Flying With No Wind

by Dave M.
(IL, USA)

Hawk kite on light line

Hawk kite on light line

One of my goals is to fly kites in every month of the year, not just when it is warm. This was inspired when I saw kites flying in China in temperatures well below freezing.

Yesterday in Illinois was Very Calm, with temperatures just at freezing, It took me at least 10 minutes of carefully feeling the wind, backing into the "breeze" and maintaining light tension on the line till I got it up.

This hawk kite with a very light line can fly with almost no wind if you are patient. See the photo including snow.

Another of my goals is to fly a kite on all continents. To date: North and South America, Europe and Asia; Someday Africa and Australia!

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starstarstarstarstar 		Keep looking up!
by: Gadget

Way to go! Please post pictures of all your conquests. Enjoyed this one very much.
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Kite over snow
by: Tim Parish

A tranquil setting for a good light-wind kite-flying session. Thanks for contributing a snow shot too - quite rare on this site!

Try another one when flying on a much shorter line, to get the kite bigger in the shot. I often fly the kite on a few winds of line around my foot, leaving two hands free for the camera. You can always let out lots of line later :-)

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Wind Speeds

Light Air
1-5 km/h
1-3 mph
1-3 knots
Beaufort 1

Light breeze
6–11 km/h
4–7 mph
4–6 knots
Beaufort 2

Gentle ...
12–19 km/h
8–12 mph
7–10 knots
Beaufort 3

Moderate ...
20–28 km/h
13–18 mph
11–16 knots
Beaufort 4

Fresh ...
29–38 km/h
19–24 mph
17–21 knots
Beaufort 5

Strong ...
39–49 km/h
25–31 mph
22–27 knots
Beaufort 6

High Wind
50-61 km/h
32-38 mph
28-33 knots
Beaufort 7

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