Bat Kite

Monday May 31, 2010
Want to build a kite in less than 5 minutes? This kite is basically a paper airplane on a string. It’s fast and easy to make. The best thing about this kite is that it needs next to no wind to get airborne, so you can simply run with it to get it up in the sky.

You'll need to get: 11”x17” sheet of paper (you can also tape two 8.5" x 11" sheets together to make this size), 10 feet of string, two donut stickers (also known as page reinforcement stickers), a stapler, and a straw.

Why does this kite fly? This kite soars because you’re holding the kite at the correct angle to the wind. The kite actually has two things (scientifically speaking) going on that help it fly: first, the shape of the wing cause a pressure difference that create lift under the wing surface, the same way that real airplanes generate lift. Second, the angle that the kite hits the wind generates impact lift on the kite, the same way fighter jets generates lift, since fighter jet’s wings are not curved like an airplane’s. In an airplane, the wind flows both over and under the kite, and with this shape, the air flying over the kite is traveling a bit faster than the wind under the kite. Higher wind speed means lower pressure, so the underside of the kite now has a relatively higher pressure, thus pushing the kite upwards into the sky.

Can I add string to any paper airplane and make it into a kite? Anytime someone asks us a question like this, we respond with a very enthusiastic: “I don’t know. Try it!” Then we offer enough tools for the job with a smile. We want kids experimenting with new ideas (even if we’re not entirely sure if they will work). So go ahead, roll up your sleeves, test out your ideas, and prepared to learn.

Here's what you need to do:

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Tetrahedral Kite

Monday May 31, 2010

This is a simpler version of the box kite. By making it out of everyday materials and changing the structure so that it's more rigid, all you need is an afternoon to make this simple and colorful kite.

The directions here are for making a single cell (image is a pyramid of four cells), and the largest we've ever made is ten without needing stronger materials. (It's the straws that bend under the weight). You can add a tail to keep it from spinning during flight.

Here's what you do:

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Sled Kite

Monday May 31, 2010

I carried one of these kites in my backpack in grade school, as it collapses down very small when not in use. You can make smaller versions from still paper, but the one we're going to do uses plastic.

Here's what you need to get:

Two 24 inch wood dowels (or two 24 inch long plastic balloon sticks), four donut stickers (also known as page reinforcement stickers), string, plastic garbage bags, tape and scissors.

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I carried one of these kites in my backpack in grade school, as it collapses down very small when not in use. You can make smaller versions from still paper, but the one we're going to do uses plastic.

Here's what you need to get:

Two 24 inch wood dowels (or two 24 inch long plastic balloon sticks), four donut stickers (also known as page reinforcement stickers), string, plastic garbage bags, tape and scissors.

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Diamond Kite

Monday May 31, 2010

Did you notice how BIG these kites can get? And yes, that's me in the photo, at full size!

If you're looking for a kite that will lift you off your feet, THIS IS THE ONE! I'm going to show you how to build a smaller version first, so you get the hang of how it goes together.

Afterward, you can make a 6-foot, 9-foot, or 12-foot model. Just keep your proportions right and find strong, lightweight materials (bamboo is a popular choice, but watch the wall-thickness or it too can get heavy).

The photo here is the 9-foot tall version of this kite, which sports a 25-foot tail. To fly this, you'll need a lot of wind, so if you live near the beach, you might be able to get this up. Otherwise, you can try to get it airborne by doing what I used to do with mine - tie it to the bumper of your pickup truck and drive out in the country with about a mile of strong string!

The 6-foot versions in a strong wind will generate enough to lift small kids, so watch out (and get your camera).

If you can find balloon sticks (white plastic stiff tubes about 3 feet long), use them. They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to work with. Otherwise, use wood dowels from a hardware store or 36” bamboo gardening stakes from a nursery.

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Did you notice how BIG these kites can get? And yes, that's me in the photo, at full size!

If you're looking for a kite that will lift you off your feet, THIS IS THE ONE! I'm going to show you how to build a smaller version first, so you get the hang of how it goes together.

Afterward, you can make a 6-foot, 9-foot, or 12-foot model. Just keep your proportions right and find strong, lightweight materials (bamboo is a popular choice, but watch the wall-thickness or it too can get heavy).

The photo here is the 9-foot tall version of this kite, which sports a 25-foot tail. To fly this, you'll need a lot of wind, so if you live near the beach, you might be able to get this up. Otherwise, you can try to get it airborne by doing what I used to do with mine - tie it to the bumper of your pickup truck and drive out in the country with about a mile of strong string!

The 6-foot versions in a strong wind will generate enough to lift small kids, so watch out (and get your camera).

If you can find balloon sticks (white plastic stiff tubes about 3 feet long), use them. They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to work with. Otherwise, use wood dowels from a hardware store or 36” bamboo gardening stakes from a nursery.

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Dragon Kite

Monday May 31, 2010

This kite is sometimes referred to as a "Comet Kite", as it has a main head area and a loooong tail section. We recommend making the kite from lightweight garbage bags, as they tend to hold up better than tissue paper, and don't require sewing they way ripstop nylon material does.

Here's what you need to get: Wire coat hanger or thin plastic dowel, string, straw, plastic garbage bags, tape, and scissors.

Here's what you do:
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Rotor Kite

Monday May 31, 2010

Rotor kites (often called UFO kites) are one of those unusual kites that require more complex aerodynamics in order to fly. This particular kite flies only when rotating. Make sure you have lots of wind for this kite by either visiting the beach or tying it to your bicycle.

This kite is very picky about wind speed. Make sure the string doesn’t rub on the plates during flight. You can use hollow gardening stakes, empty ballpoint pen tubes taped together into a long straw, or composite tubes instead of the straws described here. Fishing line or nylon string works for kite line as well.

Materials: Two straws, a long length of string (20 feet or more), duct tape, two foam plates (at least 4 inches in diameter, one 6x4-inch clean foam meat tray, hot glue gun, and scissors.

Here's what you do:

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Rotor kites (often called UFO kites) are one of those unusual kites that require more complex aerodynamics in order to fly. This particular kite flies only when rotating. Make sure you have lots of wind for this kite by either visiting the beach or tying it to your bicycle.

This kite is very picky about wind speed. Make sure the string doesn’t rub on the plates during flight. You can use hollow gardening stakes, empty ballpoint pen tubes taped together into a long straw, or composite tubes instead of the straws described here. Fishing line or nylon string works for kite line as well.

Materials: Two straws, a long length of string (20 feet or more), duct tape, two foam plates (at least 4 inches in diameter, one 6x4-inch clean foam meat tray, hot glue gun, and scissors.

Here's what you do:

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