Kites have been around for hundreds of years, and kite flying is a sport still enjoyed by many around the world. The hints and tips in this section should help you get your kite safely up in the air in no time.
- Choose the right weather – a perfect kite flying day is when the sun is shining, but there is also a breeze. Never fly your kite during a thunderstorm.
- Location, location, location – choose your surroundings wisely. Never fly your kite near roads, trees, buildings or overhead power lines. A big open field is ideal.
- Be aware of your surroundings – once you have found your perfect location, make sure you know what is around you. Accidents can happen when kite flyers start running after their kite without looking where they are going!
- Look after yourself – flying a kite involves a lot of staring up into the sky. Protect yourself by wearing sunglasses and sunscreen.
Once you have a nice windy day, and have found a large open field, the next task is to actually get your kite in the air.
Try following our 5 easy steps to kite flying success:
Try following our 5 easy steps to kite flying success:
1. Hold your kite with both hands. When the wind is fairly strong, toss your kite lightly into the wind.
2. Once your kite is airborne begin letting out your string, until your kite is at a height with which you can comfortably control it.
3. Keep a close eye on your kite - changes in the wind can cause it to come crashing to the ground.
4. If your kite does dip, run or pull in the string to give it some more lift.
5. When you are ready to bring your kite down, slowly wind the kite string around a kite spool.
6. Try and catch the kite before it hits the ground – this will avoid it getting damaged.
2. Once your kite is airborne begin letting out your string, until your kite is at a height with which you can comfortably control it.
3. Keep a close eye on your kite - changes in the wind can cause it to come crashing to the ground.
4. If your kite does dip, run or pull in the string to give it some more lift.
5. When you are ready to bring your kite down, slowly wind the kite string around a kite spool.
6. Try and catch the kite before it hits the ground – this will avoid it getting damaged.
A kite is a heavier-than-air object, and depends on wind to overcome gravity in order to fly. A kite’s lifting force is produced by air being deflected downwards, with the resulting change in momentum producing an upward force. This is because kites are curved, and the air travelling over the top of the kite’s curved surface is going faster than the air passing underneath. This fast moving air creates less pressure, which means there is more pressure underneath the kite, and it is forced upwards.