Kites are ingenious contraptions that are intended to be flown high in the sky at the end of a string. Building kites and flying kites is an informal pastime, as well as a competitive sport in many parts of the world. As a matter of fact, nearly all kite flying festivals all across Asia have "kite fights," which is a revered and an ancient tradition where players attempt to cut down their adversaries' kites by cutting off their lines. This is achieved by using small, extremely maneuverable "fighter kites" that are connected to glass-coated "cutting lines." These specialized "cutting lines" are used to cut the lines of competing kites.

In Korea, men, women and children fly kites during the first few days of the New Year. Kite flying is also something to look forward to, and an essential part of the boys? festival, which is held each May in Japan, and in China, one day each year is celebrated as Kites? Day. On those days, thousands of kites fashioned like fish, butterflies and dragons take to the air and float over the cities and towns. Thailand also sponsors an International Kite Festival in which all kites fall into one of two classes: chula (male) or pakpao (female) kites. The kites are huge and require several people to fly them. There are also kite-flying contests held every year in the United States and Canada.

Types of Kites

There are many different types of kites. The simplest kind of kites is the two-stick solitary plane bow kite. It can be bought ready-made or it can be assembled from do-it-yourself kits or made exclusively by hand. When creating plain kites, the sticks that are utilized can be of any sturdy, light wood with a straight grain. The covering material can just be regular brown wrapping paper, or a wispy, light cloth, such as silk or nylon. Plastic sheeting of various kinds are also used by kite makers. In addition, cloth is used for the tail and a string for the flight line. There are also more sophisticated kinds of kites that can be assembled.

The box kite consists basically of two rectangular boxes, open on two equivalent sides apiece and linked by a general framework. Lawrence Hargrave conceived of the original design in the 1890's. Box kites are more difficult to build than stick kites, but they are excellent flyers and will maintain their position for long periods. Box kites also adjust well to changes in the wind, and they do not require a tail.

How to Fly Kites

Kites fly, like airplanes, on the aerodynamic principle of wind pressure against a heavier-than-air item. The engine and propeller of the airplane generate wind pressure as they propel the aircraft all the way through the air. When the pressure is great enough to overcome gravity, the plane is pressed up and permitted to stay in the air. The similar consequence of wind pressure is created by the kite flyer as he runs across an open field. As the kite moves against the wind, the string tips the face of the kite onward. The wind pushes up on this tipped face and raises the kite, just as a wedge pressed beneath an object lifts it up.