Facts About Kites

Well here’s a load of world records and other things you probably didn’t know about kites:



The smallest kite in the world which actually flies is 5mm high; the largest kite in the world is called the Megabite, which is 55 x 22 metres (630sq metres). The longest kite in the world is 1034 metres which is 3394 ft.



The fastest recorded speed of a kite is over 120 mph which is 193 km/h. The record for the longest kite fly is 180 hours! The highest that a kite has flown is 3801 metres, which is 12,471ft.





The largest number of kites flown on a single line is 11,284; this record is held by a Japanese kite maker. Kite flying was banned in Japan in 1760 because too many people preferred to fly kites than work. To be honest, I think most people would prefer that even now. Some Japanese kites weigh over 2 tons.

Kite flying was banned in China during the Cultural Revolution, anyone found flying a kite was sent to jail for up to three years and their kites destroyed. The Chinese name for a kite is Fen Zheng, which means wind harp. The name is derived from early Chinese kites which used to carry wind musical instruments. Also the Chinese believe that looking at kites high in the sky

maintains good eyesight.



There are 78 rules in kite fighting in Thailand – how could this be possible... I can’t even think of one rule!



For centuries kites have been used in wars and battles, for signalling, lifting observers, target practice, as barrage kites, dropping letters and newspapers.



It is now thought that the first kites flown over 3000 years ago, were made from leaves. Since then they’ve been made out of a load of different materials which means that there is approximately 12 people are killed each year in kiting accidents throughout the world!



The aeroplane is a development of the kite. Kite flying is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with over 50 million kites being sold in the USA every year. Also a common thought is that you need wind to be able to fly a kite, this is not true, wind is not needed to be able to fly a kite.