A Thank You and Some Comments

by Tony Sangster
(Adelaide, SA, Australia)

I thank you for your commentary and videos about the 2012 Adelaide Kite Festival - we all had a great time and enjoyed the weather, the kite-flying, the camaraderie and the attention of the public who came in large numbers and certainly appeared to enjoy themselves!

For me to see children flying their own kites, joining in the Rokkaku battles and running after the parachuting lollies and teddy bear are things one never forgets.

I read through My Best Kite and always enjoy all the information there.

Under Types of Kites - Rokkaku - I recall reading that one purpose/result of the battles at Shirone in Japan was that the young men running up and down each side of the river bank during the Rokkaku battle helped to tamp down the soil and thus make the bank less susceptible to flood damage.

Delta - I note that some built their delta kites with a 'pop' keel, a version favored by Dan Leigh to prevent the kite overflying, others do away with a keel, using a bridle only - so that it is easier to adjust the bridle for the wind conditions and for stability rely on precise making, or have the trailing edge flap.

Sode - O'hashi from Japan has re-sparred the kite so that it can be flown from an attachment at the nose of the kite - lending it to use in a train (see Kite Lines)

Cheers Tony Sangster
Adelaide Kite Flyers