High on a Kite .
Flying high enjoying the beautiful clear blue sky.
Ready for take off .
Getting ready for ‘skyting’. The first step is to wait for each of the mattresses in the flexifoil to fill up with the passing wind.
Man is lifted into the air by a kite.
Here a man is lifted into the air by a kite. A harness keeps him safely in place while a jeep acts as an anchor below.
Dune crash .
The Dutch imported the kite into Europe as a novelty in the 17th century when they brought Japanese fighter kites or ‘Hata’ from their trading partners in Nagasaki. Now the sand dunes along the Dutch coast are a popular venue for kite-flying.
A large flexifoil train.
A large flexifoil train, made up of 17 parachute-like connected kites, forms one enormous flying machine. A flexifoil train of this size has the capacity to pull approximately 600-700 kg, depending on wind conditions.
Skiing on the sand, at speeds up to 60km/hr.
It requires considerable strength to hold on to a flexifoil kite caught by a strong gust of wind.
Take off .
A low-tech flying machine.
High on a Kite .
Innovative kite-makers started to use new materials, developed for space travel. By combining new types of airtight, coated synthetic foil made of kevlar-fibres and carbon, strong glass-fibre cords or lines and supporting poles, a different type of kite was produced which functions like the wing of an aeroplane, ranging in span from 1 to 5 metres (4 to 16 feet), and weighing no more than 1.5 kilogrammes. These kites are srong enough to lift a man into the air.
Skiing on the sand, at speeds up to 60 km/hr.
Skiing on the sand, at speeds up to 60km/hr is not unusual in ‘skyting’. It requires considerable strength to hold on to a flexifoil kite when caught by a strong gust of wind.
High jumping .
When flying high on a kite, you need to swing your body hard, legs backwards, then forwards to land. Otherwise, you may end up on your belly.
Six flexifoils flying swiftly just before a storm.
Six flexifoils flying swiftly just before a storm.
A large kody kite .
A large kody kite quickly rising into the air. Kody kites were first developed by the French army for use on navy boats, where a kite would be used to lift a soldier high above the boat to locate enemy troops. This kody is 12 meters square in size and a replica of such designs.
Strength is a definite benefit.
‘Skyting’ is a demanding sport, physical strength is a definite benefit.
Catapult release .
A typical catapult release, whereby waiting for the wind to build up a person can be sprung fully into the air.
The landing .
The landing, by many considered the most difficult part of the flight, has as much to do with wind strength and personal skill as with basic luck.
A man is lifted into the air by a kite .
Here a man is lifted into the air by a kite. A harness keeps him safely in place while a jeep acts as an anchor below.
Butterfly kite ready for flight.
A typical butterfly kite ready for flight.
a man is catapulted by six big flexifoils.
The classic kite, seen by most as a simple toy, has turned into a high-tech flying machine. Here a man in mid-launch is catapulted by six big flexifoils.
Skyting through the water .
Surfing through the water at high speeds, pulled by a high-tech flying machine.
Four small stunt kites in linear formation.
Four small stunt kites in linear formation. Their delta (arch shape) wings allow for greater precision in steering.
Current kiting .
An experiment of current kiting, where for the first time a kite manoeuvres underwater.
Steering with a stick .
Flying with a stick control allows for greater navigational precision.
A diamond shape kite approximately 5 by 7 meters in size.
A diamond shape kite approximately 5 by 7 meters in size. Such one line kites, like basic butterfly kites, are know for their steady stationary flight and beautiful appearance.
Still in flight, getting ready for the landing.
Still in flight, getting ready for the landing.
Flexifoil pockets fill up with air.
While launching a kite one must wait for the flexifoil pockets to fill up with air.
Jump viewed from above.
The launch jump viewed from above. Here the camera is located 5 meters above the pilot, in between the pilot and the kite.
A 17 flexifoil train kite shown in flight.
A 17 flexifoil train kite shown in flight. The longest train kite ever flown was made up of 32 flexifoil kites.
Skiing on the sand, at speeds of up to 60km/hr is not unusual in ‘skyting’
Skiing on the sand, at speeds of up to 60km/hr is not unusual in ‘skyting’. It requires considerable strength to hold on to a flexifoil kite when caught by a strong gust of wind.
Catapult launch jump.
Preparing for the right moment for a catapult launch jump.
As the sun sets, a pilot manoeuvres through the softly lit sky.
As the sun sets, a pilot manoeuvres through the softly lit sky.
High on a Kite
Imagine being hoisted into the air by a gust of wind, attached only to a lightweight, multi-coloured kite. The classic kite, seen by most as a simple toy, has turned into a high-tech flying machine.