Make Your Own Kite Kit Uk? Trust The Answer

Here is a quick guide to the materials used for our kites. These are some categories of commonly used fabrics to make our kites. The materials are not limited to the following and each category can also come in different grades and grades as they are made by different manufacturers.

Ripstop nylon

Ripstop nylon fabrics are tear-resistant, lightweight and durable. This material is the most commonly used material for high quality kites. Modern ripstop nylon is often coated to prevent stretching. All kites marked with ripstop nylon fabrics on our website are made from high quality, export quality coated ripstop nylon. Cheap, lower quality fabrics and ripstop polyester are sometimes misrepresented as ripstop nylon, but they are often not made from nylon materials. High-quality ripstop nylon is also often referred to as parachute fabric in some Asian countries. Note, however, that not all parachute fabrics are of good quality ripstop nylon.

Ripstop polyester

Ripstop polyester is used for most of our children’s and family kites. Because ripstop polyester fabrics are generally cheaper than most ripstop nylon kites, they are used to make most of our affordable kites priced under $25. This fabric is often mistakenly referred to as ripstop nylon. Kites marked as Ripstop Polyester fabric on our website are generally of acceptable quality

polyester

Polyester fabric is also available in a non-ripstop version. These are used to make smaller kites, as smaller kites generally don’t have a very strong pull and don’t need extra reinforcement to prevent tearing

fabric for parachutes

This term for fabric has been used in some Asian countries in recent years. The term originated in China, which makes the majority of the world’s mass-produced kites. Parachute fabrics have been used to describe fabrics similar to those used for parachutes. This has often been used to differentiate the premium ripstop fabrics which are better quality than cheaper kites made from other ripstop polyester and polyester fabrics. Most parachute fabrics are lightweight, tear-resistant, and coated, giving them a smooth, shiny surface. Good quality ripstop nylon materials can often be categorized as parachute fabric, but note that not all parachute fabrics are good quality ripstop nylon.

parachute cloth

Soft Parachute Cloth are actually lightweight ripstop nylon. The term originated in China and is often used to describe deltas that can fly even in light winds.

The exact location of this hole is not critical, but will affect the flight characteristics of your kite. This particular kite flew between about a foot and seven feet off the ground.

Alternatively, you could staple the string to the kite and skip step five.

Optional – If you have some tape you may want to use it to reinforce the hole. This can be particularly useful when using a thin line or if you intend to use the kite a lot.

Parallelogram, trapezoid and kite

Before we talk about the types of quadrilaterals, let’s remember what a quadrilateral is. A quadrilateral is a polygon with 4 corners and 4 sides that enclose 4 angles. The sum of its interior angles is 360 degrees. A quadrilateral generally has sides of different lengths and angles of different sizes. However, squares, rectangles, etc. are special types of quadrilaterals in which some of their sides and angles are equal. In this article we will discuss three types of quadrilaterals – trapezoid, kite and parallelogram.

trapeze

A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with a pair of opposite parallel sides.

Characteristics:

The parallel sides are called bases.

The other two non-parallel sides are called legs.

If the two non-parallel sides are equal and form equal angles at one of the bases, the trapezoid is an isosceles trapezoid.

dragon

A kite is a quadrilateral that has 2 pairs of equal sides and those sides are adjacent.

Characteristics:

The two angles are equal where the unequal sides meet.

It can be thought of as a pair of congruent triangles with a common base.

It has 2 diagonals that intersect at right angles.

The longer or main diagonal bisects the other diagonal.

A kite is symmetrical about its main diagonal.

The shorter diagonal divides the kite into 2 isosceles triangles.

parallelogram

A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two parallel pairs of sides.

Characteristics:

Opposite sides are parallel and of equal length.

Opposite angles are equal.

Adjacent angles add up to 180 degrees.

It has 2 diagonals that bisect each other.

Each diagonal divides the parallelogram into 2 congruent triangles.

The two diagonals divide the parallelogram into 4 equal triangles.

Square, rectangle and rhombus are special types of parallelograms.

To learn more about geometric shapes, surfaces and volumes of various figures, visit our website.

If you use two sticks of the same length, cross them between 1/7 and 1/10 of the vertical and tie an arc into the horizontal, you will have a much more stable and easy to fly kite. The bridle line should go through the plastic and the bow should bend away from the bridle. The nice innovation here is the ease of tying the plastic to the poles. Having created many of these with duct tape over the years, I really appreciate the idea of ​​being able to do without duct tape. Regarding breaking the spar (cross stick), the size of the spar and mast needed depends on the size of the kite. As for the “Balance” band, stay away from weights, what you want is something to trail behind in the wind, not to drag on the ground. Finally, remember that kites that are unstable on a short line near the ground can often be stable on a longer line far from the ground. The easiest way to accomplish this is to have one person launch the kite downwind and the other hand gently pull the line until the kite catches the wind over the trees. Then slowly bring the line out again.

There are so many different types of dragons in the world that we couldn’t possibly list them all. However, there are certain constants in all of them. We have put together a beginner’s guide to these kites to help people browse a well stocked kite shop like Kitty Hawk Kites. Let’s break it down to the basics.

Within each type there is an infinite choice. These are the three basic types of dragons:

Single line kite Two line kite Four line stunt kite

Single line kites for beginners

Single line kites are ideal for children

This is the most basic kite and what almost everyone thinks of when imagining flying a kite with a child. A single line attaches to the kite at a central point. Just run against the wind and the kite will fly.

Single line kites have four basic frame designs:

Diamond Delta parafoil box

Diamond Kites Often, most people think of the diamond shape when they hear the word kite. In fact, the classic diamond is the most difficult to get airborne compared to most single line kites. Diamond kites are easy to assemble and their small size makes them ideal for younger children. We recommend flying this type of kite in winds of 5-15 mph and with one tail. When assembling, please remember to rotate the V shape so that the kite sail is bent away from you. Delta Kites When we ask about the best kite to fly, we almost always say a delta. These are generally the kites that we guide beginners to. Delta kites are named for their triangular shape. They have a wide wind range of around 5-20 mph for easy, stable flight. Small and normal sized delta kites are perfect for beginners. And the larger deltas (6ft and up) are great for adding multiple tails and linen washes.

Parafoil Kites Single line parafoil in flight. We love parafoil kites for their versatility. Parafoil kites are some of the easiest to fly and because they are soft kites (inflated by the wind) there is no assembly required and no parts to lose. Most parafoil kites come with a line and tail for stability. These kites typically fly best at 6-20mph and come in a variety of sizes to suit both novice and experienced show kite pilots. Box Kites Star 7 Box Kite by Into the Wind With their extraordinary design, box and cellal kites are the most eye-catching. Because of their structures, most of these kites require a bit more wind than some other kite frames, typically 8-20 mph. Even though these kites look complicated, most are easy to assemble and fly, and some even flip and roll in the sky, which makes the… increased visual appeal.

Two line kites for beginners

This is a fun, fun way to fly kites. The kite’s flight is controlled by two lines. These allow the flyer to maneuver the kite up, down and over the horizon. Fly it in loops, figure eights, or pretty much anything you can imagine. They are a bit more difficult to fly than a traditional single line kite, but we have many two line kites that are suitable for beginners

With that extra level flair in kite flying, it can take time to develop the skills to fly a two line kite. It generally takes about an hour to get used to controlling a stunt kite. The time is very well invested.

Most two-line stunt kites are delta shaped. They actually look a bit like a miniature kite glider and are constructed using the same technology as kite gliders, the Rogallo wing. There are also two-line parafoils that generate tremendous lift and power.

Delta Stunt Kites Dual line frame stunt kites like these allow pilots to steer, maneuver and perform tricks. Dual Line Foil Kites Dual line foil kites create more suction and excitement and because they don’t have a rigid frame. They also generally pack into smaller suitcases, making them ideal for travel. Combine this with a kite buggy and you can go on a wild ride!

Quad Line Stunt Kite

When Revolution Kites released their line of quad line kites in the 1990s, it was, well. . . Revolutionary. But here’s a historical footnote: Check out a photo of the Wright brothers flying their 1901 kite, piloting it with four attachment points. Nonetheless, quad line kites have really got people thinking about new stunts and new avenues. Remarkable in its maneuverability and surprisingly easy to control. They literally dance across the sky!

Revolution still makes their frame kites. In recent years, new manufacturers have found their way onto the scene, such as HQ Kites & Designs. You can also take it to a new level and harness the power of the wind as kiteboarding kites use quad line controls.

We hope this has helped simplify most of the kites you can find on the market. But we’ve eliminated a few dragons from this list. Which kites would you add to this beginner’s guide?

Follow us on social media and share the fun!

We love seeing your pictures and videos. Tag @kittyhawkkites for a chance to be featured on our channels!

Originally published June 9, 2015. Updated September 17, 2020.

key concepts

aerodynamics

wind

Flight

powers

introduction

Have you ever tried to build your own kite? Kites have been a source of entertainment for children around the world for centuries. And they were also used for scientific experiments – Benjamin Franklin flew one to study lightning. (Something you shouldn’t do!) This activity gives you the chance to build your own kite – a simple sled kite – and use it to explore how tails help kites fly. After trying this activity, you can add tails to other dragons to help them soar to greater heights!

background

Did you know that along with Ben Franklin, one of the most famous hang-gliders of all time was a 10-year-old boy? His name was Homan Walsh, and without him the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge might not have been built in 1847. Before construction could begin, someone had to get a line across the Niagara River Gorge. Homan successfully flew a kite from one side of the gorge to the other over the treacherous rapids below and after attaching his kite line, a heavier line was passed over it until a steel cable could connect both banks and bridge construction could begin. Homan was rewarded with a cash prize of $10, which was a lot of money in 1847!

How does a kite fly? When someone walks with a kite, the wind coming head-on into the kite creates a lift force on it. This force is perpendicular to the wind and pushes the kite up. At the same time, the drag force pulls the kite back in the direction the wind is going.

There are many different kite designs. Some are very old, like traditional Chinese and Japanese kites. Some designs are very new, like the dynamic stunt kites used in sport kite flying competitions. Their modern materials and designs make them extremely manoeuvrable.

materials

• Printer

• Paper

• Scissors

• Colored pencils and markers (optional)

• Duct tape

• Two drinking straws

• Perforator

• Kite string

• Tape measure or ruler

• Paper clip

• Plastic bag or other thin plastic bag

• An open, clear area outdoors

preparation

• Download the sled kite template (pdf) and print it out on an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of paper.

• Carefully cut out the sleigh kite. You can decorate it with crayons, markers or other mediums.

• Cut the length of the two drinking straws to fit within the area marked for the straws. Glue the straws in place.

• Place three pieces of tape in the marked areas covering the black circles to reinforce the kite string holes. Using a hole punch, carefully punch the two holes marked by the black circles.

• Cut two lengths of kite string so each is 45 centimeters (cm) long. Tie a string through each hole. Tie them tightly, but not so much that you tear the paper. Tie the opposite end of both strings together at one end of a paper clip.

• Cut a one meter piece of kite string. Tie one end of this string to the other end of the paper clip. Your sled kite is ready to fly!

• To make some tails to test on your kite, take a plastic bag or other thin plastic bag and lay it completely flat. If the bag has handles, use scissors to cut straight through to remove the handles. Then continue to cut the bag in this way to create thin rings (which look like strips when flat) – each should be about 3cm wide. Cut the whole bag into these rings. Discard the handles. You can see an online visual guide for this step.)

procedure

• Try flying your kite without a tail in an open, clear area outside. Walk with it first and then try to run with it. What does the kite do when you walk and then when you run? How well does it fly?

• Using the plastic bag rings you made, glue a 4 inch tail to the underside of your kite. (This will likely be less than a grocery bag ring.) The tail should be centered. Try flying your kite outside again, first on foot and then running with him. How does the kite fly compared to when it didn’t have a tail? Why do you think that is?

• You are now testing a 100 cm long tail. To make this tail, loop two rings together and gently tighten (you can see this step—which involves overlapping and twisting the loops once—in the visual guide). Attach more rings to the tail in this way to make it longer. Attach the longer tail to the dragon’s 10 cm tail to get the dragon that is 100 cm long. Try flying your kite outside again, first on foot and then running with him. How well does the kite fly with the 100cm tail compared to the 10cm tail? How does it compare to flying a kite with no tail? Why do you think that is?

• You are now testing a 500 cm long tail. Use the same looping process to add another 400cm of length to your 100cm tail. Try flying your kite outside again, first on foot and then running with him. How well does the kite fly with the 500cm tail compared to the other tails or no tail? What differences do you notice? Why do you think that is?

• Which of the tails you tested did you think helped the kite fly the best? Why do you think that is?

• Extra: Repeat this activity but instead of comparing different tail lengths, try adding additional tails and compare the results. Add them symmetrically to the back end of the kite. How well does the kite fly with no tail, with one tail, with two tails?

• Extra: In this exercise you flew a kite with a one meter long kite line. What happens if you fly the kite with kite lines of different lengths, e.g. B. one meter, three meters or five meters?

• Extra: There are many other dragon designs. Use the internet, books, or magazines at a library to find blueprints for different types of kites. Then test out your new kite designs as in this activity. How does tail length affect how well other kite designs work? What other variables affect how well kite designs work?

Observations and Results

When you tried to fly the kite without a tail, did it flip and roll around a lot and not really fly at all? Did flying the kite with a 100cm tail work best?

Attempting to fly a kite without a tail can cause the kite to spin and roll heavily as the kite is unstable. Adding a tail to a kite helps it fly more stable by adding the required weight and drag at its lower end. Adding a small tail, such as B. the 10cm long tail can help the kite fly a bit more stable, but it will still rotate and roll around a lot. Adding a longer tail, such as B. the 100 cm long tail should help the kite to fly well, so it can get relatively high without rolling much. A very long tail, such as the 500cm tail, will help prevent the kite from rolling, but the tail can be so heavy that it prevents the kite from flying very high. Some recommend adding a tail that is about three to eight times the length of the kite – but the best way to determine the right tail length for your particular kite is to try it out!

More to discover

Using a Kite as an Experimental Platform by Scientific American

Forces on a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) kite

Kites from Aviation for Kids

How to attach kite tails from Kites in the Sky

Making kite tails out of my best kite

Let’s fly a kite! by Science Buddies

This activity is brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies

BEGINNERS TIPS – CHOOSING A SINGLE LINE KITE

Most people have flown a kite at some point. Perhaps your own memories of homemade diamond kites like Charlie Brown’s in the Peanuts comic flew unsuccessfully.

Today’s kites are better than ever if you choose a reputable brand. Strong materials (ripstop nylon and fiberglass or carbon spars) ensure they can withstand heavy use. Good design makes them easier to fly. And the variety of shapes and patterns is growing all the time. On all but the cheapest models, the pattern is usually sewn (appliquéd) rather than printed.

For a first kite, choose something easy, and if it’s for a child, one that doesn’t pull too hard. The line recommended for each kite gives an indication of the pull. Anything over 50 pounds would not be good for a small child, for example.

Almost everyone starts out with a single liner, and there are many to choose from.

UNIFORM DRAGONS

Diamond Kites: are one of the easiest kites to assemble and fly and come in a huge range of colours, patterns and sizes. They almost always need a tail to fly well and while this is usually provided, you can change or add it if you wish.

Delta Kites: are just as easy as Diamonds and make great first kites. These triangular kites again come in many patterns and an even larger range of sizes. We’ve got them up to a 19ft wingspan, with enough pulling power to give anyone a good workout on a windy day! Smaller ones in the 4ft to 6ft range are ideal for children and only require the insertion of a strut to be ready to fly. Deltas fly without a tail but look better and are more stable in stronger winds with one of the many tail types available.

Easy-Flyer kites: are a variation of the delta with permanently attached tails. Ideal for children, they are so stable that they are almost guaranteed to fly in all but the most unfavorable conditions. Again, they come in many patterns and some designs are very amusing.

Cellular or box kites: are interesting structures that fly well in good winds. There are even those that rotate in flight, providing a mesmerizing spectacle. Most of these kites require more assembly than the previous three categories and are not quite as easy to fly. However, there are some that come pre-assembled. They simply open and are then immediately ready to go.

Parafoils and Sleds: are kites that rely on the wind to inflate them rather than spars (sticks) to hold their shape. All but the smallest sleds usually have very thin, flexible tubes built in, while parafoils are completely soft. Large ones can pull very hard, but the smaller ones are perfect for a child and are so small and packable that you can easily take them with you wherever you go. Flying is easy, but they aren’t always quite as stable as the sticky kites.

There are many more specialized types of kites that you may wish to explore once you have mastered the art of kite flying.

FLY YOUR NEW KITE

Read the supplied instructions first! Make sure you know how to assemble it and be careful not to lose any parts.

Then find a nice, open place to fly, as far away from buildings, power lines, roads, and trees as possible. Trees do eat dragons, and even experienced flyers fear them. And all the structures disrupt the flow of the wind, making conditions turbulent for long stretches downwind.

Kites don’t need much wind. Most feel most comfortable with a constant wind between 8 and 20 km/h. If the wind is strong enough to blow your hat off, it’s probably too strong for kite flying!

Assemble your kite and then tie the line very carefully. You don’t want to lose your new kite on the first flight.

DO NOT WALK with the kite. This is never necessary and actually makes the kite very unstable. In a steady breeze most kites launch easily from your hand and then you just need to gradually let out more line as the kite climbs. Keep some tension on the line while doing this as the kite will not fly without it. If the wind is very light, have someone hold the kite about 50 feet or more downwind, pull the line taut, and then signal your friend to let go. At the same time step backwards and pull the kite into the air. You can then encourage him to climb higher by alternately pulling and releasing the leash.

Once your kite is airborne it will usually stay there for as long as you like if the wind picks up. When you take it off, carefully rewind the line onto the spool to avoid tangling and pack the kite away to await its next adventure. Don’t lose spars or other parts!

Once you have truly mastered the art of single line flying you may want to try the excitement of piloting a two line or even four line kite, of which we have a very good selection. For information on how to fly, see the Tips and Tricks page.

Recently, the National Air and Space Museum hosted the Kites of Asia Family Day. There were many kite activities, cultural handicrafts, indoor kite flyers, and Japanese kite masters. All the incredible kites and amazing activities made me wonder how many people actually understand how kites fly. To understand how a kite flies, you need to define what a kite is. A kite is a heavier-than-air object that flies… just like an airplane. Most kites consist of three main components: the kite body (which comes in many different shapes and sizes), the bridle (or harness), and the control line (or tether). The dragon body consists of a framework and an outer shell. The frame is usually made of a lightweight material such as wood or plastic. Paper, fabric or plastic is then stretched over the framework, transforming it into a kind of wing. The bridle and control line help the kite flyer to control the kite. In flight, the kite is connected to the kite flyer by the control line, which is connected to the kite by the bridle. The kite will pivot and dive around the point where the bridle connects to the steering line.

dragon diagram

The four forces of flight (i.e., lift, weight, drag, and thrust) affect kites the same way they affect airplanes and anything else that flies. Lift is the upward force that pushes a kite into the air. Lift is generated by air pressure differences created by air movement over the kite’s body. Kites are shaped and angled so that the air moving over the top moves faster than the air moving over the bottom. Daniel Bernoulli, an 18th-century Swiss mathematician, discovered that the pressure of a liquid (like air) decreases as the liquid speeds up. Since the air speed above the kite is greater than the air speed below, the pressure above is less than the pressure below and the kite is pushed into the air and – tada – lifts off! Weight is the downward force created by the earth’s gravity on the kite. The weight pulls the kite towards the center of the earth. Thrust is the forward force that propels a kite in the direction of travel. An airplane generates thrust with its engines, but a kite must rely on the tension of the cord and the moving air created by the wind or the kite flyer’s forward motion to generate thrust. Drag is the backward force opposing the direction of motion. Drag is caused by the difference in air pressure between the front and back of the kite and the friction of the air moving over the surface of the kite. In order to get a kite up in the air, the lift force must be greater than the weight force. In order for a kite to fly stably, the four forces must be in balance. Lift must equal weight and thrust must equal drag.

Wind obviously plays a big part in kite flying. But what do you do when you have no wind or are trying to fly your kite indoors? Check out the video of this national indoor kite flyer from family day. There was obviously no wind inside, so how could he be flying kites in the middle of the Space Race gallery? The kite flyers use different running patterns, arm movements and twists to create lift, drag and thrust to make the indoor kite flying experience like a dance. Indoors or outdoors, it doesn’t matter if the wind is blowing across the surface of the kite or the kite is being pulled through the air – lift must overcome weight and thrust must overcome drag to keep the kite aloft . To learn more about the four forces of flight, visit the How Things Fly website. And to learn more about kite aerodynamics and experiment with different kites, visit the NASA website.

MBK Paper Delta Modern paper kites run the gamut from super fast designs that barely fly to carefully crafted traditional kites that shoot high at the slightest gust of wind. Many years ago the very first kite I ever bought from a shop was an Indian design. Made from colored fabric and bamboo, it was an exceptionally good flyer in a wide range of wind speeds! What types of kites are even made with paper sails?

A few moments with the thinking cap on yielded three very broad categories to answer this question. Strangely my MBK Paper Series doesn’t belong in any of them! But that doesn’t matter. A category is covered in each of the sections further down this page.

There is more kite building information on this page than you can imagine 🙂 Want to know how to use it all in the most convenient way?

The Big MBK E-Book Bundle is a collection of downloads – printable PDF files containing step-by-step instructions for many kites big and small. Every kite in every MBK series.

Kites for western kids

Kites for children have been commercially available since at least the mid-20th century. The majority of these use paper as the sail material. Although store-bought kites are now mostly made of plastic or nylon, kite-making workshops for kids still often use paper or fabric for sails.

The basic diamond is a common choice because it’s so easy to craft and such a reliable flyer. The longer the tail, the more reliable 🙂 Rokkakus are often made of paper. Another choice for the artistically inclined are butterfly kites, which tend to be pale imitations of the real flying artworks from China.

The kite paper

Here the range of options is quite large. For a dragon with a frame, like a diamond or rok, almost anything will work to some extent. As long as it’s not so porous that it lets air through! A boundary line goes around the tips of the spars and the paper or fabric is slightly oversized. Therefore the sail can be folded over and taped around the edges to keep it flat and resist tearing.

Let’s see, considering lightness and porosity, you could try:

Wrapping paper

rice paper

origami paper

writing paper

Newspaper! (the poor man’s sail stuff)

Not to mention a variety of other non-wood products such as mylar and cellophane.

Minimal Dragons

A Single Sheet of Copy Paper I’m not sure if such a term really exists, but it seemed appropriate enough. Some kite designs these days are for the bare minimum of everything. Minimum complexity

construction time

material costs

Dragonmaker Ability! Not surprisingly, this approach tends to result in…even minimal performance, but that doesn’t stop many people from enjoying the thrill of making something themselves and then watching it fly! Long tails are often required to keep the kites stable and they don’t fly at all in light winds as the paper and tape can be quite heavy. Of course, kids can always drag them around to make them fly. Most of these kites probably fall into two categories – sleds and paper airplanes. Yes, one of the most well-known of these looks a bit like a paper airplane, except that a bamboo skewer or straw is glued over it to act as a horizontal spar. Due to the small size of these designs, most of them can be flown on sewing thread lines.

The Kite Paper What is the most commonly available paper on the planet? A4 or letter-sized sheets of course, which are commonly used for photocopying. These are too heavy for great power, but can be persuaded to fly, as evidenced by the kite designs mentioned earlier. In fact, the image above is our Minimum Sled design. It’s made from a single A4 sheet and little else!

Any reasonably thin and stiff type of paper could be tried and should work to some extent. For example wrapping paper that could have some great patterns pre-printed on it. However, thin tissue or crepe paper would be less suitable.

Traditional kites

Exquisite Cloth and Bamboo “Leaf” Although the kite-making tradition in various places dates back 100 or even 1000 years, modern kite makers in Asia still produce large quantities of paper kites that are very faithful to the ancient traditions. Often the kite paper and techniques used are virtually unchanged. In China, India and Japan, kite making is closely linked to their culture. The main sail material for traditional style kites is paper or fabric. You can see this in the close-up photo of a Taiwanese leaf kite. It’s a pretty good representation of a leaf, don’t you think? And in the next photo you can see the whole platoon of traditional Taiwanese kites that we saw at the Adelaide Kite Festival a year ago. They are tissue paper and bamboo; all are attached to a single flying line made of natural material.

Most of these dragons are excellent fliers. I will never forget my native american kite that I bought when I was a teenager. It was my first experience with a high performance single line.

Silk and bamboo kite train The kite paper

Apparently, the art of handcrafting extremely strong yet lightweight kite paper originated in China before making its way to Japan. In Japan, this “Washi” paper is often made from the bark of mulberry trees. The end product is made of thin fiber layers laminated on top of each other. It’s the long length of the fibers that gives the extra strength. Commercially made paper made from wood pulp just doesn’t compare!

Indian battle kites are traditionally made from tissue paper and bamboo strips, although modern versions often use materials such as mylar or plastic wrap as well. Modern recreations of these kites work reasonably well with tissue sheets from newsagents or gift shops. As long as the fabric is relatively light in thickness, weight, and stretch, it’s fine. However, the Indian manufacturers of the best fighters have their own special sources of tissue paper. Have fun experimenting with all types of kite paper! Maybe one day I’ll try it myself with a big newspaper kite. I’m curious!

Kite flyers say “no” to the plastic kite because they feel it lacks character

Kite flyers say “no” to the plastic kite because they feel it lacks character

The kite vendors at the General Bazaar are ready. They’ve made pretty streamers with little kites, tied baby spindles together in long garlands, hung kites of different colors and sizes for display, and brightened up their makeshift shutters. The only downside: none of the afternoon shoppers stop by.

It’s the other shops in the neighborhood with reasonably priced shoes, hair clips and earrings that sell ‘everything’ under £100 and have more visitors.

But Babu, the part-time salesman, is not disappointed: “Yeh ladies time hai, sab log ghar ka saman ke liye atey. Aur yeh time mein bacche school mein rehte (that’s ladies time; everyone comes to shop for household necessities and it’s when the kids are at school).” Crowds will swell a day before and after Sankranti, he says.

As soon as the holidays start or work ends, men and boys come to kite. A shop at Neredmet Junction is a little busier, and children returning from school drop by with loose change to inquire about kite prices. Shopkeeper Shanti Kumar enjoys chatting with them. “These children will come back with their fathers to buy the kites. I have fewer plastic dragons in stock. They’re cheap and still in demand, but experienced kite flyers usually ask for paper kites,” he says. For some reason, a black kite is the preferred choice.

Kite lovers and followers of this tradition look forward to this day to fly kites and regret the lack of kites in the sky. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that a few years ago the sky was littered with kites. We used to collect dragon piles by cutting up other dragons. My older brother and I used to cut and the youngest, who was an athlete, ran them. It might sound cheap but after we collected the kites we cut we used to sell them to other guys who wanted kites ASAP but didn’t want to leave their place. The rest would go to the kids in the alleys who couldn’t afford to spend big bucks buying kites,” says K Sudheer, a businessman.

Sudheer and his brothers are sad that the festival somehow turned into a celebration of plastic kites. “The sound and look of plastic just put us off. Besides, they are Chinese. We love our own kites and still buy them to give out to the kids on the train. Traditionally we still fly a kite or two, but it’s become boring because we have no competition,” he says.

Why are paper kites preferred over plastic kites? “Paper has an unsurpassed grace. When a paper kite and a plastic kite fly up at the same time, the paper kite is admired. Plastic kites are nothing, on the contrary, it’s a rip-off,” says businessman Ananth V. He hopes his son will one day enjoy kite flying. “I’ve never bought a plastic kite, nor will I encourage anyone,” he says sternly.

Is there a difference in the technique of flying paper and plastic kites? “Plastic kites need more control because they are lighter and easily carried away. But it can’t be a leader, it’s like a runaway villain, just like bad drivers on the road,” says Jay Sriram, a civil engineer.

Shopkeepers Say Demand for Plastic Kites Hasn’t Died Yet; Some still prefer to buy them. But most bulk purchases for schools, offices, and families have turned to paper kites. “Plastic in any form is taboo in my house and I can’t stand the sight of thin plastic kites hanging from trees and utility poles. So my votes for plastic dragons were never there,” says Nirmala Kamal, a homemaker.

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Building a kite with your kids is a wonderful learning experience and flying together is so much fun and rewarding! If you’ve been wondering how to build a kite, it really isn’t as hard as it seems and it’s definitely worth the time. Here’s how we made our own newspaper kite!

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Flying kites is one of our favorite things to do as a family. (We actually have this little pocket kite that we keep in our bag of beach toys to use when we’re at the beach.) I love watching the kids try to get their kites airborne and seeing the joy on their faces as they fly their kites!

Since my kids were so excited this summer, I decided to see if we could make our own kites! I can’t even put into words how much fun we had building them together and taking them to a nearby field to fly them. It was literally hours of running and laughing and FUN!

How to build a kite

Materials for crafting a kite

A whole sheet of newspaper

Two 1/4 inch round wooden dowels (one 24 inch, one 20 inch)

scissors

pencil

line

masking tape or packing tape

ruler or scale

yarn and/or ribbons

Small handsaw

Instructions for building a kite

1. Start by cutting your wooden dowels to the right lengths – 24 inches and 20 inches. (The kids helped me measure the dowels with a ruler, and I cut them myself with the saw.)

2. Use your handsaw to make notches in both ends of your two wooden dowels. (I did this myself for security reasons.)

3. Lay the 24 inch dowel vertically and measure 6 inches from the top. Mark it with a pencil. Place the smaller dowel over this mark to form a T shape. Wrap the dowels together with your string where they meet. Note the notches at the end of each dowel. They should all be parallel to the ground your sticks are on so you can wrap a string around the frame later.

Put some masking tape over the string to secure your dowels.

4. Wrap the string all the way around the kite, making sure it goes snugly into the notches.

Now that your frame is complete it’s time to add your newspaper. (You can also use a plastic garbage bag.)

5. Lay a large sheet of newspaper on the floor. Put your frame on it. Cut about 1 inch outside the frame so your newspaper is the same shape.

6. Fold the edges of the newspaper over the string and tape in place.

7. Cut a 24 inch piece of twine. Poke holes in the top and bottom points of the kite. Tie one end of the string in the top hole and one end in the bottom hole. (Use some tape to keep it secure.) This is your kite’s brindle. Tie your flying line to this brindle line to fly your kite. (We started by tying the line about 1/3 of the way down the brindle and adjusted as we flew our kite.)

8. Use ribbon to create a tail for your dragon.

Now you are ready to kite fly!

Let our homemade kite fly

Tip: be sure to bring scissors, tape and string if you plan to fly your kite. We’ve made all sorts of adjustments to get our kites airborne!

Flying our homemade kites was one of my fondest memories of this summer! We literally ran around for hours working to get our kites airborne!

Kite flying required a lot of teamwork. Here’s Lucy and Theo trying to get Lucy’s plastic trash bag kite up!

Somehow our newspaper kite survived the crash and was dragged across the ground many times. It was a lot stronger than it seemed!

Persistence paid off! Theo was SO proud when he finally put it together!

This was really such a fun family activity. It would be a great way to end your summer or a fun way to reconnect on the weekends! This would also be a great science activity for homeschoolers or sixth form classrooms!

Check out our e-book for more STEM activities! Learn more about it here or buy it here now!

Skip to content

The kite guide for beginners

How to fly your kite safely

As they say what the wind blows

How to fly a single line kite

Avoid problems and solve problems

Hang Gliding Videos

Don’t see what you need?

HOW TO FLY YOUR KITE SAFELY

find space

Choose an area free of obstacles such as houses, trees, and power lines. Beaches and parks are usually good spots, but remember that kites can crash and be destroyed by the waves. Only fly where the kite does not pose a threat.

When and where to fly a kite

Kites can be flown at any time of the year as long as the wind is right. It is recommended to consider the wind range for your kite type. Do not fly a kite on days when the wind is too strong for the type of kite you are flying. This will only damage the kite. Most kites should not be flown faster than 20mph. Never fly in rain or lightning. Electricity in clouds is attracted to damp kite lines and you could injure yourself.

Stay away from power lines

Never fly near power lines If your kite becomes entangled in a power line, drop the line on the ground and call your local utility for help Do not try to get the kite down yourself Some power lines carry extremely high voltages. Kite lines or kites can become electrical conductors when wet. You could be killed or seriously injured if your kite gets tangled on a high-voltage power line. Never fly a kite during an approaching storm or in the rain as wet line will conduct electricity Do not use wire as a flying line Always follow local flight safety regulations. Avoid flying in aerodrome circuits near airports. Large kites can be dangerous and require extra care. Wear gloves when flying large kites. A big kite can sweep you away. Always use a release system. Do not let the line run through your fingers or hands too quickly – you will burn or cut yourself. Do not use blades or sharp objects on a kite or line. Do not throw heavy objects onto a locked kite. Instead, try to let the kite fly free

HOW TO DETECT WIND SPEED WITH THE BEAUFFORT SCALE:

Breeze? Have a helper take the kite downwind and hold it up. On command, the helper lets go of the kite and the flyer pulls the line hand in hand while the kite gains height. Practice this high launch technique.

No helper? Support the kite against a bush, post or wall. Unroll enough line for the height and simply pull the kite up.

If the kite sinks tail first, there may not be enough wind. If it comes down headfirst or turns, there might be too much wind. Different kites fly in different winds.

Bridles: If your kite has an adjustable bridle, set it higher (closer to the tip) in stronger winds and lower (towards the tail) in lighter winds. (Set no more than 1/2 inch at a time.)

Tails: Adding tails to your kite will help it remain stable in stronger winds. Use lightweight materials so you can use a lot! Looks great!

AVOID PROBLEMS:

4-6 4-7 Leaves rustle Slightly 7-10 8-12 Little flags fly Gentle 11-16 13-18 Dust flies Moderate 17-21 19-24 Trees sway-flies risky Fresh 22-27 25-31 Trees bens-flies not StrongStand with your back to the wind. Hold your kite up at the bridle point and let out the line. If there is enough wind, your kite will go straight up. Let the kite fly away from you a little and then pull the line when the kite is pointing up to make it climb. Repeat this until your kite has reached the required height to find a good, steady wind.

Use the correct flying line

A line that is too heavy will weigh down a kite

A line that is too light and your line could break and you could lose your kite

Do not use monofilament (fishing line). It’s hard to see and can be dangerous

When flying lines cross, one cuts or notches the other

SOLVE PROBLEMS:

If your kite turns and the wind is not too strong:

A tail that is too short can cause your kite to spin

Check if the struts are mounted correctly or if both sides of the kite are the same

On delta kites, make sure the leading edge stays are pushed all the way down into the wingtips. Your tow point (where the line is attached) might be too far forward…try moving the tow point towards the nose of the kite

Kite does not launch, but the wind is strong enough to support the kite’s weight:

If a tail is too heavy or too long the kite will not fly

Replace or remove part of the tail

A tow point is located aft to allow a kite to be flown in light wind conditions or to prevent the kite from turning, too far aft and the kite refuses to fly…Move the tow point forward

Dragon pulls aside:

A kite might pull to one side to let off wind

Move the tow point forward

There can be wind conditions that cause the kite to pull to one side. Glue a piece of tail to the opposite side

KITE FLYING VIDEOS

Check out Prism’s Freestyle Pilot video series to see all the tricks from beginner to advanced! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuyl1SifkX7jcufTOpU8Z8I11ERG-ZF7o

Don’t see what you’re looking for?

Let us know and we can add it to our site!

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult for help with tools you have never used.

Box kites are known for their high lift. In fact, most kite altitude records are held by large box kites. You can make this box kite using easy-to-find materials from your hardware or craft store. Lightweight materials help it soar even in a mild breeze.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A BOX KITE

pocket knife

pencil

scissors

Fine-toothed saw

4 wooden dowels 1⁄4″ x 36″

4 wooden dowels 1⁄4″ x 17″

4 straws that can slide over 1⁄4 inch dowels

household cord

carpenter’s glue

Duct or masking tape

Lightweight construction paper (You can also use 2 mil plastic cloth, newspaper, wrapping paper, or plastic trash bags.) You will need two sheets of material 11″ x 64″.

kite string

WHAT YOU WILL DO TO MAKE A BOX KITE

1. Cut the 1⁄4 inch dowels to length. Use your pocket knife to carve a notch in each end of the 17 inch dowels. Notches on opposite ends of each dowel must have the same angle to fit the dowels they are crossing.

2. Mark each 17″ dowel halfway along its length at 8 1⁄2″. Twist the notches the right way and tie two tightly together halfway with household twine. Saturate the cord with glue. After the glue dries, wrap the joints tightly with masking tape or tape. Make two of these cross pieces that will hold the frame together.

3. Cut eight 4 inch long straws. Cut and fold each straw as shown. Slide the straws onto each 36 inch dowel. Use duct tape to hold the straws in place, 6 inches from the end of each dowel. Make sure both straws on each dowel are pointing in the same direction. Slide the crosspieces into the straws. Use tape to hold the whole thing together while tying the joints tight with string, soak with glue and tape as in step 2. This process will create a very sturdy frame for your kite. Optionally, you can wrap a string around each end of the frame to add strength.

4. Glue the 11″ x 64″ sheet material and wrap it tightly around the frame. Cut to length and secure with tape.

5. Apply tape around the panels on all edges.

6. Attach the kite string as shown and you are ready to fly.

PHOTOS OF THE COMPLETED PROJECT

Check out these photos of the completed project, sent to us by Boys’ Life readers. If you have photos from a BL Workshop project, please use the form below to send them to us.

I have put my woodworking skills into a craft of kite making, furniture making and sculpting in wood.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and completeness. wikiHow’s content management team carefully oversees our editorial team’s work to ensure that every article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 154,037 times.

Article overview

X

If you want to make a Chinese kite, cut out the shape of your kite from two sheets of thin fiber paper or newspaper and decorate your kite with paint, markers, or crayons. Make a frame by attaching 2 bamboo or wooden dowels with twine in a T shape. Tape the frame to the kite, then tie yarn to the tip of each dowel so it outlines the kite’s shape. Make a bridle cord three times the length of your kite and attach it to either end of the frame. Tie your kite reel to the bridle line and attach the tail, then take your kite for its first flight! Read on for tips on making your dragon look like an animal!

Skip to content

The kite guide for beginners

How to fly your kite safely

As they say what the wind blows

How to fly a single line kite

Avoid problems and solve problems

Hang Gliding Videos

Don’t see what you need?

HOW TO FLY YOUR KITE SAFELY

find space

Choose an area free of obstacles such as houses, trees, and power lines. Beaches and parks are usually good spots, but remember that kites can crash and be destroyed by the waves. Only fly where the kite does not pose a threat.

When and where to fly a kite

Kites can be flown at any time of the year as long as the wind is right. It is recommended to consider the wind range for your kite type. Do not fly a kite on days when the wind is too strong for the type of kite you are flying. This will only damage the kite. Most kites should not be flown faster than 20mph. Never fly in rain or lightning. Electricity in clouds is attracted to damp kite lines and you could injure yourself.

Stay away from power lines

Never fly near power lines If your kite becomes entangled in a power line, drop the line on the ground and call your local utility for help Do not try to get the kite down yourself Some power lines carry extremely high voltages. Kite lines or kites can become electrical conductors when wet. You could be killed or seriously injured if your kite gets tangled on a high-voltage power line. Never fly a kite during an approaching storm or in the rain as wet line will conduct electricity Do not use wire as a flying line Always follow local flight safety regulations. Avoid flying in aerodrome circuits near airports. Large kites can be dangerous and require extra care. Wear gloves when flying large kites. A big kite can sweep you away. Always use a release system. Do not let the line run through your fingers or hands too quickly – you will burn or cut yourself. Do not use blades or sharp objects on a kite or line. Do not throw heavy objects onto a locked kite. Instead, try to let the kite fly free

HOW TO DETECT WIND SPEED WITH THE BEAUFFORT SCALE:

Breeze? Have a helper take the kite downwind and hold it up. On command, the helper lets go of the kite and the flyer pulls the line hand in hand while the kite gains height. Practice this high launch technique.

No helper? Support the kite against a bush, post or wall. Unroll enough line for the height and simply pull the kite up.

If the kite sinks tail first, there may not be enough wind. If it comes down headfirst or turns, there might be too much wind. Different kites fly in different winds.

Bridles: If your kite has an adjustable bridle, set it higher (closer to the tip) in stronger winds and lower (towards the tail) in lighter winds. (Set no more than 1/2 inch at a time.)

Tails: Adding tails to your kite will help it remain stable in stronger winds. Use lightweight materials so you can use a lot! Looks great!

AVOID PROBLEMS:

4-6 4-7 Leaves rustle Slightly 7-10 8-12 Little flags fly Gentle 11-16 13-18 Dust flies Moderate 17-21 19-24 Trees sway-flies risky Fresh 22-27 25-31 Trees bens-flies not StrongStand with your back to the wind. Hold your kite up at the bridle point and let out the line. If there is enough wind, your kite will go straight up. Let the kite fly away from you a little and then pull the line when the kite is pointing up to make it climb. Repeat this until your kite has reached the required height to find a good, steady wind.

Use the correct flying line

A line that is too heavy will weigh down a kite

A line that is too light and your line could break and you could lose your kite

Do not use monofilament (fishing line). It’s hard to see and can be dangerous

When flying lines cross, one cuts or notches the other

SOLVE PROBLEMS:

If your kite turns and the wind is not too strong:

A tail that is too short can cause your kite to spin

Check if the struts are mounted correctly or if both sides of the kite are the same

On delta kites, make sure the leading edge stays are pushed all the way down into the wingtips. Your tow point (where the line is attached) might be too far forward…try moving the tow point towards the nose of the kite

Kite does not launch, but the wind is strong enough to support the kite’s weight:

If a tail is too heavy or too long the kite will not fly

Replace or remove part of the tail

A tow point is located aft to allow a kite to be flown in light wind conditions or to prevent the kite from turning, too far aft and the kite refuses to fly…Move the tow point forward

Dragon pulls aside:

A kite might pull to one side to let off wind

Move the tow point forward

There can be wind conditions that cause the kite to pull to one side. Glue a piece of tail to the opposite side

KITE FLYING VIDEOS

Check out Prism’s Freestyle Pilot video series to see all the tricks from beginner to advanced! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuyl1SifkX7jcufTOpU8Z8I11ERG-ZF7o

Don’t see what you’re looking for?

Let us know and we can add it to our site!