Kites date back 3000 years, when the Chinese made them from bamboo and silk. Over the centuries kites have been used in religious ceremonies (in ancient Japan), scientific experiments (such as Ben Franklin's famous kite in the thunderstorm) and for military maneuvers. But today, the kites we like to fly in the spring are just for fun! Here is a look at both the history and the fun of kites. [Editor's Note: An updated version of this topic can be found here: Kites]
This eye-pleasing site created for a Physics course starts with a short explanation of drag and lift, then quickly moves on to other disciplines. Don't miss the folk tales from China, Bali and Hawaii (found on History of Kites page) or the interviews with kiters Michael Graves and Peter Peters. Instructions for building a simple diamond kite and a large list of kite links complete this site.
Damien du Toit lives in Cape Town, South Africa "where the long white beaches seem to stretch endlessly" and host "many kite fanatics." He advises beginners to choose a kite without a center spine because there is less "danger of the sail tearing or breaking in a hard crash." Hats off to his terrific History of Kites and notes on the kite's historic role in scientific discovery and transport. A list of six safety precautions is on the Flying page, along with tricks to try once you've mastered the basics.
Dave "Kite Guy" Ellis is a retired teacher from Overland Park, Kansas who shares his love of kiting by giving in-school kiting presentations and creating this extensive Web resource. I recommend starting at the Table of Contents. Once inside you'll find lots of educational goodies for teachers and plans for making kites. My favorite clicks are History of Kites in Japan and Other Parts of the World and Kites in American History.
Professor Kite teaches us how to pick the right kite for different days. "Deltas, Diamonds and Dragon kites fly well in light to medium winds (approximately 6-15 mph) while Box Kites and stickless Parafoil kites fly better when the winds get a little stronger (approximately 8-25 mph)." Flying is most fun in a medium wind, when you can do more than just hold on for dear life. Look for movement in the leaves and bushes, but not blowing or shaking. The Professor also explains how to get your kite to fly and lists important safety rules.
"Come in and see my sketches and descriptions of kites of every shape and size, many of them also including historical, anecdotal, allegorical or aeronautical snippets of information." The Virtual Kite Zoo categorizes more than fifty types of kites. Start with the terminology page (unless you already know your longerons from your spreaders) and then take the guided tour. You can finish with the JavaScript kite quiz.
The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
20 Kids * 20 Kites * 20 MinutesAnthony's Kite Workshop | Colorful Kites |
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