Kite Facts & Trivia

The fastest recorded speed of a kite is over 120 mph. (193 km/h)
 
  The smallest functional kite in the world is 5mm high
 
  The largest number of kites flown on a single line is 11,284
 
  The longest kite in the world is 1034 metres (3394 ft)
 
  The largest kite in the world is 55 x 22 metres (630sq metres)
 
  The record for the highest single kite flown is 3801 metres (12,471ft)
 
  The world record for the longest kite flight is 180 hours
 
  Kite flying was banned in China during the Cultural Revolution, anyone flying a kite was sent to jail for up to three years and their kites destroyed
 
  Kite flying was banned in Japan in 1760 because too many people preferred to fly kites than work
 
  For centuries kites have been used in wars and battles, for signaling, target practice, lifting observers, as barrage kites, dropping propaganda leaflets
 
  The Chinese believe that looking at kites high in the sky maintains good eyesight.
 
  Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers
 
  Large kites were banned in East Germany because of the possibility of lifting people over the Berlin Wall
 
  When the Japanese were building some of the early temples & shrines they used large kites to lift tiles and other materials to the workers on the roofs
 
  The Russians used kites to tow torpedoes
 
  More adults in the world fly kites than children
 
  The first kites flown over 3000 years ago, were made from leaves
 
  You do not need wind to fly a kite
 
  There is at least one Kite Festival every weekend of the year in some part of the world
 
  Kites have been used for centuries for fishing
 
  Approximately 12 people are killed each year in kiting accidents throughout the world
 
  Kite flying is one of the fastest growing sports in the world
 
  There are over 50 million kites sold in the USA every year
 
  Kites have been used for thousands of years to lift offerings and give thanks to the Gods for good harvests, fertility, weather and prosperity
 
  In 1901 Marconi used a kite to transmit the first radio signals across the Atlantic, the kite line was used as the aeriel
 
  In the Orient, kites are given to someone to bring them happiness, good luck, prosperity and cure illness
 
  Some kites weigh over 2 tons
 
  Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove that lightning was electricity