The Kite

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The Kite

• The History of Kites and How Kites Influenced
  Technology

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Way Back When?Kites were invented.

• Some scholars think 1000 BC in China
• Others think no way to determine where and when
• Current thinking China and Malaysia
• First documented 200 BC China Han Dynasty
• Early accounts of kites exist in Korea, Thailand,
  Japan, New Zealand
• India oldest festival celebrated for centuries
• Early mention 1295 Europe - Marco Polo

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Early Uses For The Kite

• 200 BC Han general used kite to find correct
  distance to dig a tunnel (triangulation)
• New Zealand and Asia kite fishing
• Asia- religious- Koreans released kites to take
  away bad luck from babies
• Thailand- farmers flew kites- asked gods to make
  monsoon winds to prevent flooding rains
• Toys and Celebrations

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Han general Flying Kite
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European Kite History

• 1405 manuscript reference about kite flying in
  military
• 1430 directions for making kites appear
• 1589,1643 books show how to lift fireworks with
  kites
• 1618 Middleburg, Holland an illustration shows
  children flying diamond kites
• Kite is regarded as a toy in Europe

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1700s Kites-More Scientific And Begin To
Influence Technology

• 1749 Alexander Wilson (Scottish) uses kites to
  lift thermometers. Proves that temperature
  changes with altitude.
• 1752 Ben Franklin experiments prove there is
  electricity in lightning. Modern scholars doubt
  the view that he personally held the kite string,
  probably would have killed him.

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Franklin Flyin
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1800s Kites on Steroids

• 1804 George Cayley -concept of heavier than air
  flight,introduces idea of gliders
• 1827 George Peacock uses kites to pull a carriage
• 1847 Homan Walsh, age 10, flew kite across
  Niagara Gorge, first step in building a bridge
• 1890s Larwence Hargrave, Wright Brothers and
  others used cellular kites for lifting people and
  flight studies.
• 1800s many scientific studies involving kites.

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Wright With Hargrave Design
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1900s Kite Uses Multiply

• 1900 Guglielmo Marconi used a kite to lift
  antenna for historical radio link between Europe
  and North America
• 1901 Coyne kite used to raise military observers
• 1903 Wright Brothers
• 1903 S.F.Cody uses kite to pull his canoe across
  English Channel

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First Powered Flight
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More Technology

• 1906 Kites used to take Aerial Photographs
  (Damage from San Francisco earthquake).
• 1907 Alexander Graham Bell- tetrahedral cell kite
  lifts his wife off the ground.
• 1919 Kite train flown to 31,955 ft. Lindenberg,
  Germany
• 1939-1945 Kites used for targets, observing, and
  communication in WWII.
• 1948 Francis Rogallo Flexi-wing kite. Forerunner
  of hang glider and delta kite

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1800s Kite With Camera
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Town In France Late 1800s
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1906 San Francisco Earthquake
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Modern Kite Photo
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WW II TargetLt. Commander Paul Garber
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Ragallo Wing Design
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Modern Kites

• 1964 Domina Jalbert designs parafoil. No sticks
  or supports- Used as parachutes and personal
  powered aircraft
• 1972 Peter Powell multi-line stunt kites.
• 1978 Kuzuhiko Asaba flew 4128 kites on a single
  line
• 1989 Kite flying becomes a sport, National Stunt
  Kite Competition established

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Jalbert Parafoil
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Multi-line Stunt Kite Peter Powell 1970s
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What is a kite?

• Heavier than air craft that..
• Depends on air moving across lifting surfaces
• Lifting surfaces have aerodynamic shape and
  generate force to overcome downward pull of
  gravity
• Tethered object using one or more lines
• Has a bridle to hold kite at an efficient angle
  to the wind

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Types of Kites

• Flat
• Bowed
• Box
• Compound Box
• Delta
• Parafoil
• Sled

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Flat

• planar, need tails

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Bowed Kite

• dihedral angle, tail not needed

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Box Kite (Cellular)

• cellular, many surfaces

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Compound Box

• cellular, with wings

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Delta

• keel,triangular, billow in sail

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Parafoil

• no spars, air keeps them open

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Sled

• held open by wind, has spars

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Parts of A Typical Kite

• Sail- the paper, plastic, nylon,or cloth, cover
• Spars- any sticks or supports
• Spine- a spar that runs vertically (top to
  bottom) and is usually on the centerline
• Bridle- line that connects the kite to the flying
  line and controls angle of attack in flight (keel
  on delta kite)
• Bridle Point-point where flying line attaches to
  the kite
• Angle of attack- angle of the kite as it meets
  the wind
• Tail- strips of material, that increase drag for
  decoration or to improve flight

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Flight Safety Rules

• Choose a large clear area for flying.
• Fly in good weather and never fly when raining or
  stormy, ground should be dry
• Use string, do not use wire or monofilament line
• Avoid power lines, airfields, antennae
• Wear gloves for strong pulling kites
• Watch out for spectators
• Carefully consider safety when retrieving kites
  from trees

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The End

• Visit your library to learn more
• Tons of Websites Google Search!
• Intothewind.com a great place to buy kites and
  kite supplies
• American Kite Fliers Association
• www.aka.kite.org