Kite History
1749
Alexander Wilson flew a kite train to record air temperatures at different altitudes.
1752
Ben Franklin proved there was electricity in lightning.
1804
George Cayley developed the concept of heavier-than-air flight. His glider was a modified arch top kite.
1827
George Pocock used kites to pull a horseless carriage.
1847
A kite flown by Homan Walsh, age 10, aided in the construction of a suspension bridge across the Niagara River.
1893
The Eddy Diamond and the Hargraves Box raised scientific instruments for weather research.
1899
The Wright Brothers used kites to test their theories for the first flying machine (airplane).
1901
Guglielmo Marconi used a kite to lift an aerial to make his historical radio link between North America and Europe.
1902
The French Military (Conyne) Kite raised military observers.
1903
The Wright Brothers flew the first manned flying machine. A kite train towed S.F.Cody across the English Channel.
1906
Kites carried a camera aloft to take aerial photographs of the damage caused by the San Francisco earthquake.
1907
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell flew a man carrying kite made up of over 3,000 tetrahedral cells.
1919
A German flew a kite train to an altitude of 31,955 feet.
1939 - 1945
The Gibson Girl Box, Garber's Target Kite and Saul's Barrage Kite were all used in World War II.
1948
Francis Rogallo patented his Flexi-wing kite. It was the forerunner of the hang glider and delta kite.
1954
William Allison, Dayton, Ohio, received a patent on HIS "Flexible Flyer", which we now call the SLED Kite and reproduce by the housands in kite workshops all over the world. Ed Graeul called it a Basic Kite Form. (one of only 7)
1964
Domina Jalbert designed the parafoil. His concepts have been adapted for parachutes and kites.
1975
Peter Powell introduced his dual line stunt kite.
1978
Kuzuhiko Asaba flew 4,128 kites on a single line.
1989
Kite flying becomes a sport with the establishment of a National Stunt Kite Circuit. The "California Swept Wing" Stunt Kite has had the greatest influence on stunt flying.
1749
Alexander Wilson flew a kite train to record air temperatures at different altitudes.
1752
Ben Franklin proved there was electricity in lightning.
1804
George Cayley developed the concept of heavier-than-air flight. His glider was a modified arch top kite.
1827
George Pocock used kites to pull a horseless carriage.
1847
A kite flown by Homan Walsh, age 10, aided in the construction of a suspension bridge across the Niagara River.
1893
The Eddy Diamond and the Hargraves Box raised scientific instruments for weather research.
1899
The Wright Brothers used kites to test their theories for the first flying machine (airplane).
1901
Guglielmo Marconi used a kite to lift an aerial to make his historical radio link between North America and Europe.
1902
The French Military (Conyne) Kite raised military observers.
1903
The Wright Brothers flew the first manned flying machine. A kite train towed S.F.Cody across the English Channel.
1906
Kites carried a camera aloft to take aerial photographs of the damage caused by the San Francisco earthquake.
1907
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell flew a man carrying kite made up of over 3,000 tetrahedral cells.
1919
A German flew a kite train to an altitude of 31,955 feet.
1939 - 1945
The Gibson Girl Box, Garber's Target Kite and Saul's Barrage Kite were all used in World War II.
1948
Francis Rogallo patented his Flexi-wing kite. It was the forerunner of the hang glider and delta kite.
1954
William Allison, Dayton, Ohio, received a patent on HIS "Flexible Flyer", which we now call the SLED Kite and reproduce by the housands in kite workshops all over the world. Ed Graeul called it a Basic Kite Form. (one of only 7)
1964
Domina Jalbert designed the parafoil. His concepts have been adapted for parachutes and kites.
1975
Peter Powell introduced his dual line stunt kite.
1978
Kuzuhiko Asaba flew 4,128 kites on a single line.
1989
Kite flying becomes a sport with the establishment of a National Stunt Kite Circuit. The "California Swept Wing" Stunt Kite has had the greatest influence on stunt flying.
