Rotor Kite

Rotor kites (often called UFO kites) are one of those unusual kites that require more complex aerodynamics in order to fly. This particular kite flies only when rotating. Make sure you have lots of wind for this kite by either visiting the beach or tying it to your bicycle.

This kite is very picky about wind speed. Make sure the string doesn’t rub on the plates during flight. You can use hollow gardening stakes, empty ballpoint pen tubes taped together into a long straw, or composite tubes instead of the straws described here. Fishing line or nylon string works for kite line as well.

Materials: Two straws, a long length of string (20 feet or more), duct tape, two foam plates (at least 4 inches in diameter, one 6x4-inch clean foam meat tray, hot glue gun, and scissors.

Here's what you do:

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Cut the curved sides off the short ends and cut the tray lengthwise to make two vanes. Measure the length of your vanes and add three inches to the measurement—this is the straw length you need. Tip: You can tape together several smaller straws to make one long straw.

Important: Puzzle-fit your meat tray back into its original shape. Note that there’s a lip that runs all the way around the tray. Take ONE vane and flip it over, still keeping the cut sides together. Now your rotor should have one lip facing up, the other facing down. Slide your extended straw between the cut sides of the vane and hot glue it into place.

Tip: Use duct tape to hold it together securely.

Poke a hole in the center of two foam plates. Slide one foam plate onto the straw and hot glue it in place next to the vane. Do the same for both sides.

Thread a line through the straw and tie it back onto itself, leaving enough room for the rotor to spin freely in the wind. Attach the main kite line and go find a place with lot of wind, like at the beach! Running around isn’t enough to get this kite in the air!

Tip: To see this kite working in a close-up range, get an indoor fan and set it on high speed while you hold your kite string close to the knot in the bridle. Hold your kite in the airstream until it rotates freely. Depending on where you live, you can drive your car on a country road or ride your bike to generate more wind speed than just running.

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Rotor kites (often called UFO kites) are one of those unusual kites that require more complex aerodynamics in order to fly. This particular kite flies only when rotating. Make sure you have lots of wind for this kite by either visiting the beach or tying it to your bicycle.

This kite is very picky about wind speed. Make sure the string doesn’t rub on the plates during flight. You can use hollow gardening stakes, empty ballpoint pen tubes taped together into a long straw, or composite tubes instead of the straws described here. Fishing line or nylon string works for kite line as well.

Materials: Two straws, a long length of string (20 feet or more), duct tape, two foam plates (at least 4 inches in diameter, one 6x4-inch clean foam meat tray, hot glue gun, and scissors.

Here's what you do:

[am4show have='p8;p9;p94;' guest_error='Guest error message' user_error='User error message' ]

Cut the curved sides off the short ends and cut the tray lengthwise to make two vanes. Measure the length of your vanes and add three inches to the measurement—this is the straw length you need. Tip: You can tape together several smaller straws to make one long straw.

Important: Puzzle-fit your meat tray back into its original shape. Note that there’s a lip that runs all the way around the tray. Take ONE vane and flip it over, still keeping the cut sides together. Now your rotor should have one lip facing up, the other facing down. Slide your extended straw between the cut sides of the vane and hot glue it into place.

Tip: Use duct tape to hold it together securely.

Poke a hole in the center of two foam plates. Slide one foam plate onto the straw and hot glue it in place next to the vane. Do the same for both sides.

Thread a line through the straw and tie it back onto itself, leaving enough room for the rotor to spin freely in the wind. Attach the main kite line and go find a place with lot of wind, like at the beach! Running around isn’t enough to get this kite in the air!

Tip: To see this kite working in a close-up range, get an indoor fan and set it on high speed while you hold your kite string close to the knot in the bridle. Hold your kite in the airstream until it rotates freely. Depending on where you live, you can drive your car on a country road or ride your bike to generate more wind speed than just running.

[/am4show]