Making and Flying Kites

Kites are devices that are meant to be flown in the air at the end of a string. Building kites and flying kites is an informal pastime, as well as a competitive sport in many parts of the world. As a matter of fact, nearly all kite flying festivals all across Asia have "kite fights," which is a venerated and ancient custom where players attempt to cut down their adversaries' kites by cutting off their lines. This is achieved by using small, extremely maneuverable "fighter kites" that are connected to glass-coated "cutting lines." These specialty "cutting lines" are used to cut the lines of competing kites.

In Korea, men, women and children fly kites during the first few days of the New Year. Kite flying is also something to look forward to, and an essential part of the boys' festival, which is held each May in Japan, and in China, one day each year is celebrated as Kites' Day. On those days, thousands of kites shaped like fish, butterflies and dragons take to the air and soar over the cities and towns. Thailand also supports an International Kite Festival in which all kites fall into one of two classes: chula (male) or pakpao (female) kites. The kites are huge and need quite a lot of people to fly them. There are also kite-flying competitions held yearly in the United States and Canada.

Types of Kites

There are numerous assorted forms of kites. The simplest kind of kites is the two-stick solitary plane bow kite. It can be bought ready-made or it can be put together from do-it-yourself kits or made completely by hand. When creating plain kites, the sticks that are utilized can be of any sturdy, light wood with a straight grain. The covering material can just be regular brown wrapping paper, or a lightweight cloth, such as silk or nylon. Plastic sheets of different kinds are also used. In addition, cloth is used for the tail and a string for the flight line. There are also more sophisticated kinds of kites that can be assembled.

The box kite consists basically of two rectangular boxes, open on two parallel sides each and connected by a common framework. Lawrence Hargrave invented it in the 1890's. Box kites are trickier to construct than stick kites, but they are outstanding flyers and will keep their place for long periods. Box kites also adapt well to changes in the wind, and they do not require a tail.

How to Fly Kites

Kites take to the air, like airplanes, on the aerodynamic theory of wind pressure against a heavier-than-air object. The motor and propeller of the airplane create a wind pressure as they move the plane through the air. When the pressure is great enough to overcome gravity, the plane is pushed up and allowed to remain aloft. The same effect of wind pressure is created by the kite flyer as he runs across an open field. As the kite moves against the wind, the string tips the face of the kite onward. The wind shoves up on this tipped face and raises the kite, just as a wedge pressed beneath an object lifts it up.

Jim Remington is a researcher and writer working for http://www.akiratoys.com, where you can get all the best kites, spinners, and toys at the best prices. Visit us for all your chinese kites needs.

- Jim Remington