Did you know that kites have been around for hundreds of years? Not only are they a source of fun for families around the world, they have been used as tools by scientists, researchers, and construction teams. Since April is the windiest month of the year, due to the clash of warm and cold temperatures from the north and south, we thought it would be the perfect time to learn all about kites!
Surprisingly, kites have a long and pretty important history! Check out some of the cool things that kites have been used for.
1749 | Alexander Wilson recorded air temperatures at different altitudes using a kite train.
1752 | Ben Franklin used a kite to prove that lightning contained electricity.
1847 | A kite flown by 10 year old Homan Walsh helped build a suspension bridge across the Niagara River.
1899 | The Wright Brothers used kites to test their theories for the first flying machine, later known as the airplane.
1906 | Kites carried a camera high into the sky to take aerial photographs of the damage caused by the San Francisco earthquake.
1919 | A German flew a kite train to an altitude of 31,955 feet.
1948 | Francis Rogallo created and patented his Flexi-wing kite, an early version of a hang glider.
1975 | The first dual line (two strings) stunt kite was created by Peter Powell.
1978 | Kuzuhiko Asaba flew 4,128 kites on a single line.
1989 | Kite flying became a sport.
We like to keep a few kites on hand for windy days. We have found really inexpensive kites at places like our local dollar store, which work great, but will probably need to be replaced after every few outings. If you find that you enjoy flying kites, you may want to try upgrading to the fancier versions that are found at your local toy shops.
MOM TIP
Our family has tried kites in every price range. Our favorites are the ones that cost less than five dollars. They are simple, and they fly well in several win intensities. Plus, if they get stuck in a tree, you just get a new one!
Want to get creative? Try making your own kite with items that you probably have around the house!
Now that you know all about kites, you should be ready for the next windy day!
Kites fly highest against the wind.... not with it. ~ Winston Churchill
