By Tim Parish
Need a hand with knowing how to fly a kite? We've seen plenty of struggling fliers from time to time! If so, the information here should be very helpful. It's all based on our flying experiences with single-liners.
This is only about single-liners such as diamonds and deltas. The emphasis is on flat designs with solid spars and an adjustable towing point, but some of the info here will apply to parafoils and sleds as well.
How To Fly A Kite - The Towing Point And Tails
The towing point is where the flying line attaches to the kite's bridle. In most cases, you can slide or otherwise adjust this point towards the nose or the tail of the kite.
What if the kite doesn't want to fly at all?
Perhaps there's simply not enough wind for that kite, which is likely if you can't feel it pulling on the line. Just wait for better conditions, and go out when there's more wind!
Perhaps you can feel some pull in the line, and it moves left or right but just doesn't climb no matter what you do. That is the symptom of a towing point set too far back. Just shift it forward towards the nose of the kite a little, and try again. Keep adjusting by a small amount until the kite willingly climbs into the air. Learning how to fly a kite has a lot to do with understanding the towing point.
What if the kite takes off, but then just wants to loop around and dive into the ground?
Let's assume you're not trying to fly immediately downwind of your house or some other huge obstacle! Looping is usually caused by trying to fly when the wind is too strong. The first thing to try is to shift the towing point forward a little. This reduces the pressure on the kite and might be enough to keep it in the air.
If you have shifted the towing point several times without any success, it's time to add a tail. Or, if there is already a tail, double its length, at least. If the kite still misbehaves, pack up and wait for a less windy day!
What if the kite takes off and climbs, but then doesn't get very high?
In this case it sounds like there is enough wind, but the towing point has been left too far forward. No problem, just shift the towing point back towards the tail a bit at a time until you are happy with the flying.
If shifting the towing point doesn't help, then the wind is just not strong enough to carry the kite plus its flying line to its maximum height. The weight of the line does add up, as you let more and more of it out.
How To Fly A Kite - Gusty Winds And Hand Launching
What if the wind is gusty and the kite doesn't stay up long enough for you to let some line out? Let's assume the towing point is about right. The best approach here is probably to just let a helper carry the kite some distance away, while you let out the line. Then tell them to hold it up and let it fly out of their hand when the next gust comes through.
Eventually, with some practice, you will be able to get good at hand launches. You dangle the kite from your hand and then let line slip through your fingers whenever you feel some tension. Climbing a kite is a process of letting out line when the tension is strong, and holding on when the tension is light.
How To Fly A Kite And Not Get Bored
Some, maybe most, people just enjoy the relaxing aspects of flying a single-line kite. Just watching it fly, perhaps enjoying the subtle artistry of color and movement. However, if you would like to get a little more out of it, why not try the following ideas.
* Launch straight off the ground, on a long line. Pull in line to get the kite in the air, then let it climb up to full height.
* Bring your kite right down into your hand without letting it touch the ground. Pull in quicker from time to time if needed, to keep it airborne.
* Keep records. See how long you can keep it in the air, to the nearest 5 minutes.
* See how fast you can get 150 meters (500 feet) of line out, from a hand launch.
If you are not a frequent flier, I hope these tips on how to fly a kite have been of some help!
Need a hand with knowing how to fly a kite? We've seen plenty of struggling fliers from time to time! If so, the information here should be very helpful. It's all based on our flying experiences with single-liners.
This is only about single-liners such as diamonds and deltas. The emphasis is on flat designs with solid spars and an adjustable towing point, but some of the info here will apply to parafoils and sleds as well.
How To Fly A Kite - The Towing Point And Tails
The towing point is where the flying line attaches to the kite's bridle. In most cases, you can slide or otherwise adjust this point towards the nose or the tail of the kite.
What if the kite doesn't want to fly at all?
Perhaps there's simply not enough wind for that kite, which is likely if you can't feel it pulling on the line. Just wait for better conditions, and go out when there's more wind!
Perhaps you can feel some pull in the line, and it moves left or right but just doesn't climb no matter what you do. That is the symptom of a towing point set too far back. Just shift it forward towards the nose of the kite a little, and try again. Keep adjusting by a small amount until the kite willingly climbs into the air. Learning how to fly a kite has a lot to do with understanding the towing point.
What if the kite takes off, but then just wants to loop around and dive into the ground?
Let's assume you're not trying to fly immediately downwind of your house or some other huge obstacle! Looping is usually caused by trying to fly when the wind is too strong. The first thing to try is to shift the towing point forward a little. This reduces the pressure on the kite and might be enough to keep it in the air.
If you have shifted the towing point several times without any success, it's time to add a tail. Or, if there is already a tail, double its length, at least. If the kite still misbehaves, pack up and wait for a less windy day!
What if the kite takes off and climbs, but then doesn't get very high?
In this case it sounds like there is enough wind, but the towing point has been left too far forward. No problem, just shift the towing point back towards the tail a bit at a time until you are happy with the flying.
If shifting the towing point doesn't help, then the wind is just not strong enough to carry the kite plus its flying line to its maximum height. The weight of the line does add up, as you let more and more of it out.
How To Fly A Kite - Gusty Winds And Hand Launching
What if the wind is gusty and the kite doesn't stay up long enough for you to let some line out? Let's assume the towing point is about right. The best approach here is probably to just let a helper carry the kite some distance away, while you let out the line. Then tell them to hold it up and let it fly out of their hand when the next gust comes through.
Eventually, with some practice, you will be able to get good at hand launches. You dangle the kite from your hand and then let line slip through your fingers whenever you feel some tension. Climbing a kite is a process of letting out line when the tension is strong, and holding on when the tension is light.
How To Fly A Kite And Not Get Bored
Some, maybe most, people just enjoy the relaxing aspects of flying a single-line kite. Just watching it fly, perhaps enjoying the subtle artistry of color and movement. However, if you would like to get a little more out of it, why not try the following ideas.
* Launch straight off the ground, on a long line. Pull in line to get the kite in the air, then let it climb up to full height.
* Bring your kite right down into your hand without letting it touch the ground. Pull in quicker from time to time if needed, to keep it airborne.
* Keep records. See how long you can keep it in the air, to the nearest 5 minutes.
* See how fast you can get 150 meters (500 feet) of line out, from a hand launch.
If you are not a frequent flier, I hope these tips on how to fly a kite have been of some help!
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