The kite

Practice and kite types

A kite is a flying object made of fabric and a structure of rigid rods, connected and controlled by one or more lines. A kite can take many different forms and have many different uses, from purely aesthetic to dedicated piloting.
Kite flying is particularly popular in France, where enthusiasts gather every year for world-renowned festivals such as the Dieppe and Berck kite festivals. More information on the kite blog.

There are several types of kites which can be classified according to the number of lines they have. There are kites with 1, 2, 3 or 4 lines.

• 1-line or single-line kites monowires are connected to the ground or to the kite by a single line. Monofilament kites come in all shapes and sizes. Most of the static, frameless kites you see at festivals are connected to a ground weight by a single line. There are also many 1-line kites for children, which have the advantage of being extremely simple in terms of construction and handling.

• 2-line kites this category can be divided into two sub-categories: controllable kites and traction kites.
  Controllable kites, the most common of which are delta kites, are, as the name implies, flown by a kite pilot on the ground, either for pleasure or to perform tricks. There are also kite-flying competitions in which the best pilots perform tricks. These are known as stunt kites. The practice is akin to a sport, since it requires advanced training and excellent kite control. A wide range of tricks can be performed with a stunt kite, including the axel and backspin.
  
  Traction wings, also known as traction kites, are box kites made of fabric and bridles. Box kites have two "skins" joined by inter-boxes, the whole forming an airfoil. The front of the wing is made of air inlets that allow air to inflate the sail to give it its rigid shape. Similar in many ways to a paraglider, traction wings are used to be towed by the wind. On foot, on a mountainboard or on a buggy, they allow you to benefit from the force of the wind to generate horizontal and vertical traction so you can move forward and jump. Traction kites are part of the kiteboarding family, some of which are still based on the box kite model. 2-line kites can be used with handles or a control bar.

• 3-line kites some 2-line traction kites are equipped with a third line for added safety. In fact, by connecting the 3rd line to the trailing edge of the traction kite on one side and to the pilot's wrist on the other, all it takes is to let go of the control bar for the wing to lose all its power. The third line also offers considerable comfort in the event of a crash, as it allows the wing to be easily relaunched, even upside down.

• 4-line kites : Here again, there are 2 main families of 4-line kites: pilot or stunt kites, and traction kites, especially kitesurfing kites.
  4-line kites are more advanced models for experienced pilots. The 4 lines allow greater control over the kite by acting on 4 different points of the structure. The best-known 4-line kites are manufactured by Revolution Kite.
  
  4-line traction wings are the most widespread. Whether for land traction (mountainboard, the most advanced kites for kitesurfing (e.g. buggy, snowkite) now feature 4 lines (or even 5 in some cases). Bladder kites, which account for almost all kites used in kitesurfing, are equipped with 4 lines connected to a bladder of inflated air, enabling the kite to retain its rigidity and float on the water. Very often, a 5th "safety" line is used on kites, enabling the kite to be released in the event of a problem, without becoming totally disconnected from it. Today, there are many kite brands on the market, of which North, Naish, Fone and Cabrinha are the best known.

Building and manufacturing a kite

There are as many kite-making techniques as there are kites. Most of the giant kites you see on the beach at festivals have no rigid structure. Instead, they're made of panels of fabric assembled to form a whole, capable of flying by harnessing the power of the wind. These kites are made by professionals who are capable of flying kites made up of several hundred square meters of fabric. New Zealander Peter Lynn holds the record for the largest kite, with his Kuwait flag measuring over 1000m² !

It is, however, extremely easy for a hobbyist to build his own kite. Whether you're planning a workshop with the kids, or simply making your first flying object, anyone can take up kite-making.

To make a kite, all you need is a few materials and tools, and 15 minutes to spare. You can make your first kite from any type of fabric and salvaged materials. To obtain a stable, lightweight kite with healthy flying characteristics, however, it is advisable to use special manufacturing materials. All the materials you need to build a kite are available in our section Manufacturing materials.

Making a basic kite (15 min)

Materials required:

• A piece of fabric 50 to 100 cm wide
• Two 50-60 cm wooden or fiber rods
• A line 10 to 20 m long
• A pencil
• A roll of adhesive tape
• A pair of scissors
• A tube of glue

Kite-making

1. Start by cutting the fabric to the shape of the future kite. Most of the time, you start by cutting out a diamond shape. You can use blueprints or a ruler to draw a diamond shape on the fabric.
2. Tape the rod vertically to the fabric diamond. Then add the horizontal rod, gluing it to the first one and securing it to the fabric with the tape.
3. 3Pass the line where the rods cross and knot.

And there you have it! Your kite is ready !
Recommendations: it's best to use the same amount of tape on each end, so as not to unbalance the whole.


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