Kite Mapping Tips
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
Wind - don't fly balloons if it's windy; don't fly kites if it's calm or very strong!
| 0 mph | 5 mph | 10 mph | 15 mph | 20 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| balloon | balloon or kite | 9 ft kite | 7 ft kite | don't fly |
Kite selection - use delta kites: regular, simple triangular kites as pictured below. Nine foot (2.7m) wide for light wind, seven (2m) for stronger winds
Use a tail - put a 20 foot long FUZZY TAIL (ribbony, as seen here) on your kite. It will keep it stable and stop it from diving.
Launch & Flight
Use gloves - made of cloth or leather for string burns. No rubber!
Keep tension on the line - if it pulls, let it out as fast as you can.
Do a test flight - with no camera, to test the conditions
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!
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.
