| How long is the history of stunt kites? Or, since | | | | running the entire length of the leading edge. These |
| when have kites had 2 or more lines attached for | | | | flexifoils flew really fast through the air! |
| doing tricks and stunts? Here's a few details if you're | | | | Any history of stunt kites would not be complete |
| curious! | | | | without mentioning one particularly notable design of |
| The Beginnings | | | | the period, the Mirage. This was a cleverly designed |
| During the second world war, some naval antiaircraft | | | | tailless delta that managed to win a lot of contests in |
| gunners were trained using steerable 2 line kites that | | | | the mid to late 80s. The design was inspired by the |
| flew like modern stunt kites with two control lines. A | | | | writings of two kite experts, David Pelham and Peter |
| pilot on the ground would fly the kite around, making | | | | Ianuzzi. In those days, flyers would do 3 compulsory |
| it hard to hit. I've seen a photo, the kite itself really | | | | maneuvers rated 1-10 plus a 1-3 minute freestyle |
| looked like a diamond stunter. A fairly big one, | | | | demonstration. |
| standing about as tall as the man holding it. The | | | | The 'big wing' stunt kites were also invented during |
| concept was developed by Paul Garber, a U.S. Navy | | | | the mid 80s. These kites were deltas with wings up |
| Commander. Perhaps the history of them starts right | | | | to about 2.5 meters (8 feet) across. The first of this |
| here! | | | | kind was called the Hawaiian Team Kite. |
| Decades of Popular Stunt Kites | | | | Starting in the 90s, the early parafoils were |
| However, until the 1960s, 2 line stunt kites for the | | | | developed into traction or power kites. The main idea |
| general public weren't to be seen. These kites really | | | | here was to get pulled along on a surfboard, kite |
| started to become more popular in the 70s. Most | | | | buggy or snowboard. However, some of these |
| kite flyers have heard of the Peter Powell Stunt Kite, | | | | parafoils remain in use as sparless ones by a lot of |
| which Powell came up with in 1972. At last it was | | | | people because there's nothing rigid to break! But say |
| much easier for anyone to buy and fly them. His | | | | 'stunt kite' today, and it really means 'delta stunt kite' |
| design was a diamond with a very long, inflatable tail. | | | | to most people. |
| The idea at the time was to trace big patterns in the | | | | Since the 90s |
| sky with the tail! Surprisingly, this design is still popular | | | | Rip-stop nylon has become the favorite material for |
| today. | | | | kite sails. This material is tear-resistant, light and |
| A lot of manufacturers came out with delta shaped | | | | doesn't let any air through. It is used in all types of |
| stunt kites in the 80s. Watching or competing in kite | | | | modern stunt kites. |
| flying contests became a cool thing to do. At this | | | | The Stardust CAD is an example of a sparless one. A |
| point in the history, team flying became a spectator | | | | beginners' kite, it's hardy and doesn't have a huge pull. |
| sport with stacked kites performing colorful precision | | | | There are plenty of parafoil stunt kites on the |
| maneuvers in the breeze. People flew deltas, | | | | market, with the main advertising catch-phrase being |
| diamonds or flexifoils, depending on their preference. | | | | 'nothing to break, just have fun'. |
| Apart from the still-popular Peter Powells, these kites | | | | A more high-performance kite is the Prism Stylus |
| had names like Hawaiians, Hyperkites, Flexifoils, | | | | range of kites. These come in ready-to-fly packages |
| Trlbys, Rainbows and Skynasaurs. | | | | which include Spectra lines, winder, flight straps, and a |
| Flexifoils were similar to the parafoils which had been | | | | tiny stuff sack or bag for storing and transporting. |
| invented in the early 60s, but had a flexible spar | | | | |