help with daimond kites!?

Question

what causes a diamond kite to fly for a little bit, but then it nose dives
i used dowels for the t and a plastic material for the kite
the string is in the front and its croseed down the kite




PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

It needs a tail to weight the bottom of the "T" down. That will stabilize the kite to stay in an upright position. Get about a 6 ft long piece of cloth about 3 or 4 inches wide. Tie knots and/or short pieces of cloth about every foot along the length of cloth. Tie it to the bottom end of the kite.

Kids, don't you know anything! I learned how to fly a kite 45 years ago.

EDIT #1 - Mike 1942f is correct. Bowing the short cross-rib and the position and configuration of the yoke in the front are absolutely essential. I forgot about that part. Like I said, it has been 45 years.

Answer 2

Actually, the tail should provide drag not weight. The kite should be bowed (a string cross the back to curve the surface) and the yoke tied so the kite is held at an angle with the tail out behind, the wind providing lift from the curvature and the shape providing stability also.