Sensational kites soar at a kite festival in Weifang, China.

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Extreme Kite Flier

Welcome to the amazing world of competitive kite flying

Special Sample

By Andrew Klein

PV Nguyen

Dylan Nguyen

On a sunny July day in Brookings, Oregon, the wind blustered under the crystal-blue sky. Music blasted from speakers set up around a grassy field. Dylan Nguyen (pronounced wen), 17, and his teammates stepped up for their turn.

Dylan wasn’t playing soccer or baseball. He’s a competitive kite flier, and he was looking to win! He skillfully tugged at the kite’s strings. His kite bobbed and swirled to the beat of the music. Dylan can make a kite dance on command.

At the end of the song, the kites landed gracefully. The crowd cheered! The team won first place at the Southern Oregon Kite Festival.

It was a sunny July day in Brookings, Oregon. The wind rushed under the clear blue sky. Speakers were set up around a grassy field, and music blasted from them. Seventeen-year-old Dylan Nguyen (pronounced wen) stood with his teammates. They stepped up for their turn.

Dylan wasn’t playing soccer or baseball. He’s a competitive kite flier, and he wanted to win! He skillfully tugged at the kite’s strings. His kite bobbed and spun to the music’s beat. Dylan can make a kite dance on command.

The song ended, and the kites landed gracefully. The crowd cheered! The team won first place at the Southern Oregon Kite Festival.

Top Flight

Events like this take place around the world. There, competitors show off their flying skills. They use sport kites to perform stunt-filled routines set to music. The flier makes the kite do tricks such as figure eights, circles, and spins. Others bring kites they have built. Judges award prizes based on the kites’ designs.

Today Dylan and his brother, Cardin, 14, compete together as Team Flying Dragon. In 2019, they brought home seven first-place medals! Awards aren’t the only things that motivate Dylan, however. “I like to make people smile when I fly,” he says.

Events like this happen around the world. People come to show off their flying skills. They use sport kites to perform stunts. Their routines are set to music. The flier makes the kite do figure eights, circles, spins, and other tricks. Other people build kites and bring them to the event. Judges award prizes for the kites’ designs.

Dylan’s brother, Cardin, is 14. The two brothers are on Team Flying Dragon. They won seven first-place medals in 2019! But awards aren’t all that Dylan wants. “I like to make people smile when I fly,” he says.

Dylan often flies a kite with a quad line. (Quad means four, so this type of kite is attached to four strings.) Dylan holds a handle connected to two strings in each hand. He moves the handles to change each line’s angle and tension. This gives Dylan control over the kite’s movements and allows him to do tricks.

“I can control a quad line so the kite can fly forward, backward, hover, and spin,” he says. “I can even land the kite on someone’s hand.”

Dylan often flies a kite with a quad line. (Quad means four, so this type of kite has four strings.) Dylan holds one handle in each hand. Two strings are connected to each handle. He moves the handles to change each line’s angle and tension. Tension is a stretching or pulling force. This way, Dylan can make the kite move and do tricks.

“I can control a quad line so the kite can fly forward, backward, hover, and spin,” he says. “I can even land the kite on someone’s hand.”

Forces of Kite Flying

For a kite to fly, it needs to be flexible, balanced, and lightweight. Here are some experts’ tips for a successful flight.

LAUNCH: Stand with the kite facing the wind, or run with the kite to create lift for takeoff.

CRUISE: Stand still and the kite will rise until the forces of lift and gravity are balanced.

CLIMB: To fly the kite higher, tug on the string. This creates more lift.

DISCUSS IT! Why would it be difficult to fly a kite on a calm day?

Forces of Kite Flying

For a kite to fly, it needs to be flexible, balanced, and lightweight. Here are some experts’ tips for a successful flight.

LAUNCH: Stand with the kite facing the wind, or run with the kite to create lift for takeoff.

CRUISE: Stand still and the kite will rise until the forces of lift and gravity are balanced.

CLIMB: To fly the kite higher, tug on the string. This creates more lift.

DISCUSS IT! Why would it be difficult to fly a kite on a calm day?

Getting Airborne

A kite would never get off the ground without airflow, explains John Anderson. He designs and studies aircraft.

To keep a kite aloft, “there has to be airflow both under the kite and over the top of it,” he says. Plus, a kite must be angled upward. This way, the force of air is greater below the kite than above it. This difference pushes the kite up, says Anderson. “Presto, you’ve got lift!” This upward force works against the downward pull of gravity.

Kites also must stay balanced in the air. They should be symmetrical, meaning each side has the same shape and weight. A tail can help a kite stay balanced too.

A kite can’t get off the ground without airflow, says John Anderson. He designs and studies aircraft.

To keep a kite in the air, “there has to be airflow both under the kite and over the top of it,” he says. A kite must also be angled upward. Then the force of air is greater below the kite than above it. This difference pushes the kite up, says Anderson. “Presto, you’ve got lift!” Lift is an upward force. It works against the downward pull of gravity.

Kites also must stay balanced in the air. They should be symmetrical. That means each side has the same shape and weight. A tail can help a kite stay balanced too.

Beyond Kites

On his school’s robotics team, Dylan learns about engineering. He uses an engineering mindset to design, build, and repair his own kites.

Dylan is on his school’s robotics team. There, he learns about engineering. He thinks like an engineer to design, build, and repair his own kites.

“Sometimes I see a problem with the kite or a part breaks,” he says. “I’ll design an improvement and make it with the 3-D printer. When the new part works better than the original, it feels great.”

Dylan thinks kite flying is a hobby anyone can do. “Go out there, fly, and enjoy it,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to those who are more experienced, then really listen.” Good advice for anyone looking to soar!

“Sometimes I see a problem with the kite or a part breaks,” he says. “I’ll design an improvement and make it with the 3-D printer. When the new part works better than the original, it feels great.”

Anyone can fly kites, says Dylan. “Go out there, fly, and enjoy it,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to those who are more experienced, then really listen.” If you want to soar, that’s good advice!