Most Common Kite Styles and Designs
There are literally thousands of
different kites. The reasons for them are almost just as many.
Throughout the history of kites, it is documented that kites have done
more than supply enjoyment. They played a part in the war strategy of
early China to delivering food in not so easy to reach places.
The box kite was invented in 1892 by Australian, Lawrence Hargrave.
He linked several single kites together to form a box and, thus, the box
kite to flight. It is known the idea had been around, so though he may
have not been the first person to fly a box kite, he is officially the
inventor of the box kite as we recognize today. Samuel Cody of the USA
took the idea Lawrence presented and came up with the double box kite
with added wings for lift and additional stability. These were designed
for the military, and could put a man in the air high enough to observe
the enemy in a safe manner.
Today, you will find the box kite in many different designs. They are
colorful and trick performing to some degree. Designs that allow for
tumbling and rotation, these kites are often made from scratch, but can
be purchased in specialty shops worldwide.
The Delta kite is the most common one seen today. Made of nylon in a
triangle shape, it’s lightweight and the frame is small. A smaller
triangle is then added to the tail in a single line. This gives the
bigger triangle support to the bigger triangle termed as the main delta.
The sled kite has a frame that is square in structure that has 2 big
triangles coming out from the 2 sides of the kite. This kite has string
attached to each side of the kite. These then join the main line. The
control of this kite is very easy and enjoyable, especially for kids.
Easy enough for them to handle, yet a bit more complicated than the
single line kite. Adding a tail brings out the creativity in everyone
enjoying their kite.
The most classic design in the kite world is the diamond shape. The
material is cut in the shape of the diamond, and then thin pieces of
wood are glued into the material to supply structure. The diamond kite
is controlled with two lines, one coming from the top and one coming
from the bottom. Whimsical streamers can be attached to the bottom to
provide added stability and fun.
Perhaps the showstopper of all kites is the Chinese Dragon Kite. This
is the centipede style that boasts a sizeable head and a long row of
small circles that make up the tail. Most are midsized and require a lot
of work. These kites can be expensive but worth every penny to enjoy.
The details on these kites are spectacular. The framework is bamboo, and
raw silk is used to cover it. Then the fabric is hand painted. The tail
section has a very slim bamboo stick that runs through it at the end
with a fanciful feather is attached. Crafting these kites can take up to
2 months, so the prices upward of $1,000 are not surprising. These kites
are so graceful, taking flight in 5 km/hr winds!
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