Let's Go Fly a Kite Up to the Highest Height…
By Tracy Rolling

A perfect day to fly a kite in Ramona. Photos by Tracy Rolling

When you think of flying a kite, it's hard not to hum a few bars from the 1964 blockbuster hit "Mary Poppins."

The memorable tune comes at the end of the movie, when Jane and Michael Banks are joined by their mom and dad to fly their homemade kites; and they all lived happily ever after.

April is National Kite Month (NKM) and it's a chance to create a happy memory of your own by flying a kite.

Although it is not known when the first kite took flight, documents have show that more than 2,000 years ago a Chinese general by the name of Han Hsin of the Han Dynasty flew a kite over city walls to inform his troops of battle strategies. The kite would notify his army of the distance to the city walls where victory awaited them.

History also shares that kites have been flown for various educational purposes. In 1749 Alexander Wilson used a kite to record air temperatures at different altitudes. In 1847 a kite was used to help in the construction of a suspension bridge across the Niagara River. In 1906 kites carried cameras over San Francisco to survey damage from a horrific earthquake. And who could forget that Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove his theory of electricity in 1752.

Even the famous Wright Brothers in 1899 used a kite to test their theory of flying by building a 5-foot box kite in the shape of a biplane. They attached four lines to the kites' wings securing the lines to two sticks. When the kite flyer tilted the sticks in opposite directions it proved the Wright Brothers theory of "wing warping."

Since then, kite flying has become a national pastime enjoyed by families and kite enthusiasts of all ages.

NKM was co-founded by the Kite Trade Association International and the American Kitefliers Association. It was created to introduce people to the fun of kite flying, the rich history of kites, and the stunning artistry of kitemakers.

April was choosen for its ideal weather conditions but kites can be flown year-round if you follow theses simple suggestions. Never fly a kite around power lines or roadways and always look for a vacant field under sunny skies with a plentiful breeze.

Kite manufactures offer a variety of sizes and styles, and there are hundreds of thousands of kites ranging in cost from a few dollars upward to a few hundred dollars. The main sail, quality and length of string, materials used for the center rods and the tail (which ultimately creates the kite's drag) are just a few factors that determine the superiority and value of a kite.

So, regardless if you're in the market for a Mickey Mouse kite or a stunt kite with quad lines, the only requirements are a little patience and following the manufacture's instructions, which are included with most kites.