Flat Kites by George Webster
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Page 14 The Kiteflier, Issue 96 Flat Kites by George Webster 1 Introduction Notes: As usual capital letters mean that the book is in Definition: ‘A single plane surface which may have the bibliography. There are 24 diagrams – the built-in dihedral, may deflect to give dihedral in flight or ‘specials’ are mine. The photo credits are; David of may be bowed by means of a line. It may, or may not, Holwick 1-4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 25, 26, 28, 40, 41, 47, 48, have a keel. Keels are usually at right angles from the 49, 52; Malcolm Goodman 4, 31 – 36, 45, 46, 50, 51, face of the kite and form a bridle attachment point, but 53, 54; Unknown 44; Websters the rest. may protrude from the back.’ My thanks to Jon and Gill particularly Jon for reading This definition includes, I would estimate, over 95% of my writing and following my drawings. Next up could the world’s kites. Trying to give reasonable treatment be a brief history of kites in England or Exceptional to flat kites in one article is possible because: Kites. A. Kites will be dealt with in less detail than some other articles e.g. sled kites. 2 Flat Kites with a Single Spar B. Some flat kites have been dealt with in other In my view the world’s first kite was a single leaf used articles. to lift a fishing line (see an article on ‘Origin of Kites’ to C. Some types will have a sketchy treatment (e.g. come and several recent items in the Drachen Founda- Indonesian kites), as much as a result of limita- tion Magazine). Leaf kites are still found today in vari- tions in my knowledge rather than lack of ous parts of Indonesia, still used for fishing, but leaf space. kites are found elsewhere, e.g. Martinique. Japan has But the aims of the article remain the same, i.e. to in- an interesting two leaf design (HOSKING p60) made form about the types of kite that might be seen in the from Japanese white bark magnolia. air and to explain their background. This section is divided into; Indian Fighters, Japanese, Picking up point B above we have: Malaysian, Others with a bamboo bow, European de- BEGIN All Flat Kites scendants of the Malay, Diamond, Eddy. LESS Deltas – covered previously Sleds – covered previously 2.1 Indian Fighters Eddys – in the Golden Age of Kites Perhaps the nearest kite to a single leaf in structure Some kites in a history article to come. and, apparently, a very simple kite is the Indian RESULT Flat kites dealt with in this article. Fighter. A ‘classic’ Indian Fighter is shown on the right of Photo 2 – see also Diagrams 1 & 2. It has a bamboo Picking up point C, since all the world’s indigenous kites spine, a tapered bamboo bow as a cross spar and a pa- are flat and written knowledge in English of some coun- per cover. The term Indian Fighter is often used to de- ties is sparse, I feel I have to single out for special scribe kites which differ slightly in shape and may come me ntion as absentees: from – the Indian Subcontinent (including India, Paki- · Indonesia. An enormous country with several ma- stan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan); Malaysia jor cultures. There is a brief mention of the fighter (Photo 3 shows the Layang-Layang [birds] flown by kite but the magnificent Janggan is missing. children); China—The book by HA & HA calls it the · Cambodia. Nothing on the wonderful Kleng Ek Kite. Rhombus Kite; In Hong Kong kite fighting is popular; · Sri Lanka. Only the Bird or Crow kite (in the bird Singapore (Both adults and children fly the Indian kite article). Fighters); Indonesia (Probably the worlds third largest · Vietnam. A western version of the ‘children’s kite’ producer of Indian Fighter kites – where 5 million a as shown in photo 11. Photo 1 shows a (low flying) year are made by one manufacturer). fish kite. 1. Fish Kite from Diagram 1 mentions some of the variations; what all Vietnam. I have divided Flat Kites into these kites have in common is the use of bamboo and three main types: either paper or plastic sheet. The widespread nature of · Flat Kites with a single the design suggests that it is an old one. The use of spine (e.g. Indian Fighter) in paper shows that the age is limited to about 500 AD. section 2 There is no natural substitute for bamboo, which has · Flat Kites with multiple limited the copying of the design in the West until thin centre crossing spars (e.g. fibreglass and carbon fibre became available in the last Hexagon) in section 3 20 years. · Flat Kites with a grid of spars (e.g. Edo) in section 3. The essential feature of the Indian Fighter design is that it is steerable. How is the kite controlled. Under This classification will not line pressure the wings of the kite flex upwards and work perfectly, so we have backwards; the resultant shape is stable flying in a to have: straight line in any direction. If the line pressure is re- · Snake Kites in section 5 duced there comes a point when the kite, being flat, · Oriental Winged Creature in section 6 spins in the wind with no directional stability. So all (!!) · Play Sails in section 7 you have to do is wait until in one of the spins the kite The Kiteflier, Issue 96 Page 15 2. Indian Fighters 3. Malaysian Bird Fighter Kites. Layang Layang Diagram 2. Classic Patang. Diagram 1. Indian Perimeter of main sail E outlined with cotton. 41cm Fighter aka Patang. The bow CD typically breaks the straight line ED. 41cm 33cm A 52cm Bridle 2 point at A X 30cm & B. Meets at X. 31cm C D 31cm G 6. Janneke Groen Sode. 12cm 12cm B 1.90m 0.95m 0.95m F 0.50m Diagram 7. Musha (aka 0.37m 0.37m Bow arrangements. Kites with fibre glass bows don’t break the line ED. Managu Yuzawa). Kites with fibre glass bows and ripstop covers often have a straight pocket for 50% of ED. Tail Arrangements. No tail, i.e. CFD unadorned. Paper tassel at F A Assemble kite sail from (sometimes also at C & D). Larger unreinforced tail - a triangle apex G Diagram 4. 2.25m found on small Pakistani versions. Semi-circular—see Photo 2. six pieces as shown with seams along the spar Bamboo sometimes has dark marks where it has been straightened. Paper sometimes has shiny parallel lines where it has been rubbed to lines. Use 6 leg bridle for kites 2m and over. increase strength. 1.25m Ripstop pockets allow the kite to be rolled up. Bridle lines approx 2 Afghan Kites—often larger with elliptical flaps attached to CD and DF. Japanese Hata—larger, double paper, no tail and tassels at wing tips. times height of kite. Horizontal spars be- tween sail and spine. B 0.50m Diagram 3. Tukkal Kite. A Diagram 6. Sode Found in Punjab (India X and Pakistan). Bridle 2 Ripstop version. The three A leg from A & B to meet cross spars are in pockets. C at X. The vertical spine detaches and the kite can be rolled Bridle A & B. Paper tail, some also up. Capable of flying at a have wing tip tassels. high angle there is consid- D erable pressure on the two Again cross spars in pocket. Spine B main cross spars. detachable. Bridle A, B & C. Tail - hairy string, rope or paper strips, B attached to D. Note Trailing edge flap. Page 16 The Kiteflier, Issue 96 Flat Kites by George Webster is facing the shape; some western fighters use a second short piece direction you of material to reinforce the centre of the bow. The want it to go, Petang is not the only type of kite fought in India; in pull on the the Punjab (which straddle India and Pakistan) they line, the also use the Tukkal (Diagram 3). wings go back and the kite Indian Fighters have been well written up in general tracks follow- books and in BOITRELLE & PETIT, CRUMPLIN and GAL- ing its nose. LOT. While several books give detailed instructions for It is a real making one, imported kites can be found. If it is your skill which al- first time try to get one with the gold paper reinforce- most anyone ments at nose and wing tip and get the seller to bridle can master – it for you. You might even get a lesson. Or you might if they start look out for one of the complex patterned, multi- 4. Japanese Hata off with coloured kites – all done with pieced together tissue pa- enough kites. per – which are best left on the wall. As their name implies these kites are widely used for Of those adapting the original idea to Western needs, fighting. - I am told that is some Indian languages the Tony Slater has for many years been a source of great word for flying a kite is the same as fighting a kite – designs. His butterfly is a classic. either at one of the great festivals where perhaps a mil- lion city fliers go onto flat roofs and engage in a general 2.2 Japanese Kites melee or in some cities where there are club contests Compared to the Indian sub-continent Japan has a very between expert fliers at above 1500ft. Kite lines are wide range of single spine kite types – we will conce n- cut by the use of ‘sharp’ line (called ‘manja’) where the trate on those seen in the U.K.