yummypaint]

Why do these companies seem to fixate on fixed wing aircraft? Why not use a big parachute style kite similar to what paragliders use? You could send control signals to collapse the wing when the end of the spool is reached, making it eay to reel in and/or direct it upward out of the powerband. Then let it expand back to full size to repeat. The cost, weight, and complexity would seemingly be much lower. I would argue the surface area of a parachute can be scaled up more easily than the wing area of a plane.

[lambdatronics]

Less to go wrong -- foil kites can become tangled in their bridle lines due to fluctuating wind which lead to a stall. Tangled lines can prevent the safety release mechanism from depowering the kite: https://youtu.be/pU0mEWKf-_Q?t=15