The Penny Kite

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The next step will be to take a two-foot length of thread and knot its ends through the two holes on the edges of the kite. Once that's done, you have only to tie a spool of thread, which will serve as your "flying line," to the center of the just-attached bridle loop, and the finished kite should look like the drawing in Fig. 7. Then slip a pencil or a stick through the hole in the spool to make handles, and head outdoors to try your creation's wings.

Choose an open field — well away from any powerlines (never use any kind of metallic flying string) — and on a day when the wind is just strong enough to make tree leaves dance and small branches sway ever so gently, hold the kite over your head and let the breeze take it. If the aircraft seems to veer off to one side, the bridle on that edge is likely too short and will need adjustment. If the flier simply spins round and round, however, the wind is probably too strong. Should the kite be hampered by a temporary gust, you can sometimes save the flight by walking with the wind for a moment to end the spin, by adding to the tail, or — as a last resort — moving the bridle attachment point an inch or two closer to the kite's nose.

On the other hand, if you find there's not enough breeze to lift your plaything from your hand, you might be able to "tow" it up into windier air by running with the string as you would with a larger kite.

Once your day's flying is through, reel the toy in carefully — walking with the breeze as necessary and taking in line between gusts — to bring your kite to hand like a master flier!

One final "note," these little wind-dancers are small enough to mail to friends! Why not fold up a few and send them out with bridles attached as a whole new form of "air mail"?

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