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Kite-flying" redirects here. For the political metaphor, see fly a kite.

For other uses, see Kite (disambiguation).

Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival is held every May in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.A kite is a tethered aircraft.[1] The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind. The resultant force vector from the lift and drag force components is opposed by the tension of the one or more lines or tethers.[2] The anchor point of the kite line may be static or moving (e.g., the towing of a kite by a running person, boat, free-falling anchors as in paragliders and fugitive parakites[3][4] or vehicle).[5][6]

The same principles can be used in water[7][8][9] and experiments have also been made with lighter-than-air kites (kytoons)[10]

Kites may be flown for recreation, art or other practical uses. Sport kites can be flown in aerial ballet, sometimes as part of a competition. Power kites are multi-line steerable kites designed to generate large forces which can be used to power activities such as kite surfing, kite landboarding, kite fishing, kite buggying and a new trend snow kiting. Kites towed behind boats can lift passengers[11] which has had useful military applications in the past.[12]

Contents [hide]

1 History

2 Materials

3 Practical uses

3.1 Human flight

3.2 Military applications

3.3 Science and meteorology

3.4 Radio aerials and light beacons

3.5 Kite traction

4 Cultural uses

4.1 Asia

4.2 Europe

4.3 Polynesia

4.4 South America

5 Popular culture

6 General safety issues

7 Designs

8 Types

9 Line materials

10 Record

11 See also

12 References

13 External links

[edit] History

Woodcut print of a kite from John Bate's 1635 book, The Mysteryes of Nature and Art in which the kite is titled How to make fire DrakesIt is generally...