Delta Kite Design

Long before I built my first home made stunt kite I got to wondering about delta kite design, just how they fly, what features had what effects etc. I looked in local bookshops for any books about kites and they had nothing. What I was looking for was books full of maths that would teach me how to design a 2 line stunt kite or at least predict the likely outcome of a particular shape etc. The only book I know of which gets anywhere near this is Mark Cotrell's "Swept Wing Stunt Kites" and that's out of print now. I talked to a few kite-makers and the bottom line is that a lot of it is guesswork, the real skill which sets the successful kite-maker apart from us mere mortals, is the ability to make a change and recognise the effect. More than anything else that talent stems from experience, flying lot's of kites and recognising the patterns which exist in kite design. Have you ever heard someone say a kite is like a Tracer? That's the kind of thing I'm talking about – the Tracer was an incredibly influential design and many kites, even to this day have echoes of the Tracer design and there is still a little of the feel of a Tracer in there.

So, I spend a lot of time flying all sorts of kites, and while I do I'm learning. I spend a lot of time thinking about a design before building. I want make sure that I remember all the things I liked about the kites I have flown and try to associate those with the facets of each design so that I can incorporate the good bits into my design and leave out the bad.

In these pages I'll try to bring together some of the things I've learned so that someone else can read them and maybe take a shortcut on the route to designing their own kites. Also on these pages I'll waffle about some of the ideas I've come up with. Some I've tried and work, some are still just ideas, some plain stink.

Before moving on however I'd like to thank a few people:

• Dave Lord and Mark Cotrell for what appears to be the only published works on kite design.
  
• Designers like Dean Jordan for using innovative ideas to produce wonderful results, which prompt me to think even more about kite design.
  
• The many kite makers whose brains I've picked over the years and whose kites have influenced my own personal tastes.
  
• James Ervin and Andrew Beattie for fuelling my early interest in kite design.
  
• Andy Wardley for lengthy email discussions about kite design.
  
• Chris Matheson for imparting a huge amount of information and help.

Slingshot Snow Ranger Kite Package

Slingshot Snow Ranger Kite Package
Packed with performance-enhancing features, the Slingshot Snow Ranger Kite Package provides smooth power, quick turning, and impressive stability for intermediate to advanced snowkiters. This Slingshot kit includes color-coded Firewire lines for easy setup, and a backpack to transport your kite. The Ranger bar places the depower and trim close to your body for a level of precision that brings new life to your riding. The Ranger Kite Package also comes with relaunch webbing to get you going again after you have to set it down on the snow. Bottom Line Precision control and top-level performance. Product Features *Material: Canopy Dacron and ripstop *Lines: 20m Firewire lined included *Handles: No *Bar: Ranger bar included *Harness Compatible: Yes *Bag: Kite backpack included *Recommended Use: Intermediate to advanced snowkiting *Manufacturer Warranty: 30 Days

Patriotic Star Cellular Box Kite

Patriotic Star Cellular Box Kite - $ 29.99
Retail Price: 34.99
You Save: $5.00
From: KiteAndWind


Patriotic Star Cellular Box It's the Patriotic Star! This cellular design by Go Fly A Kite brings lots of smiles and shows pride in our country when in flight. Easy assembly brings a multi facet to your kite flying.

Basingstoke Kite Festival

Basingstoke Kite Festival Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June 2008Arena Displays and Stands open 10am - 5pm

Light Up The Sky 2008 North Hants Buggy Club & Loddon Valley Kite Flyers at the buggy field near Basingstoke 1 November 2008 from sunset until your batteries go flat Minimum donation £5 per flier, additional sponsorship welcome DIY BBQ - bring your own food (and drink), barbecue provided The site will be open from 10 a.m. on 1st, flying allowed all day Camping permitted on Saturday night, flying again on Sunday if you want. No other facilities provided Contact email luts2008@northhantsbuggy.org.uk

Kite Flying And The Art of Stress Reduction

In today's over-complicated, over technical world, we tend to forget about the simple pleasures in life like kite flying as we tap away at our keyboards, rushing to meet the next deadline. The non-stop stress and fast paced lifestyle that most Americans are leading is literally aging us before our time! Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco found a direct link between stress and premature aging. Chronic stress actually shrivels the bundles of genes inside the cells, cutting their lifespan short.

No matter how busy we are, if we want to live a more well-balanced, healthier, happier life, we've got to find ways to de-stress. Surprisingly, kite flying has been shown to be one of the best ways to relieve the pressures of a stressful life. Being outdoors in nature while letting your kite become swept away in the breezes along with your anxieties, can be an incredibly relaxing and empowering experience.

An Inexpensive and Relaxing Hobby

Most experts on stress will recommend engaging in a hobby as a way to distress. However, some hobbies require hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of gear and equipment to start. To take up kite flying, all you need is to buy a kite from a kite store online or in your local area - that's it! A Single line kite can be as inexpensive as 25 dollars while more complicated sport kite and power kite designs often come with a higher price tag.

Kite Flying Skills Don't Take Years to Develop

Choosing a hobby that requires a great deal of learning can add even more stress to your life! Unlike some hobbies that require you to spend countless hours practicing and perfecting, flying a kite is something that just about everyone can pick up quickly.

If you're a beginner, you'll probably want to start with a single line kite and then, if you chose, graduate to more complex kites like the power kite or sport kite sometime in the future. The single line kite is the type of kite that most people are familiar with and also the easiest to fly. Even young children can manage to easily get a single line kite off the ground and into the air with ease.

A Hobby the Entire Family Can Enjoy

One of the most troubling problems that has surfaced as a result of our over-hectic lives, is that families are spending less time together. Unlike many hobbies and methods of relaxation, kite flying is something that the whole family can do together. Single line kite models are easy enough for kids to fly and come in stunning and enchanting designs that capture a child's imagination. There are plenty of colorful single line kite designs made especially for kids such as pirate ships, octopi, butterflies, and tropical fish.

When each member of the family has their own single line kite to fly, it gives you the chance to be together, yet peacefully focused on the movements of your own kite. As your family comes to adopt kite flying as a regular activity, you can graduate together from the single line kite to the more intricate power kite and sport kite for even more excitement. This is a wonderful way for a family to learn and grow together while taking the time to relax and enjoy life.

Spongebob 39 Diamond Kite

Spongebob 39" Diamond Kite - $ 25.99
From: KiteAndWind Check out the new children's themes on our 39-inch back-cut applique Spongebob diamond kites! Whimsical graphics and ageless appeal make diamond kites a good choice. A traditional favorite for all ages, our 30-39 inch diamonds look as great for home decoration as they do in the sky!