Spectrum Scientifics Blog

The nice warm, windy days of Spring often bring kite flying to many. There is just something relaxing, yet exciting about taking a shaped piece of fabric and getting it to fly in the wind. The only problem is, not all kites are created equal, and not all kites fly the same.

What makes a good kite?

Most of the answer to this is simple: Materials. You can go to the dollar store and pick up a kite of some sort, but even at that low price you will likely be disappointed with what you get: A cheap, plastic kite with balsa or low-grade plastic rods which will all rip and break easily in even a moderate gust of wind.

So what should a kite be made of? Nylon is usually best. Preferably what is known as ‘Rip-stop Nylon (which comes under several brand names). Nylon catches enough of the wind to fly without acting like a plastic bag caught in an updraft. The rip-stop keeps any small tears from getting any bigger.

If you kite has a pattern, check the stitching carefully. The pieces should be stitched on securely with double stitching. A nylon kite rarely has a pattern printed on it, instead being made with attached pieces. This is why more complex kite patterns may be more costly than solid color kites. There are exceptions, of course. Tie-dye, for example is usually a print job.

The framework of the kite should not be neglected either. The rods should be made of fiberglass, a material that is both strong and flexible. Hard plastic or wood is too inflexible or soft to handle the stresses a kite undergoes.

Finally, the string should be appropriate to the type of kite and the winds it will be flown in. A string that is too heavy will weigh down a lighter kite, wheras the problems with using a string that is too light should be obvious. Some sort of winder should be included with the kite, and all kites that Spectrum sells come with the appropriate string and winders.

Which kite is easiest to fly?

That is the question asked most often by visitors to our store. The answer is fairly straightforward, with flat kites like Opie being the easiest:

Followed very closely by Surefly Kites:

The Surefly looks like a more complex Delta kite but is actually very close to a Diamond in design, in fact it is easier to fly than Diamond kites.

Diamond kites, of course, are a classic design: Easy to fly, easy to assemble, durable, etc.

Above this in complexity you get the early 3D shaped kites, such as our popular Pirate Ship Kite

Deltas are where kites start to get more complex. With a Delta you have to move around a lot more to keep the kite flying, but the reward is that you can maneuver your kite around a lot more, at this level kite flying becomes an activity, not just a pastime.

Beyond this, the Fancy Box kites take the next level of complexity. At this time we don’t have a box kite in our selection to show you.

Above that is the nearly-professional realm of Stunt Kites. These often have two lines to allow fast, darting movements of the kite around the sky. With a good wind and some experience you will have almost total control of where your kite is in the sky and where it is going. This level is a bit above the casual kite flyer.

So get yourself a kite, a good breeze (breeze sold separately) and fly a kite!

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Filed under: Physics, Weather