An introduction to kites

Prepared byArthur Dibble

Chairman WHKF(NOVEMBER 2003-????)

arthur.dibble@ntlworld.com

www.tedberets.co.uk

History

THE PHYSICS

The Parts of a kite1 The Sail

• This can be made of any material such as paper, fabric or plastic.

• It is used to trap the air.

The Parts of a kite2 The Spars (sticks)

• These are used to hold the sail in shape.

• They can be made from wood, metal or plastic.

• Sometimes a tube of material is used and the wind inflates it.

The Parts of a kite3 The Flying line (string)

• This stops the kite just blowing away.

• It can be made from cotton, string, rope or even wire.

The Parts of a kite4 The Bridle

• This can be made from string or sometimes material.

• It is used to hold the kite at the correct angle to the wind.

The Parts of a kite5 The Keel

• This is made from the same material as the sail.

• It stops the kite going sideways and can also form the bridle.

• Curving the kite backwards can have the same effect.

The Parts of a kite6 The Tail

• This can be made from anything.

• They can be bows, ribbons or in many shapes.

• The tail is not decoration but keeps the kite in line with the wind.

TYPES OF KITE

THE ROTOR

FLAT HEXAGON

ROKAKKUS

BOX KITES

COMPOUND BOX KITES

BELL TETRAHEDRAL

SLED KITE

LARGE LIFTER

SOFT KITES

KITES TODAY

DELTA KITES

MAN LIFTING

KITE TRAINS

KITE TRAINS

USES OF KITESFRANKLIN’S LIGHTNING EXPERIMENTS

FISHINGTHE SOLOMON ISLANDS

RESCUE

WW2 RESCUE

TARGET PRACTICEPAUL GERBER

MODERN “STUNT” KITESbeing flown in formation

CODY MAN LIFTING

AVIATION DEVELOPMENT

AVIATION DEVELOPMENT

EARLY TRACTIONBY GEORGE POCOCK

MODERN TRACTIONBY PETER LYNN

1ST KITE POWERED BOAT TO CROSS THE CHANNELBY Samuel Cody 1903

A MODERN KITE POWERED BOAT

A COMMERCIAL APPLICATION

PHOTOGRAPHYTHE OLD

PHOTOGRAPHYTHE NEW

POWER GENERATION

If you want to see morePlease come to

WHKF Kite Festivalin May

AtA location near Swindon

www.whkf.org.uk

That’s all folksthank you for you attention