Triangular kite how to tie a rope. Kites. Instructions for flying kites. User's manual. If the wind is not strong enough
This is a complete instruction on kites (Kites). It includes sections on basic flying techniques, wind corrections, introductory maneuvers, kite development, and more.
Kite lovers call her "The Bible"
Note:
All kites (kites) without exception are subject to the laws of physics. Depending on the strength of the wind, the mass and design of the kite, its behavior changes, but again, without contradicting the laws of physics. This manual and the author who wrote it, does not bear any responsibility and does not give guarantees regarding the use of kites, both according to the rules of piloting, and outside of any rules. This manual does not tell you how to make a kite or kite history, we just want to share the basics of piloting and lift the veil a little bit on these fragile but graceful creatures - kites (kites).
Chapter 1 - All About Wind and Terrain
Wind characteristics
Most people don't spend a lot of time figuring out the wind, or even thinking about the wind at all. Sailors, pilots or others whose profession is associated with the wind will be an exception, because for ordinary people the average wind has little effect on their daily lives and, as a rule, they do not notice any minor changes.
Kites (kites) are different. By itself, the kite-wind connection is a system in which the wind is the engine, no engine - no flight.
Experienced pilots, and those who are directly involved with the wind, have a habit of keeping an eye on the wind almost constantly, even when not flying. They look at flags, trees, circles on the water and other signs of the movement of air in space.
Awareness of the wind is what transforms from a wind lover into a skilled flier. Therefore, no matter what level of training you have, we want to warn you, the wind is not to blame for anything! Many began to think that the wind should listen to them and do what they say, but we will disappoint you, everything is exactly the opposite, it is you who must “listen” to the wind, predict its behavior, because the wind itself, and it has the right to do what pleases him. If you learn how to deal with the energy of the wind and direct it in the right direction, then you will become one of the best air conquerors.
So start watching the wind, become one of those thoughtful observers who always notice the slightest change in the wind.
The wind has two characteristics: Smoothness (smoothness) and Strength!
Let's talk about it first SMOOTHNESS (SMOOTHNESS)
Finding a smooth wind to fly is just as important as finding a smooth road to ride comfortably. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a "steady breeze", just like there are no perfectly perfect roads without potholes and potholes. Although it seems to you that the wind is often steady and even, and that it is just a mass of air moving from one place to another, there are still a lot of nuances. The wind is influenced by many factors, such as friction with the ground, which slows down its movement, as well as obstacles such as trees, buildings and hills create quite a few barriers to the wind, including temperature changes, which also greatly affect the wind regime.
Let's look at the wind in the pictures, the direction of the arrow will indicate the direction of the wind, and the length of the arrow will indicate its speed.
If the earth were perfectly flat, then the wind would look like this:
Air friction with the ground causes the air near the ground to move more slowly than in the upper layers, even if the wind is quite strong.
You can even check it for yourself, on a windy day you can just take a horizontal position in relation to the ground and feel how much the wind force has changed. In other words, the closer the wind is to the ground, the more it slows down, this phenomenon creates the so-called boundary layer - the area from the ground level, to the level in which the wind is no longer subject to friction. Everything above the boundary layer is called free flow or incoming flow.
Here's what you should know about the boundary layer, its thickness varies. And, as a rule, the kite is best kept in free layers, as the boundary layers are less stable.
The boundary layer is the layer that we cannot change, but we can learn to work with it. But there is such a thing as Turbulence, and this is definitely bad news.
Turbulence generates everything that gets in the way of the wind, be it a stone, a tree, a building or any other obstacle, even your kite (kite) generates some turbulence. Turbulence downwind of an obstacle is called its aerodynamic shadow. All wind shadows gradually disappear, depending on the distance from the obstacle, but this does not happen immediately.
For example, the shadow of an ordinary tree extends for several hundred meters, while a large building can leave a shadow of a kilometer and a half long.
The difficulty with flying in turbulent conditions is that you will experience sudden and unpredictable changes in wind direction and strength. Depending on the severity of the turbulence, it will either be easy to deal with or, in extreme cases, not possible.
STRENGTH is another important characteristic of the wind
Defining the wind and talking about the strength of the wind, let's immediately determine the average value of the wind strength, and often this figure is 5m/s. At one time or another, the strength of the wind, in other words, its speed will change.
Perhaps for a better understanding of the strength of the wind, you should look at the Beaufort table of Beaufort. It was developed by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort in 1806 as a standard manual for describing wind strength on sailing ships. The table has been modified by us and slightly adjusted to the kites to make it easier for you to understand.
Beaufort table:
We choose a place for the flight.
There are two main things to consider when choosing a flight site, the terrain and the safety of the launch area.
Terrain - as we already know, flying into turbulence is not an easy task. And there is turbulence due to obstacles, but not only those that are on the ground, but can also be caused by irregularities in the shape of the earth. Let's look at how air flows over a hill:
On the windward (front) side of the hill, the air flow is compressed and accelerated. This part of the hill is good for piloting, and this ideal hill shape can even help smooth out the turbulence that will build up on the back of the hill. As you already understood, on the back side of the hill the wind and its flow will be noticeably different from the flow in front of the hill. Wind flowing over a hill creates turbulence that can range from moderate to severe, depending on the strength of the wind and the shape of the hill.
If a slight slope improves flight performance, then you might think that a steep slope is a good place, but is it really? let's figure it out...
A sharp break at the foot of the cliff causes the wind to get into a dead end, forming a zone of turbulence. And the gap in the upper part, on the example of the reverse side of the hill, also forms a zone of turbulence. That is, as you already understood, rocks are not the best place to fly a kite.
An ideal place for flights would be a huge wide area, ideally without various trees and obstacles. The best advice for you is not to fly the kite downwind of trees, buildings, or geological formations, and avoid areas of turbulent shadows.
Safety
We will talk a lot about safety, you will often hear about it from your friends, kite shop owners and other specialized kite organizations, and this is because a kite in the sky, although controllable, is not predictable, just like the wind is not predictable. You can injure others, injure yourself, damage equipment. Even in a moderate wind, the speed of a kite can be about 100 km / h, and I think you understand that there is nothing pleasant in the fact that at such a speed something will fall on you from the sky. Tension lines are even more dangerous, so don't neglect the safety tips.
Here's another one of the most basic safety tips you should definitely heed - stay away from power lines! Everyone who says that kites do not conduct electricity is a lie, and if the kite is wet and you launch it in a thunderstorm, then this is even more dangerous!
The most important advice is to watch those around you. The most common example: it's a beautiful day, the wind is perfect, it's just you and your kite, but soon your kite attracts people, aah ooh sighs are heard, more and more spectators)
Some children are attracted to your kite and they run chasing it, you are flattered, you try to show some kind of trick, the kite writes conceivable and unthinkable pirouettes, it seems to you that everything is just perfect, but it is not, you are in trouble! Because no matter how good you are, how prepared you are, there are rules and they must be followed! The wind is an unpredictable thing, and if your situation is similar to this, then we advise you to first of all tell their parents about the danger to children, tell them that the best and safest place is behind the manned.
In general, the better you approach choosing a kite flying site, the less likely it is that something will go wrong. The launch site should be clearly visible and preferably the more the better. Be careful, use common sense and you and your kite will be fine!
Chapter 2 - First flightMost people who ride bikes took a while to learn how to ride it, there were many falls, bruises and disappointments, but they did not give up and got on the saddle again and again, making new attempts. Do not forget about this when learning to fly a kite. If you don’t succeed right away, try again, don’t give up after the first two or three failures. If you have never flown a kite and there is no one nearby who can teach you, do not be discouraged, we will try to help you, here are some tips for this:
1) Almost every kite you can buy comes with a manual, so be sure to read them all. If it is not there, you can contact the store where you purchased it, they will help you. The manual usually contains useful information about both the kite as a whole and how to fly it.
2) I hope you have read the previous chapter and have an idea about choosing a launch site. You must identify one or two ideal places for yourself to launch.
3) Check the speed (strength) of the wind. For your first run, the ideal wind would be 8 m/s, more is good but not so easy anymore.
4) If possible, take an assistant with you, his presence will facilitate the launch at times. Also take a piece of dowel with you, or something like a screwdriver, this will be your ground anchor, we'll talk about it later.
Assembling a kite (kite)
When assembling, simply follow the manufacturer's instructions, usually everything is described in detail in the instructions. Kites have differences, but in general they are all similar. Almost all of them are made of transparent vinyl tubes and spacers, which, roughly speaking, are the frame of your kite. When assembling the kite, make sure that all the tubes are firmly and completely seated in the spacers, because a poorly fixed frame can simply fall apart in the sky, or at the slightest fall, the kite will have to be reassembled.
As a tip, you can put a small roll of duct tape in your briefcase, if any spars keep popping up, you can secure them this way.
After your frame is assembled, carefully inspect the lines. For a perfect launch, all slings 
must be separate from each other and not twisted with the kite frame itself. The key to a good launch is careful preparation. If there are no eyelets at the ends of the lines, then be sure to learn how to make them, there is a special instruction for attaching lines to kites. Usually power lines are attached directly to the rigging swivel, which helps by reducing line twist.
Also, a common mistake at the first start is a descriptor incorrectly taken in the wrong hand, this is if the bar consists of two separate handles. From the side it looks funny, you want a right turn from the kite, pull the right handle and it flies to the left)) So be sure to take the right handle in the right hand, usually the right one is indicated by some kind of red element, if your handles don’t have this, you can color them yourself.
IMPORTANT: When buying a kite, measure its tubes and all other parts, this is necessary in case your kite breaks and one of the parts is lost, you can find it, buy it and replace it.
Lay out the lines directly to the windward side, the length usually varies from 30 to 45 meters. Lines shorter than this length reduce the response time of the kite to your control, and the kite moves too fast, which is not good for the first launches and training.
launch
So, you took the kite control sticks, red in your right hand as you already know. Have your helper pick up the kite by holding it by the base or center of the struts. There should be tension on the lines between you and your helper. From your helper's point of view, it should look something like this:
Prestart control:
1) Check the area where your kite is expected to fly, preferably for people or other hazards.
2) Look back, there should be a lot of room for maneuvers and your movements.
3) Make sure all lines have the same tension.
4) Make sure there are no other kites in the sky that you might encounter in the sky.
Well, it seems that you have already learned how to fly a kite (kite), it soars in the sky, you are delighted, but there is still such a moment what to do if you do not have an assistant, or he simply cannot help you at the moment, sit at home and wait? Not! Definitely need to learn how to fly a kite on your own!
Self launch
Self launch requires more training and patience, and differs in the way of launching depending on the model of the air kite, we will analyze the launch on models such as Delta and Diamond. They are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
1) Lay the lines straight to the windward side, place the handles so that the right (red) is on the right hand. Remember the ground anchor? Now we need it, you should fix your control handles in the ground in the form of an anchor. Stick the anchor into the ground at an angle away from the kite, and place the handles with lines as if on top of the anchor.
2) Grasp the kite itself and, as if walking backwards, pull the lines, make sure that the anchor does not tear out of the ground. When flying a Delta kite, you need to position it so that it is to the ground with its base and tilted slightly back. And the diamond kite should stand on the side stand, on one side, stick the nose into the ground, and point the other up.
3) Now we return to the anchor, take the kite control sticks and once again check the tension of the lines, but you need to do this lightly, because if you pull them too hard, the kite will start prematurely trying to take off, or simply fall to the ground.
4) Do not forget about the rules of pre-launch control.
5) Further movements in order to take off the kite (kite) from the ground should be done in this way: we move back a couple of three steps back:
There is another useful Delta kite flying technique:
If you are launching your kite on a sandy beach and your anchor cannot be securely anchored, do the following. Lay the kite flat on its "back", i.e. the outer part, and sprinkle sand on the bottom edges, especially on the corners. Then return to the control knobs and gently pull on them. The kite should begin to rise and fill with wind, the sand will slowly but surely fall off, releasing the kite and lifting it into the sky.
So, you have learned how to fly a kite, you can now hone your skills. But here is what I would like to say, and warn. If you decide not to move away from the kite for a long time and rely on an anchor, then this can "go sideways" for you. You can't remember IT IS FORBIDDEN leave a kite ready for launch unattended!
Separately, I would like to tell you about the independent launch of kites by type Parafoil.
parafoil(English parafoil) - a soft fabric shell wing, inflated through the air intakes with an oncoming air flow. The lifting force is created due to the flow of air around the wing profile. This term is often used to refer to the frameless type of kite. Parafoil consists of upper and lower shells, ribs, stabilizers. The ribs define the profile of the wing and divide the wing into sections.
A feature of such a kite (kite) is that it will fly only if the air intakes are filled with wind. There are times when sand or other debris gets into them and the kite stops flying as before, you have to land it and clean the sections.
To fly a kite with the help of an assistant, no special work is required, your assistant should stand behind the kite, take hold of the dome from both sides and position the air intakes in the wind so that they are filled with air during the first toss, and you, in turn, will simply need to pull the lines and the kite will soar into the sky.
The technique of self-starting without help is not a little more difficult. To do this, you need to place the kite with the outer side to the ground, air intakes from the wind, sprinkle it with a little sand, but only the part that is closed from sand and other debris. Then move back to the control handles (bar), take a couple of steps back, pull the lines. With this tension on the lines, the leading edge of the kite, which at the moment is not covered with sand and has open sections for air intake, begins to rise and fill with air. A couple more movements, two steps back and the kite, having straightened all the sections and filled them with air, goes straight to the sky.
Launching into a stronger wind alone is in principle possible, but there is a chance that while you go to the controls, the kite will fill with air and spontaneously start to take off, and if you don’t take care of the ground anchor, then your kite can do a lot of trouble.
Chapter 3 - Piloting Basics
Steering
You can already lift a kite (kite) into the sky, but you have difficulties with control, we will try to help you with this:
That's actually the whole story with control) Whatever maneuver you want to make and no matter how difficult it is, there are basic concepts for piloting, and they consist in turning right and left. But nevertheless, let's dwell on each of the movements in more detail.
When going straight, the kite does not have to move vertically upwards, the concept of a kite flying straight means that it is moving in a straight line in the sky. The figure below shows the options for moving straight ahead:
There is a wide variety of kites according to types, models and designs, and accordingly some are better at flying straight, some are better at various tricks, more nimble or less controllable - it all depends on the type of kite, but also on the design, because to For example, one delta may perform some maneuvers better than another. The best thing you can do in this case is to experiment with different types and brands of kites.
When you pull the right stick towards you, the kite reacts accordingly by starting to turn to the right, but it does not necessarily fly to the right side of the sky, it still depends on the correctness of your movements and on what you need from the kite. It is enough just to set the direction of the snake and it is easy for example to move from the left to the right edge of the wind window.
In each of these pictures below, the kite is turning right (left turns work the same way):
No matter how many kite loops you make, your kite will always remain in the sky and be controlled. In order to unwind the lines that have twisted during kite loops, it is enough to point the kite in the other direction.
body positions
The correct position for piloting is one that allows you to enjoy driving and relax at the same time. There is nothing complicated, just stand up straight, arms bent at the sides at the elbows, elbows pressed to the body, well, or close to the body, looking into the sky at the kite. The movements are smooth and purposeful, that is, either to the left or to the right, you don’t have to think of anything and try to pull the lines especially hard or to the side.Remember:
All unnecessary movements only waste your energy and nothing more.
Keeping your hands above your head, the kite will not fly higher
Squeezing the control sticks tighter will not improve kite control.
Moving the hips will not change the position of the kite
Keeping your hands further apart will only make it harder to control.
Focus on the flight, follow the kite and at the same time think over its trajectory, try to control the kite to move it around the sky as you want. Some special additional or sometimes unnecessary movements will only attract the attention of other persons but will not add anything positive to your flight.
Don't forget to smile))) Flying a kite should be fun ;)
First maneuvers
Let's go back to the moment when you just learned how to fly a kite, and of course you want to perform any maneuver, or even just a meaningful element of piloting. Let's try to help you with this:When launched, the kite rushes up:
Your control sticks are placed at the same level, the kite can deviate to the left or to the right. If the kite is turning to one side, then add some tension to the opposite line to align the direction of the kite.
If the kite turns to the left, pull slightly to the right.
If it turns right, pull slightly to the left.
When you reach a certain height, pull the right handle and point the kite to the right without overdoing it. The movement should be smooth, do not let the kite make a kite loop (loop).
After that, when the kite has flown about 1/4 of the loop, pull the left control stick so that the kite makes a left turn much higher than the path of the first right turn. Then fly the kite straight ahead, don't overdo the left turn to avoid a loop.
Then RIGHT again, and RIGHT
Congratulations!! You just made a horizontal figure eight. Now do it again!
The best way to master kite flying is to try new things over and over again and master the maneuvers you have already learned. Over time, you will understand that in piloting the main thing is refinement and accuracy, that delicacy is much better than brute force.
Note: Never drop the sticks when the kite is in the sky, this can lead to unfortunate consequences. Some models of kites can then plan for long distances, and the control sticks "dangling" behind it have a direct danger to everyone on the ground, without human control they can be dangerous!
Landing
There are three types of kite landing, but we will specifically focus on the first two: random, normal and what we call "Eagle landed", the third method is the most difficult and requires separate skills.Random (emergency) landing, in its essence, is not a way to land a kite, since in most cases the kite falls to the ground due to the inability to land it correctly, or simply not wanting to do it carefully. The only disadvantage of this method, apart from the aesthetics of flying, is that you can easily damage the kite. Having broken one of the spars, for example, it is not so difficult to repair it, but who wants to do this instead of flying a kite. The usual reaction of a person who, for one reason or another, did not keep the kite in the sky and watches him fall uncontrollably, is to grab onto the handles and pull them on himself, while taking a step or two back.
This is what 90% of all beginners do, and it's true. But you don’t need to do this, as you already understood, because by pulling the lines and pulling them towards you, you will only give acceleration to the kite and it will crash to the ground with more force than if you did nothing. The whole point is that the whole flight depends on how tense the lines are, there is no tension and there is no flight. If you release a kite, it practically stops in the air and then glides to the ground like a normal leaf. All that is required of you is to try to reduce the tension, if possible, you can quickly run towards the dome. This is the safest and most reliable way to keep your kite safe during an emergency landing.
Normal(recommended) landing is the planned landing of the kite at the point where you would like it to land. This takes advantage of the fact that the kite loses speed and thrust as it descends to the edge of the wind window, whether it's the right or left edge, it doesn't matter.
When landing, you need to steer the kite at a slight angle to the edge of the wind window, feeling that there is less power, and when the ground is only a few meters away, you need to make a slight left turn, this will bring your kite parallel to the ground. After that, a complete loosening of the lines is possible, or another movement of the hand, but only to the right and the kite will land on the ground very gently by itself. Congratulations, the landing was successful..
With practice, you will realize that you can sit anywhere and wherever you have planned.
Packing the kite, assembling
When you're done flying, take a few minutes to pack your kite properly. To do this, make sure that the lines are parallel to each other and not tangled with each other, the next time you want to fly a kite, you will not have time to unravel the lines. Next, disconnect the lines from the kite (kite) and carefully wind them up, then if the structure contains tubes and other frame parts, they should be disassembled and carefully placed in a special case, which by the way should come with the kite. After them, put the kite and lines in the bag. Another piece of advice, if you have time, you can check the lines to see if they stretched out, because after long flights there were cases when they stretched and became different lengths.Repair
Cases when the kite breaks are unfortunately inevitable. Whether it is a simple dome puncture, or broken parts of the structure, repairs cannot be performed without special repair parts. The best and perhaps most commonly used material for canopy repairs is nylon (ripstop) ripstop, the same material your kite is made from. You can buy it in specialized kite stores. A conventional plan puncture is repaired right on the spot in a matter of minutes, and you can again launch the kite into the sky. Repair of spars without special spare parts is practically impossible, and when using them on the spot, repairing the kite is not always quick, but doable.
If it seems to you that you yourself cannot repair a kite, or you are simply afraid to do something wrong, then you can always contact specialized stores, which, in combination, are most often kite clubs, they will definitely help you!
Chapter 4 - Studying conditions and flight modes
So what are the conditions for flying a kite? First of all, of course, the strength and density of the wind, its speed, the kite model and its configuration. There is probably no need to explain that in light wind kites do not fly, there is not enough power. In this section, we will study the kite's response to wind conditions and how to influence the kite's response. And also what should be done if the conditions do not correspond to the norm.When you fly a kite, your kite is usually upwind. As you know, in the sky it moves over a large space, and depending on the direction of the wind and the region (part) of the sky in which it is located, its behavior also changes.
central line is an imaginary vertical line straight downwind.
Center of the wind- this is the area in which the kite (kite) has good speed and maneuverability. The first maneuvers are usually done in the central part of the wind. The size of this area is not fixed, but varies depending on the strength and speed of the wind, weather conditions and the design of the kite.
Edge of the wind window- this is an imaginary line from the center line to the ground, extending to the right or left of it. A kite located at the edge of a wind window has minimal thrust and is therefore less manoeuvrable.
Between the center and the edge the kite will fly normally, but slower than in the center. It is worth remembering that the wind zone increases in proportion to the strength of the wind, in a strong wind the zone will extend by 120 degrees, and in a weak angle it will decrease to 45.
Chapter 5 - Advanced Piloting
Having studied the previous chapters, you already know how to launch and land a kite, learned how to perform some maneuvers, as well as control the flight. In general, we learned everything you need for a pleasant pastime with a kite. But what if you don’t want to stop there, and for you, kite tricks are something more than just daily entertainment. In this case, we suggest continuing to study advanced skills:
flight control
As you probably understood, there are two ways of piloting: this is a game form and a practice one.
When you fly a kite in a playful way, your piloting is limited to some simple tricks and you do not strive for something new, your main task is to relax, have fun and give a smile to others. This style of piloting allows you to escape from the thoughts that bother you, suggests relaxation and inner peace.
The practice form is significantly different from the game form, as it has a focus and a high degree of concentration. A person who wants to progress in piloting skills aims at specific tasks, learning specific maneuvers and kite behavior. Naturally, there is no reason to separate one from the other as things that are completely distant from each other, one does not interfere with the other, so to speak. You can easily play for a while and practice new skills for a while.
Level flight
Level flight is performed along the horizon, from left to right or right to left, in a straight line. This is not so easy to do at first glance.
Most likely, you will not be able to perform these maneuvers "cleanly", since their clean execution requires not only training, but also the ability to focus and keep constant control. You need to learn how to focus your attention on your hands and give the kite exactly the commands you want to see it move. You will feel an increase or decrease in the tension of the lines depending on where in the sky your kite is. The best exercise to control the kite is the best, try to pass the snake as shown in the picture above from top to bottom, reaching the lowest border, which can be a meter from the ground.
direct flight
Next, for the next exercise, try to mentally "draw" straight lines in the sky in all directions, not necessarily along the horizon. Use all the same skills of concentration and complete mastery of a kite and you will succeed, because apart from complete control, nothing is required of you. As you understand, it is much more difficult to perform this or that trick or maneuver, which was planned earlier, to write out some ordinary maneuvers in an arbitrary order.
Throttle control
This concept includes increasing or decreasing power by simultaneously tightening or loosening both lines. Controlling such a plan is a high level of training. Remember, rudder and throttle boost are two different things: steering means changing the power relative to the voltage of one of the lines in relation to the other, and "throttle" means stressing both lines at the same time. However, more often than not, you will use both of these styles at the same time.
vertical figure eight
It is performed in almost the same way as the horizontal figure eight, with the exception of one, in the upper layers of the air the kite moves more slowly. To perform this trick at the highest level, you will need to draw smoother lines through the center of the figure-eight.
Doing something yourself and checking how it works is certainly interesting. That's why people launch boats, paper planes, or other crafts. This is a great pastime with a child on the street. How to fly a kite so that it flies high, and how to control it correctly?
From the outside, everything looks simple - people launch complex figures into the air and can set their own height and speed of movement. How to achieve this? And why do snakes fly without large wings or other adaptations than a tail?
Why does a kite fly
From the outside, the flight of a kite seems amazing. Especially when it rises smoothly by itself and holds on for a long time, carried away by unknown forces. A person regulates the speed and height of the kite by moving and pulling the line.
If you delve deeper, you can understand that 4 natural forces will act on it immediately upon launch:
- lifting and driving force (wind);
- resistance;
- gravity.
The interaction of forces ensures flight. Resistance occurs under certain conditions. This happens when the air opposes any moving body. It is not difficult to check the activity of the force - open your palm and move it from side to side. You will feel a slight resistance.
Now take the cardboard and start fanning it like a fan. The difference is noticeable immediately - the air seems to slow down the movement. The operator uses this power.
He starts flying a kite like this: he puts the kite on the ground, takes the line and pulls it, moving quickly against the wind. The kite will take off. It is important to choose the angle here, as this will affect the overall takeoff speed. If there is a breeze outside, then a vacuum zone forms on top of the kite, which gives confidence to the movement. The aircraft uses the vacuum zone and begins to soar like an open sail.
It turns out that the main conditions for a quick takeoff and subsequent flight of the kite is the angle of attack, which is also the angle of the necessary lifting force. If the kite stands upright, then the natural air resistance will increase, and at the same time the lifting force will increase. In a horizontal position, it quickly decreases.
Wind characteristic for flights
No wonder it is so named - its flight primarily depends on the presence and strength of the wind. In calm, even a well-designed model will remain motionless. The only thing that can simulate the wind is physical effort, but then the operator will have to run constantly.
Strength
First of all, before launching, you should check the weather: tree branches, leaves and grass are moving, flags are moving, small ripples are visible on the water? Great, the weather is right. It is important to find the "golden mean" of the activity of air currents. Strong gusts can break or blow the kite away.
Direction
Here the kite has taken off and soars. The best position is with your back to the wind, facing the kite. Determining the direction of air flow is easy. Where does the grass bend, the tips of the flags point, the packets fly? You can expose your face to gusts of wind, feel how it touches your cheeks.
Those friends who managed to launch the kites will serve as clues.
How to choose a place to launch
In order to fly a kite correctly, you must first choose a suitable location. Sometimes the launch is difficult - the kite barely got up, spins constantly, pulls on the fishing line. He will gain stability later, when he gains a certain height. Or it took off easily, and then “swarmed”, becoming uncontrollable.
It is more convenient to launch kites from a small hill - a hill, an embankment, a platform. You need to choose a flat place, not crowded with foreign objects. After launch, attention will be focused on the snake hovering above, so it is important to ensure freedom of movement in advance. It would be a shame to suddenly stumble while running.
Thus, the ideal place to launch:
- smooth, without debris and obstacles;
- on a hill, a small mound;
- there are no houses, horizontal bars, trees, roads, airports nearby.
Flying a kite: step by step instructions
To enjoy free flight, you need to fly a kite correctly. Take into account the weather, wind strength, choose a place, calculate the ideal launch angle.
First of all, using improvised means, determine the current direction of the wind. Remember, he is more active at altitude.
Launching a kite - alone, together
Strengthened wind. It is enough to release the snake, unclenching your hands, having previously settled down with your back to the gusts. Point the nose of the kite up before launching, holding the lifeline nearby, at the base. After releasing, slowly unwind the thread, increasing the height.
Double launch. The assistant holds the kite, directing his nose up. You, having unwound 20 meters of thread from the spool, step back. Command the assistant to open his arms and at the same time toss the kite. Watch as the released kite takes off rapidly, carried away by gusts of wind. Adjust the flight through the tension and length of the thread.
Weak wind. It seems that there is absolutely no wind below, but the tops of the trees are actively swaying. So, he is strong enough, only on top. Then it is important to help the snake to climb it.
Running alone. Having taken a position with your back to the gusts of wind, place the kite down on the ground exactly perpendicular, “facing” to you. Unwinding the rope, slowly move away, trying to keep it in the previously set position.
After stepping back 8-10 steps, sharply pull the unwound rope and run until the kite gradually rises, reaching the area of active wind. Feeling how he caught the air currents, stop. Now you can adjust the hovering of the kite.
Double launch. The snake is held by an assistant. This method is great for a family run, when children help parents. Keep it high, aligning it strictly perpendicular to the gusts of wind. The child at this time departs, unwinding the rope.
When he rewinds 2-3 meters, ask him to run. Unclench your hands in time, giving the snake the opportunity to take off. That's it, now help the kid to regulate the flight of the kite. Be an assistant, prompting the child the nuances of control. So he can quickly learn how to fly a kite.
flight control
Basically it all depends on the actual wind strength:
- The wind has died down, the kite is falling - pull the rope faster by lowering your hand or stepping back. See that the thread remains taut at all times.
- Increased - on the contrary, unwind the rope, at the same time slightly loosening the tension and approaching the hovering snake. The main task is to capture the moments of wind change and adjust the thread tension in time. In order for the kite to rapidly pull ahead - loosen it, if it decreases - tighten it.
- The flight is unstable - at first it soars, then suddenly starts to fall. Watching the chaotic movements you need to catch the dynamics. Remember, the direction of flight always depends on the position of the kite's nose.
body position
From the launch videos, it is noticeable that a person always has a snake in front of him. It is more convenient to track the flight, control the tension force and the length of the rope. Periodically, you need to move - run or move your hands. It all depends on the strength and direction of the wind.
The starting position is with your back to him, providing yourself with the freedom of possible movements.
First maneuvers
It is more difficult to launch when the wind is weak or, conversely, strong. If the gusts cannot be determined, they are constantly changing and the kite is prowling, trying to snatch the fishing line, then it is better to wait. It is extremely difficult and even dangerous to regulate the flight in such conditions.
There is no wind, the launch will be complicated. You will have to replace the elements with physical effort, constantly run so that the kite remains at the previously set height. It's easier when the wind is at the top. Then it is enough to raise the kite, later the element itself will pick it up.
Always look where the nose is pointed, this determines the flight path. Down - the kite will fall, up - it will rise.
If the kite falls
The situation will be saved by the following maneuvers - loosen the initial tension of the rope, allowing the wind to straighten the flight on its own. You can carefully adjust the direction of the nose. Wait for it to rise up and return the rope to its original tension. Adjust its length according to the wind pressure.
Is the fall inevitable? Loosen the rope, let the kite slowly lower itself.
Landing
Walked up, it's time to plant the snake. The right approach is needed here, especially when a strong wind holds. Many people think that it is enough to wind the thread and it will fly by itself. This approach is dangerous for crafts. Strong air currents can break the thread or harm the snake.
It is better to make sure the kite has a safe landing. Plant it across the wind. First take a position with the kite 90 degrees into the wind. Now slowly approach the hovering aircraft while shortening the thread. See that it remains taut and pliable enough.
Is it blowing hard? It is worth moving, looking for a zone where it is weakened and landing there. Move, reducing the length of the stretched thread as much as possible. A strong wind usually blows in gusts in one direction. There are quiet places. It is important to find such a safe zone and land the kite.
Safety
Although kite flying is considered a harmless activity, there are a number of precautions to be aware of.
Safety regulations:
- do not choose places for launching where there are power lines or stretched wires nearby;
- look for a flat place without trees, horizontal bars and houses;
- launch in windy (light or medium wind) but clear weather, not in a thunderstorm;
- do not trust the launch to small children, especially in strong winds;
- if the fishing line is rough, it is worth protecting your hands with gloves;
- avoid roads, airports, especially when running with a child!
3 23 447
The desire to take off and reach uncharted heights is inherent in each of us. And although, unlike birds, we cannot soar in the sky on our own, we are able to give the joy of watching free flight to ourselves and our children. Think we're talking about a plane ticket? And here it is not. We just want to tell you a few ways to make a kite. This simplest aircraft, made from improvised do-it-yourself tools, will give you a lot of positive impressions and emotions.
Did you know that the first kites plied the skies of ancient China in the second century BC? e.? Today the art of building and running them is back in vogue. And every year, every second Sunday in October, World Kite Day is celebrated.
By the way, the hero of our today's article is sometimes called "kite" in a foreign manner. So, when you come across this term, don't be surprised.
And now it's time to do snake building.
The easiest way
Do you want to spend a fine day with fun and profit, watching how a kite made by yourself soars cheerfully in the sky like a bird? if you don't have experience in creating such aeronautical structures, we advise you to start your journey by assembling the lightest kite model. It is attractive in that it can be done without a complex drawing.
For work, you will need the simplest materials at hand:
- tracing paper;
- scissors;
- wooden twigs or skewers about 60 cm long;
- adhesive tape or electrical tape;
- thick thread or twine.
Instead of wooden twigs, thin window glazing beads will do, and tracing paper can be replaced with plain paper (but remember that the lighter the kite, the better it will fly).
Fold the twigs crosswise as in the photo, fix the junction with a thread or a thin rope, lubricate it with quick-drying glue for strength.
Put the resulting blank on a tracing paper and cut out a quadrilateral (well, you can’t call it a rhombus from the point of view of mathematics), for which the crossed sticks will be diagonals. Glue the twigs with tape to the paper base, pay special attention to the corners.
Cut out a strip of tracing paper about 2 m long and 2 cm wide. Glue it around the perimeter of the quadrangle with adhesive tape.
Glue the intersection of the rods on both sides of the tracing paper with adhesive tape. With a nail heated on fire, carefully burn a through hole to fix the thread to the snake.
Pass the thread through the hole, make a loop and tie it around the cross. Remember that the loop must be on the inside of the kite. Tie a thread, cord or fishing line wound on a spool to the loop (see how to make a spool at the end of the article).
The most important stage has come - decoration. Entrust this task to the child: he will independently decorate the craft at his own discretion. If you are collecting a test copy to study its flight characteristics, you can skip the design stage.
The simplest kite is ready. You can go outside to catch the wind and cheer yourself up.
Diamond shaped kite made of plastic bag
Want to make your kite more resistant to the elements. We suggest you use polyethylene as an improvised material. You will get it absolutely free of charge by cutting the old tight package. Another good option to give new life to old things is to take umbrella fabric. It is dense, light and does not get wet.A little time, accuracy, strict adherence to the step-by-step photo instructions - and your kite will be ready to take off on its first flight. You will see that conquering the expanses of heaven is a fascinating pastime. Moreover, this version of the snake is more advanced than the first. He equipped with a bridle, making it easier to control.
original version
Who told you that a kite can only be triangular or diamond-shaped? Away with these outdated stereotypes. A little imagination and you can assemble a flying machine at home in the shape of a butterfly, flower or fish.
For work you will need:
- thick flexible wire;
- colored paper;
- marker or pencil;
- scissors;
- glue stick;
- thick thread and a piece of thin rope.
And now it's time to bring ideas to life. Take pieces of flexible wire and bend them according to your scheme. Wrap the ends of the wire tightly with thread, for a secure fit, make at least a dozen turns on each connection and tie a knot.
Put the blank on paper, circle it with a marker, leaving a couple of centimeters around the perimeter for allowances. Make notches on the allowances so that the edges do not wrinkle when bent.
Spread the remaining allowances with glue and glue to the base of the workpiece. You can make a kite out of paper or fabric in several colors. In this case, cutting out the necessary elements, proceed in a similar way.
To strengthen the frame, tie additional pieces of wire on the back of the structure.
You can decorate the product with tissue paper or shreds of thin fabric, you need to glue them to the front side.
It remains to fix the cherished thread of control. In order for the kite to fly, it must be done correctly. Regardless of its size and shape, fasten the rope in 3 places on the frame on the back of the product. Next, tie its ends, stepping back from the center of the structure by 30 cm, and tie the thread.
Your own fantasy kite is ready to fly. Any child will appreciate such a toy. But he will get even more joy from launching his new pet if adults find time to teach him this art.
Rectangular kite
We present to your attention a master class for creating a rectangular flying kite.Make it with your children and you will get a triple benefit:
- give the younger generation the skills to work with your own hands;
- show that reality is much more interesting than the virtual world of gadgets;
- get a lot of pleasure from joint creativity.
Yes, there is a triple! You can list the advantages of such a hand-made for a long time, but it's time to proceed directly to manufacturing.
* based on handmadecharlotte.com
For work you need:
- parchment paper, sheet 36*51 cm;
- wooden sticks or light slats, 2 x 60 cm, 48 cm and 36 cm;
- colored corrugated paper;
- strong thread;
- reel with fishing line;
- glue stick and PVA;
- a small metal ring;
- scissors.
Lubricate a stick 48 cm long with PVA and glue to the center line of the workpiece.
Lay the remaining sticks along the diagonals of the rectangle.
Glue them with pieces of paper, as shown in the photo.
Cut out squares or arbitrary figures from colored paper and stick on the front side of the rectangle.
On both sides of the intersection point of the diagonals, make a hole.
With pieces of thread, tie the ends of the sticks at the upper corners of the rectangle, pulling them together a little.
Tie a long piece of thread to the upper right corner of the kite. String a ring on the thread, it will help control the flying machine. Then thread the thread through the holes previously made in the center of the rectangle and pass it through the ring again. Tie the end of the thread to the upper left corner of the product.
Tie the end of the line tightly to the control ring.
Glue long strips of corrugated paper to the bottom of the kite. These "tails" will help him balance in the air currents. Their optimal size is 5 cm * 2.5 m.
The air wanderer is ready to surprise you with its flight characteristics. Good luck with your flight!
Cardboard coil for a kite at home
In order for the kite to proudly soar up, you need a very long thread or fishing line. Naturally, walking with an armful of thread in your hands is not advisable. For comfortable starting and control, a coil is used. You can buy ready-made, or you can make it from cardboard at home.
* Based on materials from eventor.ru
For work you will need:
- corrugated cardboard;
- glue gun;
- scissors or cutter;
- pencil;
- ruler;
- compasses (preferred but not required)
Cut several strips 2.5 cm wide.
Mark the inner circle, use a compass or a suitable template.
Fold the cut strips along the contour of the cutouts, glue with hot glue.
Glue the inner ring in the same way.
Glue the second circle on top of it.
Glue the end of a long thread to the inner surface of the spool and wind the thread.
So that it does not get confused, tie a match to its end, fix it with glue. Insert the thread into the slot on the outer ring.
With such a handy accessory, your flying kite will conquer not only the sky, but also the hearts of your children.
- Choose an open place to launch, otherwise, instead of enjoying the flight, you will have to take your kite out of the trees over and over again.
- Make sure the wind is blowing outside. Without it, you will not be able to launch your creation. Optimal wind strength when thin tree branches sway and ripples flow through the water. If it is stronger, there is a risk of snake wreck. Then stand with your back to the wind and hold the kite in front of you. If it's built right, it can fly right out of your hands. Why not magic?
- Having problems with flight control? Check if the thread is attached to the bridle exactly in the middle. Failure to comply with this condition will lead to uncontrollability of the kite.
- The bridle is secure, but the kite lives its own life, completely ignoring your commands? Checking the tail. Try it alternately lengthen and weight. Increase the length, if this does not help, tie a weighting agent to the tail. It can be a paper bow or just a bunch of grass - use what is at hand.
- Is it hard for a kite to fly? Doesn't he want to gain height? Try lightening the tail. Get rid of excess decor or shorten it a little. But remember the golden rule: measure seven times, cut once.
Good day!
I recently read a review from the author irecommend about a kite from Aliexpress and I really wanted to fly one with a child, because in my childhood there was no such fun. And just a couple of days later we saw a kite in the retail sale in the Fix Price store in St. Petersburg, without hesitation purchased it.
I must say right away that to launch a kite need wind outside. In calm, it doesn’t even make sense to go out with him for a walk.
It is not recommended to fly kites in strong, gusty winds.
Name of product:
Sport&Fun kite from the store fix price
the size 135*65cm; rope length 30 meters
Price - 99 rubles
Producing country: China
Design options: in the Fix Price store in St. Petersburg I saw lion, bird, plane and dolphin. Daughter loved the lion.
Compound: dacron (190T), fiberglass, polypropylene.
In the characteristics for the snake there is no detailed description of how to launch and assemble it, but it is written that shelf-life Unlimited. I laughed at this moment, because even after one run a hole appeared on the snake (the quality is Chinese and that says it all).
In a rustling transparent package, the kite is very reminiscent of an umbrella.
And inside is directly canvas snake with tail and skeleton;
Thread spool and thread itself (leer), in this case fishing line.
The reel is made of cheap plastic, but special cuts are made on it so that the fishing line can be fixed and it does not unwind. It's comfortable!
The fishing line is tied to a special hole on the snake's canvas.
And on the other side of the canvas in special plastic grooves ...
inserted flexible plastic black stick She also comes with the kit.
The kite is assembled. You can run. This does not require special skills, everything is quite simple.
We go out into the open area (in some field).
Handy when flying a kite 2 persons, one initially holds it above his head, and then releases it on a signal, the second person unwinds the fishing line and held the kite in the sky, catches and feels the direction of the wind.
You don’t need to run with a kite, but my daughter really liked this activity, so he didn’t fly with her for long.
Since the fishing line in the set is 30 meters, the kite will be able to climb high enough with a good wind.
Lion superman in yellow pantyhose caused a storm of positive emotions in a child passing by adults, and it was also very interesting for me and my husband to watch how he flies over our heads.
The Chinese believe that soaring in the sky the kite takes away all diseases and hardships with it.
Trembling, alive, he strives upwards, towards freedom and the sun, trying to fly out of his hands and break the leash. How to assemble a kite? After all, it is about him!
Surely you read S. Marshak as a child. In one of his works, we are talking about the life of a schoolboy, an important part of which at that stage was just the same kites. Among the boys, it was considered prestigious not only to make the largest one, which would last the longest in the air, but also the most durable: after all, real battles were fought! Who won't fall to the ground?! In addition to excitement, the practical value of the structure was also meant: twine and other improvised materials were very expensive. And the guys, of course, did not have the slightest idea about the properties of aerodynamics: everything was done empirically.
Now there are more concepts, but snakes have become a rarity. Although back in the last century, scientists used them already on business: with their help it was possible to carry out meteorological studies, raising devices to a height of up to 1000 m. But this is a great way to keep a child busy with a common cause and get closer to him even more! Let's try to revive the traditions?
How to assemble a kite at home
First you need to consider: the lighter the structure and the larger its plane, the higher the probability that the kite will take off. Therefore, the materials for manufacturing should be light: we will take wooden laths-shingles for the frame, and you can cover it with thin paper or foil. For a larger product, you will need canvas, plastic wrap (owners of Crazy Handles even fit an ordinary garbage bag) or thin cardboard. All this is fastened with thread / twine / thin wire. Want to use thread? Be sure to coat them with glue after finishing work!
Agree, the answer to the question "how to assemble a kite" is not so difficult!
Understanding how to fly a kite is almost as important as knowing how to make one. After all, even small birds are taught to fly by their parents, and they have wings from birth!
Location selection
A small kite is quite capable of flying in the corridor, according to the principle of a paper airplane. It is only important to run with him evenly, at the same speed. They threw it up and ... forward! For a large flyer you need space and a light breeze. Choose a place in advance: it can be a seashore, a wide field or an ordinary stadium. Eliminate possible obstacles and make sure that there are not many people around.
Did your support group come with you? Let them step aside and keep an eye on both sides: getting a construction in the face is a dubious pleasure, and it is better to keep the memory of the event not in the form of scars, but in the form of photographs.
Safety
kite launch
Remember how surfers catch waves? So and you will need to catch the moment when the flyer begins to rise, drawn by the currents of air masses. Gently straighten the structure, unravel the tail. Throw up and start running fast against the wind - this is how you give the initial speed. A correctly glued kite will quickly rise up, gradually unwinding the twine. Is that what happened? You don't need to run anymore. Enjoy the result!
Nuance: It will be difficult for a small child to launch on their own at first. Choose a smaller model. Make sure that he does not get tangled in the twine and does not cut his hands with it. The unfolding tail may well whip in the face - before launching, lay it out on the back of the ground. And ideally, practice first in the hallway.
Did you know?
Skillful Japanese know how to assemble a kite of various configurations. Taking the construction of a balloon as a basis, they make outlandish animals, smear the twine with glue, sprinkle it with crushed glass and arrange real battle shows every year. The kids of the time of Marshak never dreamed of such a thing! What about your children?
