Carrie McFadden attempts to launch her kite at South Allegheny Middle School during a recetn kite flying festival
Posted on 05/17/2009 11:59:14 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Even building kites can be a breeze with a little basic know-how. "You can make a kite that flies [from] a brown paper bag," said Calvin Mills of Allison Park, as he sent a delta-shaped dual-line model aloft at the recent Kites for Kids day at Carnegie Science Center.
"They can be as simple or sophisticated as you want them to be." Mills and other members of the Fly Pittsburgh Kite Club helped with kite-making and flying at the annual event, which is held by KidsVoice to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. "We chose kites because they're symbols of soaring hope and happy childhood experiences," said KidsVoice executive director Scott Hollander. "During April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, we asked Boy Scouts, schools, church groups -- the whole community -- to make 5,000 kites, one for each of the children we serve in Allegheny County." Of course, kite flying isn't just for kids and few enthusiasts who build kites from brown paper bags.
Most are made today from nylon or polyester and there are hundreds of different styles, for finesse, precision or power kiting as well as ice kiting, kite surfing, even kite fighting. The traditional diamond-shaped kite with a long tail may be the best known, but is "notoriously unstable" compared to other kites, Mills said, and has given way to more complex designs. There are box kites, facet kites, glider kites, even something called a Japanese "rokkaku" -- a six-sided kite used in battles where the goal is to knock down other kites or cut their strings.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Carrie McFadden attempts to launch her kite at South Allegheny Middle School during a recetn kite flying festival
FUN POST.
VERY worthy cause.
Thx.
When my son was young, he and I would would break out the kites on the first sunny, windy day of spring. Fun!
BEAUTIFUL.
THX.
love kites
Joe,
You made my day with Rays Video.
I couldn’t land a stunt kite without substantial or fatal damage.
Amazing.....
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