»OUTINGTaking flight
The best windspeed for flying
kites is between 5mph and
25mph – there are smartphone
apps that can measure this for
you, but if that seems too fussy,
simply notice the effect of the
wind on the things around you.
Is it strong enough to pick up
leaves? Then it’s ideal for flying.
Don’t fly a kite when it’s raining
and certainly don’t attempt
it during a thunderstorm.
Get comfortable by taking a
pair of gloves – fingers get cold
launching a kite – and sunglasses
if the weather’s clear. You’ll
be looking skywards, after all.
A thermos of tea is optional.
The simplest kites are single-line
delta or diamond designs.
Pick your spot. Any large open
space away from buildings,
trees, roads, airports and
overhead power lines can
be used. Beaches, parks and
the tops of hills are popular.
To bring a kite down gently,
wind the line in. Step forwards
a pace or two so that the line
becomes slack. The kite should
flutter to the ground.Kinds of kite
Rokkaku dako – A traditional
Japanese fighting kite with a
hexagonal shape. A kite battle
would involve trying to force
your opponent’s kite to the
ground by tipping it over, cutting
its line or ‘stealing’ its wind by
positioning your kite in front
of it. Today these kites are
sometimes used for aerial
photography as they’re easy
to manoeuvre and can lift
the weight of a camera.
Tetrahedral kite – invented by
Alexander Graham Bell, this is
made up of pyramid-shaped
cells. Bell was hoping to invent
a person-carrying kite, but
the designs proved too heavy.
The largest kite ever flown,
according to Guinness World
Records, was 950m2 – its
design was of Kuwait’s flag.
It was launched at the Kuwait
Hala Festival in Kuwait City
in February 2005.»OUTINGTaking flight
The best windspeed for flying
kites is between 5mph and
25mph – there are smartphone
apps that can measure this for
you, but if that seems too fussy,
simply notice the effect of the
wind on the things around you.
Is it strong enough to pick up
leaves? Then it’s ideal for flying.
Don’t fly a kite when it’s raining
and certainly don’t attempt
it during a thunderstorm.
Get comfortable by taking a
pair of gloves – fingers get cold
launching a kite – and sunglasses
if the weather’s clear. You’ll
be looking skywards, after all.
A thermos of tea is optional.
The simplest kites are single-line
delta or diamond designs.
Pick your spot. Any large open
space away from buildings,
trees, roads, airports and
overhead power lines can
be used. Beaches, parks and
the tops of hills are popular.
To bring a kite down gently,
wind the line in. Step forwards
a pace or two so that the line
becomes slack. The kite should
flutter to the ground.Kinds of kite
Rokkaku dako – A traditional
Japanese fighting kite with a
hexagonal shape. A kite battle
would involve trying to force
your opponent’s kite to the
ground by tipping it over, cutting
its line or ‘stealing’ its wind by
positioning your kite in front
of it. Today these kites are
sometimes used for aerial
photography as they’re easy
to manoeuvre and can lift
the weight of a camera.
Tetrahedral kite – invented by
Alexander Graham Bell, this is
made up of pyramid-shaped
cells. Bell was hoping to invent
a person-carrying kite, but
the designs proved too heavy.
The largest kite ever flown,
according to Guinness World
Records, was 950m2 – its
design was of Kuwait’s flag.
It was launched at the Kuwait
Hala Festival in Kuwait City
in February 2005.
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