Frequently Asked Questions

What ages do you recommend to start flying kites?

While even a toddler enjoys kite flying with an adult, the general rule is 6 years old to pilot solo. For dual line stunt kites and large kites, we recommend a minimum of 10 to 16 years. Stunt kites require a certain level of maturity, so adult supervision is always recommended for children under the age of 16 years.

Does my kite need a tail?

Generally kites that require a tail come with one included. Many people add a tail merely for decorative purposes, however, in strong winds, any kite will benefit from the stability that a tail provides.

Do I need to run to launch my kite?

Never! Modern kites are easy to fly, just wait for the wind to inflate the sail.

What is a good stunt kite for a beginner?

Details of each stunt kite include skill level recommendations. As a general rule, 'soft' stunt kites fly slower so are easier to learn. For a beginner's stunt kite, look for either a flexible fibreglass frame that will be less likely to break, or a frame-less, sparless and thus 'soft' stunt kite. They are easier to control and less likely to break upon crash landings.

My stunt kite won't fly... what's wrong?

The number one reason a stunt kite won't get off the ground is that you have not let out all of your flying line prior to launching.

My stunt kite is diving to the left (or right) and crashing. what's wrong?

The line is not even from each handle to the bridle or the swivel clip has slipped off of the tow point.

I have a power kite - what is the Larks Head knot?

The Larks Head is a slipknot - the more you pull, the tighter it locks, so there's no chance of it coming undone in flight. But as soon as the tension is released (i.e. after landing the kite) it's relatively easy to pull loose and undo. The diagram below shows how easy the Larks Head knot.

I've heard the Beaufort wind force scale describes wind conditions. How?

The Beaufort wind force scale provides a numerical relationship to wind speed based on an observation of the effects of the wind. You don't need a wind meter to understand the scale:

Beaufort Wind Force Scale

Force	MPH	Knots	KPH	Metres/sec	Description	On land
0	<1	<1	<1	0-0.2	Calm	Calm; smoke rises vertically
1	1-3	1-3	1-5	0.3-1.5	Light Air	Smoke drift indicates wind direction; vanes do not move
2	4-7	4-6	6-11	1.6-3.3	Light Breeze	Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; vanes begin to move
3	8-12	7-10	12-19	3.4-5.4	Gentle Wind	Leaves & small twigs in motion; light flags extended
4	13-18	11-16	20-29	5.5-7.9	Moderate Wind	Leaves & loose paper raised up; flags flap; small branches move
5	19-24	17-21	30-38	8.0-10.7	Fresh Wind	Small trees begin to sway; flags flap & ripple
6	25-31	22-27	39-50	10.8-13.8	Strong Wind	Large branches in motion; whistling heard in wires
7	32-38	28-33	51-61	13.9-17.1	Near Gale	Whole trees in motion; resistance felt in walking against wind
8	39-46	34-40	62-74	17.2-20.7	Gale	Whole trees in motion; resistance felt in walking against wind (again)
9	47-54	41-47	75-86	20.8-24.4	Strong Gale	Slight structural damage occurs; shingles blow from roofs
10	55-63	48-55	87-101	24.5-28.4	Storm	Trees broken/uprooted; considerable structural damage occurs