Paper Kites

And Other Single Liners

This page covers a variety of single-line kite categories that don't belong elsewhere in this website. In fact, some of these categories are a bit odd!

For example, the funny kites page you'll find below. Also, a very specialized type of kite which doesn't even need a flying line. There's a clue!

There is such variety in paper kites, let alone single liners in general. Everything from the classic Western diamond shape kite to Oriental fish kites to Maori kites.

Even parafoils can be seen floating at the end of a single string, although they tend to be much simpler and cheaper than the steerable kites used by stunt fliers or board riders.

Because there are so many people involved in designing kites, there is huge variety to be seen even within each category. Half the fun of single line kites these days is just the way they look, not just the way they fly! I guess looks count more for young kids, while flying characteristics charm the older flyers. But there are always exceptions. What do you get out of single line kites?

For some, the process of making them is half the fun! If that's you, then here are a couple of PDF eBooks that are worth a look...

8 MBK Kites To Make - The Complete 1-Skewer Series and

8 MBK Kites To Make - The Complete 2-Skewer Series.

Some Less Common Single Line (Or Less!) Kites

The categories below are full of interesting information on many kinds of pretty cool kites. Paper single-line kites or otherwise, including the zero-line variety!

Read up on...

... Styrofoam kites

... funny kites!

... R/C kites - researched

... R/C kites - up close and personal!

... fishing kites

... ancient Maori kites

... tetrahedral kites

... pocket kites

... Balinese kites

... fish kites

... large kites

Of course, you can't fly kites without some kite string, and perhaps just a few other kite accessories as well. On that latter topic, I've also zeroed in on the humble kite reel.

Now, this is a page about miscellaneous single-line kite topics. Hence, a page about finding good kite clip art belongs here as much as anywhere else on this site!

After hearing about the book and the movie, have you ever been curious about kite running? Wonder no more.

Paper Kites From China To Java

Are you interested in some history on how kites spread throughout the non-western world, centuries before they became popular in the West? The very first kites flew in China, thousands of years ago. Just look at my Chinese Kites section over there on the left to find out more about this.

At some early stage, the idea spread to Japan and Korea as well. Eventually paper kites were to be found in South East Asia too, and the spread continued down the Malay Peninsula. We're still talking 2000 years ago at this point! Hopping from island to island in people's canoes, the simple single-line kite idea then continued to move through Indonesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Bark took the place of paper in these kites. Come to think of it, there's actually an Australian native tree called the Paperbark!

Right on the end of this chain of countries lies Australia, where I'm typing this right now. No doubt, we got our first kites from English settlers and possibly convicts in the 18th Century. The original aboriginal population had a number of remarkable inventions, but as far as I know they didn't fly kites.

In more recent times, kite flyers over here have been influenced by the kite flying activities of our Asian neighbors. These countries are just a few hours away by air, to the North-West.

Unfortunately, the fragile Indian kite didn't fare too well when Cyclone (Hurricane) Tracy almost wiped Darwin off the map the following Christmas day! That would have been a great night to try a concrete box kite. With high-tensile fencing wire as flying line...

MBK Flying Skewers And Plastic is a fun publication for single-line kite lovers. This FREE monthly newsletter will keep you in touch with what's happening here. Including the latest news on the Kite Of The Month!

Also, please don't forget to pick up your FREE COPY of a great 87-page eBook on popular kites.

Last updated: 29 Jun 2009