Scotland's Source - How to...Fly a Kite

How to.......Fly a Kite

Throw a bit of grass or sand up in the air and see which way the wind is blowing. Get someone to stand behind the kite and hold it, right way up, facing the wind while you unwind a decent length of line. Take up the tension, but don't pull yet.

When the wind picks up, yell to your assistant to let go. Tug the line, and the kite should rise. if the only way to stop it fluttering back to the ground is to run backward, then there isn't enough wind. If it nose-dives, there is too much.
Look at the treetops, (don't get too close). The branches should be moving a little. If you find the wind uncomfortable then so will a standard kite. As the kite goes up, pull the line to get it to climb to a peak before paying it out again, repeating the process until you near the end of the line.

Once the kite is safely in the air, you can make move by pulling and releasing the line, always being ready to wind the line gently if the wind drops. Keep some of the line in reserve. If the kite dives, let the line go slack and it should right itself. If you pull on the line, you'll make the dive worse

If the kite doesn't perform properly, try adjusting the angle of the bridle, the bit you attach the line to on the kite. Make sure you mark it, though, so that you can restore to the factory-set position if you make a Horlicks of things.
In higher winds, move the bridle up towards the nose of the kite.
In lighter winds, move it lower.

And if you'r kite gets stuck up a tree, leave it there.
Rather than risk limb, if not life, it is earier to buy another kite.
If the kids are fond of it, get one that looks the same.
Much like guinea pigs, really.

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