CaroleMeckes
15th June 2001, 10:01 PM
In 1995, I read a wonderful book called FUN WITH KITES by John and Kate Dyson and made the follow notes:
Kite Information:
- The actual size of the kite is irrelevant.
- A small kite is harder to fly than a large kite.
- It is the proportions of the kite and its symmetry that are important.
- A lop-sided kite simply won't fly.
- The Japanese name for a kite (tako) means octopus.
- The Chinese word for kite (feng-cheng) means wind-harp.
- The Indian word for kite (patang) means a feather.
- The German word for kite (drache) means a dragon.
Traditional eastern kites were made of rice paper or silk, over bamboo frames.
They had faces of birds and animals in bright colors .
For the long straight sticks required in the construction of most kites, dowels measuring 1/4 inch (5mm) in diameter are the best. Bamboo is suitable for the upright "backbone" stick of a kite but not for any stick which lies across the kite or which has to be bent, because bamboo is not of an even thickness and the kite will not be symmetrical. (* of course,
the bamboo could be "shaved" so that it could be symmetrical)
It is important that the grain of the fabric (criss-cross weave) is aligned exactly with the vertical and horizontal center-lines of the kite.
Otherwise, when the material is stretched, it will distort and the kite will not be symmetrical.
Kites are made to be seen from far away, so decorations should be big, bold and bright.
Without a tail, a flat surface kite will spin all aver the sky and crash into the ground.
A tail keeps the kite upright and well balanced.
A tail can be as simple as long pieces of wide ribbon.
It is the friction of the wind blowing over the tail that helps to keep the kite upright.
One rule of thumb is that the tail must be at least six times longer than the width of the kite.
The bridal is the arrangement of strings or tapes by which the flying line is attached to the kite.
If the line is attached in only one place the kite wobbles so much that it loses all lift.
A kite is designed to fly at an angle to the wind. The angle must be precisely set before the kite will fly-by adjusting the bridle.
The best material for a bridle is cotton tape about 1/2 inch (125mm) wide, but it can also be made of thick string.
For a two part bridle about 6 ft (2m) of sting is required, for a three-part bridle, 8ft (3m)
Notes from FUN WITH KITES by John and Kate Dyson
Kite Information:
- The actual size of the kite is irrelevant.
- A small kite is harder to fly than a large kite.
- It is the proportions of the kite and its symmetry that are important.
- A lop-sided kite simply won't fly.
- The Japanese name for a kite (tako) means octopus.
- The Chinese word for kite (feng-cheng) means wind-harp.
- The Indian word for kite (patang) means a feather.
- The German word for kite (drache) means a dragon.
Traditional eastern kites were made of rice paper or silk, over bamboo frames.
They had faces of birds and animals in bright colors .
For the long straight sticks required in the construction of most kites, dowels measuring 1/4 inch (5mm) in diameter are the best. Bamboo is suitable for the upright "backbone" stick of a kite but not for any stick which lies across the kite or which has to be bent, because bamboo is not of an even thickness and the kite will not be symmetrical. (* of course,
the bamboo could be "shaved" so that it could be symmetrical)
It is important that the grain of the fabric (criss-cross weave) is aligned exactly with the vertical and horizontal center-lines of the kite.
Otherwise, when the material is stretched, it will distort and the kite will not be symmetrical.
Kites are made to be seen from far away, so decorations should be big, bold and bright.
Without a tail, a flat surface kite will spin all aver the sky and crash into the ground.
A tail keeps the kite upright and well balanced.
A tail can be as simple as long pieces of wide ribbon.
It is the friction of the wind blowing over the tail that helps to keep the kite upright.
One rule of thumb is that the tail must be at least six times longer than the width of the kite.
The bridal is the arrangement of strings or tapes by which the flying line is attached to the kite.
If the line is attached in only one place the kite wobbles so much that it loses all lift.
A kite is designed to fly at an angle to the wind. The angle must be precisely set before the kite will fly-by adjusting the bridle.
The best material for a bridle is cotton tape about 1/2 inch (125mm) wide, but it can also be made of thick string.
For a two part bridle about 6 ft (2m) of sting is required, for a three-part bridle, 8ft (3m)
Notes from FUN WITH KITES by John and Kate Dyson