Flying Kites
Flying kites can be enjoyed by the young and old alike! We love to fly and experiment with a vast array of different types here at If It Can Fly. From Delta Kites, Box Kites, Traditional, Home-made and even the Foils. As we do, we’ll share pictures, videos, thoughts and a kite review or two.
We will not, however, be flying the low-end “grocery store” variety. If you are going to fly a kite, we believe it should be of quality construction and last!
What is the path to flying kites? If you fly them you already know, get your hands on a quality kite, find a safe and open field and verify there is a breeze, and go flying! Getting started is that simple. Unlike other flying hobbies, there is no special training you need, you simply need that desire to get outside and have some fun. With this said, we recommend you follow a ‘skill level’ progression to maximize your experience. Feel free to jump to our recommendations after reading below.
Here is a good way to approach flying kites.
Beginner Kites
For the beginner: get your hands on larger single-line Delta kites. We have two reviews in our blog that are great to start with. The larger Deltas are easier to get in the air in a light breeze and are more stable. Their larger surface area catches more air, allowing it to launch easily and stay aloft with less effort.
Another great option for the beginner are box kites! These kites have a history back to the 1800’s where they were used to lift/move objects. However, now, box kites are just fun to fly and watch! In their simplest form, perfect for beginners. However, creative kite designers have turned the traditional box kite into beautiful flying features, perfect for the intermediate flyer as well. We have blog post on designing them.
Intermediate and Advanced Kites
For the intermediate flier: many challenging kite types are available. From smaller single-line traditional diamonds, box kites and their variants, to the support-less parafoils. Once you comfortable in understanding how kites behave in different wind conditions, you will want to explore adding Kite Laundry to your string. At this stage you will want to launch multiple kites that require staking/tethering to the ground. Careful consideration should be given to how you anchor your kites but worth the time to get it right. Multiple kites in the air, with multiple types of laundry makes for a beautiful site. Expect a lot of visitors coming to see them, whether you are flying at a beach or local park.
For the intermediate to advanced flier: there comes a time when the urge to do stunts with your kite cannot be contained. The stunt kite group consists of:
Two Line Stunt Kite: The two-line stunt is a perfect way to enter this section of the hobby. It will take an hour or two to get really comfortable in launching the kite and stabilizing it in the air, but once you do, they are a blast!
Four Line Stunt Kite: the four-line stunt is what you would expect, even more difficult to learn the basics, but the fun here is exponential!
Parafoil Kites
What about the foils? The foils come in every variety, single, dual and quad line! They even come in creative shapes! They are perfect for the ‘grab the bag and go’ fly moments since they do not have frames. Every kite enthusiast should have one tucked away and ready to fly when the opportunity presents itself!
Follow along and enjoy this wonderful hobby with us!
Some of our experiences flying kites
From a recent trip to South Padre, we flew these beauties! On some days, the sky was overcast and the wind blowing strong off the water and on others, bright and sunny! Both were fine with us! Here are some pictures of our time followed by a few links on a kite review or two.
Blog / Articles on Flying Kites
Extras!
As with all outdoor flyers, a good understanding of the Beaufort Wind Scale while flying kites is handy. Here is a simple video that helps to explain it
