About Kites

For many years, kites have been thought of simply as the bright, colorful toys flown by kids in backyards and on school sports fields, but kites have a much richer history than that. Developed in China nearly 3,000 years ago, kites have made their mark in such a way that the world would be a very different place without them.

History

Kites were first developed in China, although there has been some disagreement to the actual date. Most scholars believe that the first kites were flown around 2,800 years ago, though some hold that kites date farther back than that. The earliest kites were used from materials all readily available in China: bamboo for the frames and silk for the sails and the lines.
Although it has not been proven, many credit Chinese philosopher Mo-tse as being the builder of the first kite. Mo-tse lived in what is now Weifang, China (who now calls itself the kite capital of the world), and his first kite was a carefully crafted carving of a bird.
One of the theories for how the idea of a kite came about is that someone saw a leaf, fluttering in the wind at the end of the vine, and it sparked the idea of trying to fly a piece of cloth at the end of a line.

Function

Everyone has heard the story of how Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity when he was struck by lightning flying a kite in a thunderstorm, but what else have kites been used for throughout the centuries?
Kites were often used in very practical, utilitarian ways by people who probably wouldn't dream of using them as a toy. Some cultures used them to carry a hook and fishing line out to deep water to catch fish.
Later, kites were integrated into the improving technology around them.
In 1847, kites proved invaluable in building what is now one of the largest trade routes in North America. When it was decided to build a bridge over Niagara Falls, builders knew there was one problem: how to get that first line across the 800 foot wide, 200 foot deep gorge. The answer came from a local ironworker who suggested flying a kite across the span. It was done by 11-year-old Homan Walsh, and his kite string formed what is now Whirlpool Bridge.
In 1906, after the San Francisco earthquake, pictures of the area were taken by George Lawerence and his camera, flown from a kite.
Kites have also been used for military surveillance and delivery of supplies in dangerous territory, as light beacons, as invaluable meteorological equipment that pioneered the art of weather forecasting, as mobile radio antenna.

Size

Most kites are easily carried by one person, but some kites used in exhibitions and festivals can reach mind-boggling sizes. The largest kite in the world was created by New Zealand kite designer Peter Lynn. The kite was made in the shape of the flag of Kuwait, and has an area of 1,019 meters. The kite weighs more than 200 kg, and when it's on the ground, 1,000 people can comfortably fit inside.
The tails on show kites can be hundreds of feet long, and trains of kites, (like the one used at a yearly festival in Niagara Falls to attempt to duplicate Homan Walsh's impressive feat) can consist of a mile-long stretch of kites.

Potential

Even today, kites are still in use as much more than a simple children's toy. In January of 2008, the MS Beluga Skysails, a commercial cargo ship, set sail on its maiden voyage from Germany to Venezuela. The ship is unique because of its power systems; a good portion of the ship's movement is being supplied by a giant kite. The idea is that it will not only be much more energy efficient, but it will be much better for the environment and not only reduce fuel costs but emissions as well.
It's hoped that the technology can be used for everything from cruise liners to cargo ships, and it's showing that people are rethinking ways to learn from our forefathers and use kites for much more than simple toys.

Warning

As useful and fun as kites are, kite-related deaths are not unheard of.
Kite-fighting (knocking another person's kite out of the air by cutting the string with the opposing kite), has created problems in areas with cultural festivals revolving around kite flying. Participants have been known to use chemicals to reinforce kite strings, making them as sharp as razors and potentially lethal to those who get cut by them - especially children. In some cases, the strings have been known to cause decapitation.
Dog-fighting style kites aside, there is still a very real backyard danger to kites. Anyone flying their own should be mindful of what is around them: specifically, power lines. Kites can be erratic and hard to control, especially for those just starting out, and getting tangled in power lines can be a very real danger.