Delta Kites In 2008

At The Adelaide International Kite Festival

There weren't a huge number of delta kites in 2008, but we can show you a few examples of what we saw. Some single line deltas can be very plain, functional and flown without tails. Others are dressed up in dazzling color schemes and multiple fancy tails.

The large white delta in the photo above is a little unusual. The very wide twin tails seem to be part of the main sail of the kite instead of being attached to the trailing edge. This kite was here at the Festival last year too, when it was flown very low over the dunes. The winds were much stronger in 2007, so perhaps the owners were trying to keep it out of the faster moving air higher up, to avoid loss or damage.

Delta Kite Gallery

Here's a small photo gallery of some of the delta kites in 2008, at the Adelaide Kite Festival. Some of the images are a little blurry or grainy since most of the deltas were being flown rather high. Also, none of our photos this year actually zoomed in on any individual delta kite. The images below are plucked from a few photos that contained many kites. Next year we'll take close-ups of a select few. Maybe just 3 or so of each type, including the deltas.

Part of the attraction of single line delta kites is the way they fly. They seem to be more bird-like than most other types. Simple flat kites, like diamonds, can be a bit erratic in the air, while large cellular kites just hang there. A well made delta gently flexes its wings, floating here and there in graceful flight.

Now, let's see if you are an expert... Which one of the above kites is actually a Delta Conyne?

Last updated: 15 May 2008