Fly your kite on thick sewing cotton.
Most important - when the line is taut, the kite will fly fast
and straight, and will keep flying in that direction while the
line is kept taut. It will always fly in the direction in which
the nose is pointing.
Launching the kite
A helper would be useful to start with.
Hold the kite with the nose pointing upwards, the flyer should
be about 30m upwind. When the kite is released pull evenly and
gently and the kite will climb skywards.
For a solo takeoff, turn your back on
the wind and hold the kite out in front of you. When you feel
the wind take the kite, release the line slowly, letting the
kite drift away from you, as the kite drops away from you it
will slowly rotate, when the nose is pointing upwards, gently
pull on the line, this will cause the kite to rise sharply.
The process is then repeated over and over until the kite is
high enough.
Changing direction
Remember that the kite will fly in the
direction in which the nose is pointing. To turn, release a
little line, which will make the kite rotate/turn. When the
kite is pointing in the direction you want it to go, pull back
on the line.
The kite will accelerate in that direction.
To change direction again, release line, let the kite turn and
then pull at the right time. If the kite gets low, let out line,
and let the nose turn upwards, then pull on the line. If the
kite always turns to the same side, it's because the bow spar
is stiffer on one side than the other. You will need to soften
the spar on the opposite side to which the kite is turning.
Gently bend the spar with your fingers. Bamboo has the wonderful
property of having a memory - if you give it shape, it will
retain that shape.
Thanks to Dave Skinner for the use
of this information
