##10 tips for trouble-free kite mapping

**Note:** _This is **NOT** a guide for expert kite flyers. It's intended to be a QUICK START guide for people who've never kite mapped before, with as few problems and things to worry about as possible._

###Equipment & Conditions

**1. Check the wind** - don't fly balloons if it's windy; don't fly kites if it's calm or **very** strong! ([Weather Underground](http://preview.wunderground.com/) has an hourly wind forecast)

|  0 mph  |  5 mph  | 10 mph | 15 mph | 20 mph
| -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- |
| balloon | either | 9 ft kite | 7 ft kite | don't fly 

**2. Use a delta kite** - regular, simple triangular kites as pictured below.  Nine foot (2.7m) wide for light wind, seven (2m) for stronger winds

**3. Use a tail** - put a 20 foot long FUZZY TAIL (ribbony, [as seen here](http://store.publiclab.org/products/kite-mapping-pack)) on your kite. It will keep it stable and stop it from diving.

**4. Recruit kite flyers** - 8-year-olds and 80-year olds know more than the rest of us

[![kite-tail-2.jpg](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/003/695/medium/kite-tail-2.jpg)](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/003/695/original/kite-tail-2.jpg)

###Launch & Flight

**5. Use gloves** - made of cloth or leather for string burns. No rubber!

**6. Keep tension on the line** - if it pulls, let it out as fast as you can. 

**7. Do a test flight** - with no camera, to test the conditions

**8. Use ALL your string** - fly high! 1000-2000 feet: one large photo of your whole site is far better than 20 you'll have to stitch together later!

**9. Running is unnecessary** - quickly get your kite up into strong, clean air: have someone release it upwards with 100 feet of tensioned line while walking upwind slowly.

**10. Learn to recover from dives** - If the kite dives sideways or downward, let out line until the kite rights itself. Don't pull!

[![kite-launch.jpg](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/003/696/medium/kite-launch.jpg)](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/003/696/original/kite-launch.jpg)