How To Fly A Kite - A Single Line Kite In Particular - 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.

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.

Tim Parish and his family have rediscovered the joys of kiting. They blog their flying fun on their my-best-kite.com website, and also research the kiting world. This site will introduce you to many kinds of kites and related flying activities, including flying href="http://www.my-best-kite.com/how-to-fly-a-kite.html"
target="_new">single line kites, of course!