Hobbies And Interests
Traditional Single-Line Kites
Single-line kites are the best entry-level design for beginners and children and can be flown in light to moderate winds. The most popular kite in this category is the classic diamond kite with its simple cross-shaped frame and tail. These kites may be bowed, or the two cross spar pieces may be joined in the middle and set at a slight angle, known as a dihedral. Diamond kites sometimes have a stabilizing keel (the tail) which negates the need to attach the flying line to the bridle. Diamond kites are often referred to as Malay and Eddy kites. The English Arch-Top is almost identical to the diamond kite but it has a rounded top. The Della Porta, which boasts a rectangular sail and two diagonal spars, is one of the oldest Western kite designs and is also one of the easiest to fly. However, as single-line kites are controlled through the tension of the line, they allow little maneuverability.
Two-Line Stunt Kites
Stunt kites, or Deltas as they are often called, usually have two strings, but when used by serious kite enthusiasts in competitions, they have four. These kites exploded in popularity during the 1990s; they are flown at steep flying angles and are often used to train falcons. A Delta design resembles the shape of a bird and involves just one crosspiece inserted into the kite. These lightweight and durable kites need very little wind to fly, and contrary to widespread belief, they can be flown relatively easily. Renowned for "flying themselves," once a Delta is aloft it stays aloft. What you can do with a Delta once it's airborne depends on your level of experience. A word of caution though: Always make sure the knots attaching the flying line to the kite are secure, because when flown in high winds these highly aerodynamic kites dive and loop and can just as easily fly away.
Box Kites
Invented by the Australian Lawrence Hargrave in 1893, box kites proved popular in the past but are less so today. A typical box kite has two sails which wrap around four parallel struts connected to diagonal crossed struts. The ends and middle of the box remain open to allow this high-performance kite to catch the wind and get airborne. Known as 3D kites, box kites have a shape and size which, not unlike the bumble bee, seem to defy the laws of gravity. Box kites are renowned for recording the highest altitude levels of any kite design. In the right hands, box kites can provide a lot of fun, but they are not recommended for beginners.
Power Kites
Power kites, also known as traction kites, turned traditional kite design on its head when they became widely used for their significant utilization of the wind's power in extreme sports like kite-surfing and kite buggying. Power kites are usually designed without frames, and the foil kite is the most popular. Foil kites are "open celled" to allow easy airflow access and are easily depowered to ensure the user's safety.