Kite Flying Tips Moon Glow SPORTS 2016 MoonGlowSports moonglowsports.com
Congratulations on your kite purchase! Whether you are an absolute beginner or a kite flying veteran, you will find information in this book that will help you get maximum performance and enjoyment from your kite. BEGINNERS Most experts advise beginners to start with single line kites. This is exactly what it sounds like - a kite that you fly and control by holding onto one line (also known as the kite string). But don't think your options are limited because you're a beginner. The most obvious way to choose a kite is by appearance. You can find kites in your favorite color, as well as a variety of materials and sizes. Some kites are made in fun shapes, like ladybugs and butterflies. Others are printed with designs, from colorful flowers to product logos to movie characters. You can add even more personality to your kite by attaching one or more tails in the color and length of your choice. Beginners can also buy kites for different wind conditions. Manufacturers usually recommend using their single line kites in winds of 6-20 miles per hour. After you start flying, you will learn that different kites perform better in different wind speeds. The basic wind speed guidelines for the most common types of single line kites are the following: Diamond kites fly best in the low end of the suggested range. So when you can feel a light breeze outside, grab your diamond kite. Box kites are heavier than diamonds, so they need more wind to stay in the sky. It is even better if the wind is not gusting but blowing steadily. Use your box kite when the wind is in the middle to the high end of the recommended range. 1
Delta kites have roughly the shape of a triangle. Like diamond kites, they fly well at lower wind speeds. In fact, delta kites are so good at low-wind flying, they are used for indoor competitions and demonstrations - where there is no wind at all! Parafoil, Airfoil, Sled kites do not get their shape from spars, or rods, like the kites already mentioned. Instead, the wind gives the parafoil its parachute-like shape. Although you can successfully fly the parafoil in light to moderate winds, this is the kite you will reach for when the wind is at the high end of the range. Figurative or Figure kites are in the shapes of cartoon characters, birds, airplanes, animals and many other objects. If you have a diverse collection of single line kites, you have the ability to take one out whenever the mood strikes, no matter what the wind is like! Tails aren't just for decoration - they add weight to your kite, and make them more stable/easier to control. If you are having trouble flying your single line kite on a windy day, try adding a tail to it. Longer tails will add more weight to the kite than shorter ones will. SINGLE LINE KITES The first thing you should do after buying a kite is read the instructions that came with it. These should give you information about assembly, if any is required, as well as attaching the bridle to your kite and your line. Other important information you might find in your instructions are the recommended wind speeds for your particular kite, and the recommended ages. Launching Believe it or not, you probably won t have to do any running to get your kite in the air. Here are the basic steps for launching your kite, once you have assembled it: 2
1. Determine which direction the wind is blowing. To become airborne and fly, the wind must blow into your kite. 2. With your back to the wind, hold your kite off the ground by the line, and wait for a gust of wind to make it lift higher. 3. When your kite lifts, loosen your grip on the line, so that it rises too. 4. Let more line out from your winder, or spool, so the kite will keep rising. 5. As your kite rises, adjust the line by reeling it in or out. When you are a beginner, this technique of launching takes practice. If your kite does not launch when you try to do it by yourself, and you have a friend with you, you can follow these steps: 1. Have your friend face the wind while holding your kite with the correct side up. 2. Decide on a signal for releasing the kite. 3. Walk away from your friend in the direction of the wind, unwinding your line as you do so. 4. Stop when you have walked at least 50 feet from your friend and kite. Your line should be taught. 5. Face your friend, with your back to the wind. 6. When you are ready, give your friend the signal for releasing the kite. 7. As soon as the kite is in the air, start pulling the line towards you. 8. As your kite rises, adjust the line by reeling it in or out. 3
Flying Tips Once it is airborne, your kite will do best if you can guide it to favorable winds. While single line kites are not designed to be highly maneuverable, you can use the line to change the kite s altitude and keep it where the wind is best. Safety If your kite starts falling, reel some line in. If your kite is being whipped around in the wind, give it more line so it can climb higher. If the kite line crosses over that of another kite, start walking towards the other flyer. The closer the two of you get to each other, the better you ll be able to see where the lines meet, whether they are twisted and how to remedy the situation. Where should you fly your kite? The best place is in an open field, park, beach or over a large body of water. Landing Never fly on or near roads and highways, vehicles of all types, airplanes, airports, trains and crowed areas. Stay away from trees, buildings and any other tall structures where your kite and line could become entangled. These structures also cause disruptions in the wind which make it harder to fly your kite. Most importantly, do not fly your kite near power lines! You risk electrocution if your kite or line touch a power line. For the same reason, never fly a kite in a thunderstorm! Landing your single line kite is much simpler than launching. When you are finished flying, merely reel in or pull on the line to bring 4
the kite down. If the wind is strong and you have trouble bringing your kite in alone, hand your winder to a friend. They can hold it while you pull the line in with your hands. If you don't have a friend with you, put the winder on the ground and stand on it while you pull the line in yourself. BE SAFE AND COURTEOUS WHEN YOU ARE FLYING KITES. Always be aware of people around you, and do your best to keep your kite and line from coming into contact with them. INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT KITE FLYERS After you've flown single line kites for awhile, you'll probably want to apply your expertise and skills to kites that will do more of what you want them to do, such as turns, loops and other stunts. Dual line (two line) and quadruple line (four line) kites will give you the control you need to take your kite flying to the next level. The lines are attached to handles that you hold in your hand. Some of the things you can do with a multi-line kite are: Make your kite fly to the right and left. Fly your kite in a loop. Synchronize your kite's flight with one or more other kites. In a 1990 interview with the New York Times, Don Taber of Top of the Line kites compared the synchronized stunts that his team performed to those of the U.S. Navy s flying team, the Blue Angels. You can fly parafoils with dual and quadruple lines, but most stunt or sport kites are delta kites. They come with instructions for assembly and operation. Many companies also make video instructions available on the internet, to help you develop your skills quickly and have more fun. DUAL LINE KITES Because stunt kites are designed to move more readily and faster than the typical single line kite, you must be aware of safety around other 5
people at all times. See also the Safety section on the previous page. Launching Here are the basic steps for getting your kite in the air, once you have assembled it: 1. Lay the kite on the ground. If you are launching a delta kite, make sure the nose is pointing away from you. 2. Walk away from the kite, backwards, into the wind. You should be holding one line in each hand. (You have to walk backwards so you don't tangle the lines.) 3. Stop at least 50 feet away from the kite. Make sure the lines are the same length. 4. Stretch both arms straight in front of you, while still gripping the handles. 5. When you are ready, take a large step behind you while simultaneously lowering your arms. 6. Watch your kite rise into the air, and start controlling it. Flying Tips Make your kite fly to the right by pulling on the right handle, and make it fly to the left by pulling on the left handle. Use small movements to make your kite move gently, and big movements if you want it to change direction quickly and dramatically. Make your kite fly in a loop by holding one handle and line down. 6
Flying in a loop tangles your kite lines. You can correct this by flying the kite in the opposite direction, and doing the same number of loops in that direction. Landing To land your dual line kite, you have to bring it to an outer edge of the wind window. The wind window is the area where you've been flying the kite. As long as you have kept the kite aloft, you have been in an area of the window where flying is good. Now you need to maneuver it to a place where it will begin to lose altitude until it lands - generally, this will be to the right or left of the area where it has performed well, or the edges of the wind window. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR PURCHASE There is much to learn about flying, landing and enjoying kites. Consult your manufacturer's instructions, as well as additional instructional material they refer you to, such as their website and/or online videos. Kite flying can be a lifelong hobby at which you continually improve. Song of My Youth Like a kite cut from the string, lightly the soul of my youth has taken flight. Ishikawa Takuboku MoonGlowSports moonglowsports.com 7
GLOSSARY box kite - kite composed of two open boxes connected by four rods. bridle - line that comes with the kite and is directly attached to the kite. The flyer then attaches the line from their spool or winder to the bridle, usually with a secure knot. delta kite - kite in the shape of a triangle. diamond kite - kite in the shape of a diamond. dual line kite - kite with two lines that run from the kite to the flyer. parafoil kite - kite that resembles a parachute because of its non-rigid structure that takes shape when it catches the wind. quadruple line kite - kite with four lines that run from the kite to the flyer. single line kite - kite with one line that runs from the kite to the flyer. spar - rod connecting points in the kite s material, giving shape to the kite. wind window - the area in the sky in relation to the kite and flyer where the kite flies. In the center of this window, the kite flies best. winder - holder for kite line, for single line kites. Usually has one large, open hand grip or two protruding hand grips. MoonGlowSports moonglowsports.com 8