Please take time to read the following
notes. They will help you to enjoy flying and looking after your kite.
Please
do not fly near power lines or roads, or in built up areas - and please beware of
animals and small children.
Remember that other people may be near and kites that fly out of control can be dangerous.
If you have not flown kites before, it
is important to fly in the conditions that are best suited to your kite,
as all kites will perform better when they are flown in the strength of
wind that the kite was designed for.
For example, the Midi kite is an all round type that will fly in most
wind speeds up to about 15/20 mph.
However if this is your first experience in fighter kites we suggest that
you wait for a day when the wind is steady and about 10/12 mph.
Choose a field that is not surrounded by trees or in a built up area as
that helps in having a steady constant breeze while you learn to control
the kite.
If you look at the television or newspaper weather forecast it always
give the expected wind strength for the area that you live in. Flying
kites will help you understand the weather where you live so there is
also educational value as well as having fun.
You will see that your kite has already
been bridled because every MAC kite is test flown to make sure that it
performs to the high standard that Mac has set for his product.
Take the end of your flying line and tie it to the loop in the bridle.
Now let out about 40 yards of line with the kite downwind and your helper
holding the kite with the nose pointing straight up and by the wing tips
only. When you are ready call for the kite to be released and at the same
time pull in the line. The kite will fly straight up without having to
pull in too much line (dependent on the wind speed).
Allow the kite to fly to its normal height
for the amount of line that has been let out. At this stage you will want
to start getting control of the kites movements. Always try and keep it
high while you are learning - this give you more time to correct mistakes.
In a steady breeze the kite should remain
in its position, to change direction pull the line in a foot or two, release sharply and the kite
will respond with the nose moving from side to side. When the kite is
pointing in the direction you want it to go pull the line in and it will
continue to fly all the time that the line is taut to the kite. As soon
as you stop pulling the line the nose will come up straight, at this point
you will probably need to regain your height.
This is achieved by allowing the wind to take the kite back with the line
being fed through your fingers, and then holding whilst the kite climbs.
As the kite can spin in a complete circle you can make it fly in any direction
you choose, controlling this spin is how you fly fighter kites.
When learning to control the kite you
will almost surely at some time be heading for the ground in a dive. To stop
this, you must release the line, which will take the tension off the kite,
and it will respond with the nose coming back up.
If you carry on pulling the line it will keep flying into the ground!
Practice making the kite fly from left to right before you try controlled diving.
The kite is designed in such a way that
it will want to spin, what you are learning to do is control that spin.
With practice you will be able to make the kite fly in any direction which
is when the real fun of flying fighter kites starts.
Before you fly, always check the bridle for any wear at the loop. It is best not to fly when it is raining (certainly not in thunderstorms), if the kite should get wet allow it to dry naturally after drying any surface water with a tissue cloth.
Your MAC kite is supplied in a polythene sleeve, which we recommend to keep the kite in after you have finished flying.
Malcolm McLeod - aka "Mac"