Kites have been around for about two thousand years, initially appearing in China. They were used in other cultures as well, no one knows an exact place and date for the invention of the kite.
Kites have played an important part in the history of aeronautics and meteorology. Famous kite flyers include Sir George Cayley, Ben Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell, Orville and Wilbur Wright, E.D. Archibold, Lawrence Hargrave, and comic strip character Charlie Brown. Many of the kite experiments created by these pioneers are still taught in classrooms today.
Types of Kites
The world of kite flying has many different styles of kites ranging from the standard Diamond that most kite flyers recognize, all the way to Box and Winged-Box kites, Sled, Delta, Barn Door, Rokkaku or Rok, Sode also known asKimono,Genki, Rollers, the Dopero, which is capable of carrying camera gear aloft, and Parafoils, a favorite among kite surfers. This is only a partial list of the many different types of kites available to kite enthusiasts.
Kites must be controlled and depending on the type of kite, they will have single, double, triple or even quad strings. Multiple kite strings allow for the most maneuverability and are how stunt kites are controlled. Selecting the proper kite line is essential for kite flying because the kite line is under continuous stress and pressure. Kite line can be purchased in a variety of different materials, weights and lengths.
Kite sports include stunt kites, kite fighting, and kite surfing. Competitions are held annually at many kite festivals allowing flyers to test their skills against others and compete for prizes. In kite fighting, the object is to maneuver the kite in such a way that the opponent's kite is taken out of the sky. The Rokkaku kite is particularly suited to this sport.
Kite surfing, also known as kiteboarding, lets surfers harness the wind with their parafoil and surf across the surface of the water, sometimes "catching air" as they leap across the waves while racing toward the finish line. Snow skiers and snowboarders can even use kites to “surf.”
Build a Virtual Kite
Hobbyists can purchase kites online or at a local kite or hobby store. For those that would prefer to build their own kites, NASA has an interactive kite modeler program available that allows users to construct an fly their own virtual kite, enabling them to test different designs and materials before construction.
Kite flying is a versatile hobby that's fun, creative, relaxing, or even competitive depending on how it's approached, and it's a perfect activity at any age. Why not rediscover kite flying and go fly one today?
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