Why kites fly

Turbulence swirls around the kite, reducing the lift and increasing the drag. Drag pulls the kite backward, but the kite line prevents the kite from moving backward, and the net effect of these forces — gravity, lift, and drag — is to move the kite upwards until it reaches a point of equilibrium. Naturally, the kite must be constructed properly and maintained in perfect balance.

Assuming these prerequisites are fulfilled, obtaining the correct lift-to-drag ratio depends on angling the kite to the wind properly, a task which is accomplished by a carefully constructed bridle. The bridle, which is connected to the kite at the bridle point or points, helps the kite obtain the most suitable flight angle called the angle of attack or attitude into the wind. Moving the tow point up or down on the bridle can change the flight angle at which the kite faces the oncoming wind, allowing the kite to fly in a wide variety of winds.

The wind also pushes the kite when it flies. It cannot blow the kite away as the kite is tied to the string. But the wind can blow the kite up into the air because the kite is at a slight angle to the wind. When the kite is flying there are three forces in action.

There is the force from the kite string, the force of the wind and the force of gravity. The kite rises into the air because the wind pushes it upwards more than the kite string and gravity pull it down. When the kite is nearly perpendicular to the wind, the wind pushes it strongly because there is a large area to push. When the kite is nearly parallel to the wind, the wind pushes it weakly because there is less of an exposed area.

You can feel this yourself when you walk against the wind with the kite. It is easiest if you turn the kite with its side towards the wind. As the kite climbs it lies more and more with its side towards the wind. At the exact point where the pushing force of the wind becomes the same as the kite string and gravity, the kite stops climbing. A kite flies because the wind pushes it The wind exerts a force on the kite. What is happening? We call that equilibrium.

Properly balancing the dihedral of the kite, the tow point of the bridle, and even a varying amount of tail will affect the stability of your kite along the vertical yaw , lateral pitch and longitudinal roll axes.

This is the imaginary line that goes from the ground up through the kite into the sky. The kite turns to the right or left, just like an airplane turns from the right or the left as you watch it from the ground. If the tow point is too far forward, or if the kite is not properly balanced, it may start sliding or rotating.

To correct the problem:. A kite is effected by thrust, drag and by gravity. To fly, a kite needs to have enough lift to overcome gravity and drag. This is another imaginary line.

On an airplane, you can think of the wings as the lateral axis. If a kite has a poor bridle, or inadequate sticks, the wind can distort its shape and create a flapping or pitching motion. On an airplane, this would be the imaginary line through the body or fuselage. When an airplane, or kite, rolls, one wing lifts higher and the other is lowered.