風箏-Kite

Our topic this term is flight ( to infinity and beyond ). I chose to write a report about the kite because it was made over 2000 years ago and there is a lot of history and interesting facts about it.

A famous Philosopher, Mo Di was inspired by the effect wind had on leaves, which helped him created the first man made flying machine.

In 468 B.C, Mo Di spent three years in China, carving an eagle shaped kite out of wood. After three years of effort and dedication Mo Di managed to fly his kite for one day.

As Mo Di’s invention quickly spread across the world, it was decided that kites would be used for military purposes. Firstly it was used as a S.O.S message. However this plan failed when the kite was brought down by the enemy. Historical records say they were large in size; some were powerful enough to carry men up in the air to observe enemy movements, and others were used to scatter propaganda leaflets over hostile forces. Some old Chinese prints show warriors flying over their enemy’s territory.

When Mo Di passed his skills onto student- Gongshu Ban, Ban improved on the design. Ban made a kite in the form of a magpie out of bamboo and silk. With this improved design, Ban was able to fly his kite for three days continuously. Later on when paper and plastic was made these materials were used.

Kites are also thought of as superstition. It was believed that flying a kite and letting it go would send off bad luck and illness. Consequently it would bring bad luck to who ever found the kite.

Kites are also apart of traditions. In Korea you write the names and birth dates of male children on the kites and fly them. The line is then cut to ensure a good year by taking all the bad spirits with the kite. In Japan windsocks are flown on May the 5^th (children’s day) in the shape of a carp, a symbol of strength, of will and fortitude. This inspired all Japanese children.

It is said that the kite was the original inspiration for man to fly. That inspired the aeroplane, rocket, glider and other flying machines. They also were used for scientific experiments mainly in 1782. Benjamin Franklin demonstrated that thunder clouds are highly charged electorally, by flying a kite into the storm clouds with a conductive wire. This leads to the invention of the lightning conductor.

Kites come in a range of sizes, from as small as an A3 piece of paper to as big as the size of a pool. The biggest kite ever flown had a total of 1019m2 in area, 25.475m in length and 40m in width. This extraordinary kite was made by Abdulrahman Al Farsi and Farsi Al Farsi. This kite was flown by the two men at the Kuwait Hala Festival, in Flag Square.

In conclusion, I find that kites are an important part of the flying machines because they were made over 2000 years ago. They inspired us to build aeroplanes, helicopters and other very important flying machines, and all different cultures use kites traditions, festivals and celebrations.