|
|
Kite Flying
Kites were invented in China 2500 years ago. Kites are usually made up of a wooden frame with cloth paper or synthetic material. Kites are generally diamond in shape. These kites are actually called 'Malay Kites'. They are traditional eastern kites, but were really developed in the west by a man called Eddie in the late nineteenth century and were used in weather research to predict temperature. They fly well in moderate to high winds. In East Asia, they have competitions where kites take on shapes of fishes, birds or dragons. Another competition is when one person tries to take down another's kite. Even though China invented kites, Ancient Egypt and Asia flew kites. Kites can be flown for pleasure or for study. Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922) invented a kite that was able to carry a person.
In the early 1890s, the box-kites was invented by Lawrence Hargraves. A box kite is a rectangle with the top and bottom empty. It flies well in moderate to heavy winds. Box-kites are used for sending meteorological instruments into the sky and to measure wind speed. Kites were also used by the military for target practice and to watch enemy bases.
Cherith and Sinéad
| The Wright Brothers | The Future