Flat Kites

• Adding a tail
• Adding holes or vents towards the rear of the sail
• Adding a keel
• Simply arranging for a forward towing point.

Flat kites generally fly well in light to moderate winds.

If you have the patience to make loads of diamond kites (or get your friends or class-mates to help you), you can attach them all to a single line, equally spaced, and tie the line down at both ends. You then have a spectacular kite arch. Here's a picture (34.5k) which gives you a good idea.

The English Arch-top kite is similar except for the rounded top. Tassels are added to the sides for decoration and the sail is traditionally made of paper. Like the diamond, a tail is required, usually made of paper bows tied to a piece of string. Pelham also gives a plan for an archtop.

Whereas if you asked a child today to draw a kite, he would probably draw a diamond, pictures of kites in older books much more often show arch-tops, which were very popular in the nineteenth century.

In Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" (written 1849-1850), Mr Dick, a mild lunatic, but nevertheless an entirely harmless man with a heart of gold and penetrating insight, was a keen kiteflyer. An engraving (22k) in chapter 34 of some editions shows him leaning on a large arch-top kite, complete with string and paper-bow tail.

The della Porta is another very simple kite, with a rectangular sail and two diagonal spars, and flown on a 3-legged bridle. A loop of ripstop or coloured polythene makes an attractive tail. The simple design is well suited to decoration, as you can see in this picture (7k) of one, built by Patrick Mann. Morgan gives a very simple and clear plan.

The della Porta is amongst the oldest recorded Western kites. In his Magiae Naturalis of 1589, Giambattista della Porta describes a "flying sayle", possibly based on traditional Chinese designs. He suggests using it for lifting fireworks or lanterns at night, and even for lifting kittens and puppies as a spur to the development of manned flight!

Superficially similar, but differently sparred, is the Sode or Kimono kite, being a traditional Jananese design. The bridle is attached only to the forward section, so providing stability. Here is a picture of a pair of sode (30k) kites. Plans for a sode are available online. Charlie Charlton's entertaining Nosey kite for which plans are also available, is essentially a sode. Here is a picture ©Charlie Charlton (18k) of it.

Adding a third spar to the della Porta or classic diamond gives a three-stick or barn door kite. In the past, many fathers, grandfathers and uncles have graduated from diamonds to "3-stickers" for the entertainment of their youngsters (or themselves!) Various configurations are possible, depending on the arrangement of the spars. In the 19th century, Alexander McAidie used barn door kites for lifting meterological instruments, but they were hardly stable enough for the purpose and were superceeded as soon as better behaved kites were devised.

The hexagon kite is a special case of the barn door, differing only in its proportions. As with the flat barn door, a tail is essential for stability. Whilst it impairs the efficiency, it can be turned to advantage by adding visual appeal. Here's a picture (8k) of a nicely decorated one. A plan is given by Pelham.

Flat kites can be made in any shape, although the possibilities are constrained by the need for spars. A 5 point star makes a very attractive sight, using 3 spars in an A-shape, a 3 legged bridle and 2 tails of paper streamers. Plans for several kites of the star and similar varieties are given by Pelham.

Using still more spars allows bigger kites to be made. The Japanese Edo is a simple rectangle with a number of parallel equally spaced cross spars and longerons, made rigid by two diagonal spars. These are sometimes made in sizes as large as 48 by 36ft, taking a team of 50 to launch and fly. The Suruga is similar but the central longeron and the diagonals are lengthened at their lower ends, making the bottom look like the inverted top of a diamond kite.

The Tai Serpent has a very long wide tail making it look like an enormous snake. Western variants turn it into an octopus by dividing the tail into 8 separate pieces, or similarly make a jellyfish out of it. Once again, Pelham has a plan. Here is a picture (64k) of a serpent.

Flying animals have long been a fascination with kitemakers worldwide. The Chinese Centipede is another example. This is made out of a long train of flat circular kites of diminishing sizes, strung together. Purely as a flier it's unimpressive, but as a spectacle it's hard to match. Yet again, Pelham has a plan. Here is a picture of a splendid Chinese Dragon (41k) built as a centipede kite.

The delta kite has a keel for stability, which also serves as a bridle, and it may also have loose fringes on the trailing edge which act like a very short and narrow tail. It's a good light wind kite which flies with the line at a high angle on account of its high aspect ratio. Cheap plastic deltas are often seen for sale at beach kiosks, and seem to fly well in hardly any wind. In fact, I've often seen them still flying when I couldn't find anything in my kite bag that would stay up! Eden gives plans for several variants of the delta. Online plans for several variants are also available. Charlie Charlton has plans for yet another delta variant. Here is a picture ©Charlie Charlton (10k) of it.

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