why does my kite spin?

Question

My home made kite keeps spinning out of control, does any one know exactly why it spins?

I try to keep the strings symmetrical and the dowels straight, but no matter how much i adjust it keeps spinning out of control.

My hand made kite is a two stick kite, the ones that look like a streched "X", not the classic "t".

Answer 1

Can't help you without knowing the size and shape of the kite, LOL. Some of the problems could be:

a) It's a buka (fighter) kite and it's supposed to spin, and you need to learn how to tug the line at just the right time to make it move in the direction you want it to go.
Fix: attach a loop tail temporarily to the bottom of the kite. Tape about 14 feet of crepe paper 1" streamer to the bottom corners of the kite -- one end of the streamer at each corner. Me, I'm too cheap to buy crepe paper. Instead, I cut a plastic grocery bag into 1" strips and tape 'em together to make longer lengths.

b) Your kite is unbalanced. You have accidentally made it assmetrical, or the upper bridling lines which should be the same length aren't.
Fix: inspect and make sure it's all symmetrical.

c) Your kite is distorting in flight due to the action of the wind
Fix: check your sticks for rigidity. Check that the sticks are well-fastened to the kite at the corners and where the sticks cross.

d) Bridle isn't adjusted right for the wind.
Fix: The bridle helps keep the kite at the proper angle to the wind. Maybe you need to make the upper bridle lines longer; maybe the lower one(s).

e) Your kite is just plain ornery.
Fix: Drogue tails. One at each bottom corner. Me, I'm cheap, so instead of buying nice nylon drogues, I just cut the bottoms off a couple of styrofoam cups, use a four-point bridle to each, and attach 'em to the bottom corners of the kite so the cup is about eight inches away from the bottom of the kite.

f) Arggghhh!
Fix: When all else fails, take those sticks, and build a "sled kite" around them (google sled kite plans). I use a "tall kitchen" plastic trash bag. I make sled kites that are 18" tall, and a main sail area that's about a foot wide, with each "ear" six inches wide. I put a couple of videotape streamers that're about 18" long at the bottom center of the kite for stability, and to make it look like the kite is dancing and wagging a tail.

Answer 2

Spinning Kite

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
why does my kite spin?
My home made kite keeps spinning out of control, does any one know exactly why it spins?

I try to keep the strings symmetrical and the dowels straight, but no matter how much i adjust it keeps spinning out of control.

My hand made kite is a two stick kite, the ones that look like a streched...

Answer 4

It keeps spinning because its X shaped so what you have to do to keep it from spinning is make a T shape one. so you'll have to make one of the sides longer then the other ones and that'll be the tail which will prevent the kite from spinning. -Goodluck

Answer 5

Keep adjusting the string and make the tail longer

Answer 6

Try skydiving its great fun,ive done 1657 jumps so far.......

Answer 7

have you tried it in different places could be the wind