KiteJan : General Tips : History of Kites

History of Kites

The history of kites is actually a very long one & the start of it is lost in time. I haven't attempted to include every development and story - that would be a web site on it's own, rather just a feel for what (at least to me) seems to be the most important developments over time.

What was a surprise to me was just how much of the traction activities (such as buggying, kite surfing, jumping) we think are so extreme today were experimented with through history. As the Book of Eccleisates in the Bible says "there is nothing new under the sun".

Before 0AD

The Chinese are credited with the earliest kite flying more than 2000 years (some even say over 3000 years) ago
Although some people believe that kites actually developed in the South Pacific - small kites made out of leaves or grasses to appease the gods.

0AD- 1500AD

Kite come to Japan via Chinese Buddhist Monks - they were used to ensure good harvests and to ward off evil spirits.
In the 1280's Marco Polo brings stories of kites back to Europe from his travels, including lifting men with kites.
The earliest paintings from India (from around 1500) show kite flying.
Each country then developed their own style of kites. They also had their own cultural reasons for kite flying - for example warding off spirits.

1500AD-1900AD

It's said that the silk route would also have spread kites into Arabia & North Africa, and that Kengis Khan & the Mongolians when they invaded Central Europe and Asia.
During the Edo period (approx. 1600~1860) in Japan (Edo is the old name for Tokyo) people who weren't Samurai's were allowed to fly kites. The government at the time tried to stop this as the people spent too long flying kites rather than working.
Kites being to appear in Europe, brought back from the East by sailors.
In the 18th & 19th Century kites are used to conduct experiments on the wind and weather - for instance Benjamin Franklin's famous lightning experiment in 1752 (don't try this one at home folks!).
Benjamin Franklin apparently used a kite to pull him across a pond whilst he was a boy - kite surfing anybody?
In 1822 a man called George Peacock from Bristol,UK even used a couple of kites to pull a carriage along at speeds up to 20mph (fast for the time). Not only that the kites were in fact steerable - the first example of kite buggying?
In 1847 a 10 year old boy called Homan Walsh succeeded in flying a kite across the gorge at Niagra Falls. The aim was that if someone could get a first line across the gorge, then a bridge could be built. Homan was the first to succeed - and won himself $10! Interestingly Leonardo di Vince also had this idea in the 16th Century.

1900AD - Present

Samuel Franklin Cody developed a man lifting kite whilst he was putting on his shows in the US. Cody and his son flew larger and larger kites, and Cody himself developed different kite configuration. Finally in 1901 he patented a configuration of a kite, which is still known as the Cody. In 1903 he crossed the English channel in a small boat pulled by kites.
During World War I a lot of countires developed man lifting kites for observation (based on Cody's work) - these were quickly replaced by the aeroplane. The first example of Kite Jumping?
During World War II the US Navy used kites for target practice (a steerable diamond kite), to prevent aeroplanes coming overhead, and even as a signal for pilots lost at sea.
In 1975 Peter Powell developed the dual line stunt kite for fun use (rather than for gunners target practice).
In 1976 the Flexifoil was invented (a single spar holding an inflatable sail & no bridle) almost by accident.
In the 1980's Peter Lynn developed the three wheeled buggy that has become common.
Three brothers Joe, Jim & Dave Hadzicki design the Revolution quad line kite in 1988.

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