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The Magic Kite |
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by Sean July 2005 |
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In the windy city of Chicago
the air currents are world known. That helps explain how the |
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kite was discovered here first.
The kite isn't all magic! You still have to put it together. |
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You have to get some really strong string,
a small saddle where you can sit. Some other |
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special equipment is needed in order to
avoid the ill-fate of Icarus. You remember him? |
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He had wax feathers and flew too close
to the sun and when the feathers melted he crashed. |
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Don't worry - you don't need any wax or
even any glue or feathers. It would help to take a compass
and some warm clothing. Even though hot air rises it gets pretty cool
up where you will be traveling. A wireless phone with a camera would
help to communicate to your family
and friends. A non night kite flight plan would be helpful unless
you can talk to the eagles. They are good to follow - they know all the
friendly currents. You might want to make a few short trips first
to learn to train your air arms. You have heard of sea legs
for sailors. Just like that. Air arms are needed for long distance
kite journeys. |
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Short trips would be across a lake, cross-town or
to the next city. That way you learn how not to get tangled in the
trees or phone lines. Watch out for tall buildings. They have
a down draft. I had to learn this the heard way when I first flew.
I went over a mountain top and was surprised by the "down draft".
Its like a temporary vacuum. Unless you have done bungee jumping
or have been in an airplane that hit an air pocket you won't be prepared
for the scare. Nothing dangerous once you expect it. |
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You also have to learn not to be overconfident when
you start air sailing. You might be tempted to climb higher and higher.
The air gets thinner up there. You have to go through all the
hassle of getting a license like airline pilots because you would be competing
with them for air space and jet streams. A tip from one old kite flyer
to an aspiring one. |
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The safety zone is between 80 to 155
feet. Follow the eagles they never steer you wrong! Oh, one other
piece of advice. You have to learn some meteorological terminology.
No meteorology is not the study of meteors but the study of weather patterns.
You have watched the weather people on TV right? Normally fog is mysterious
and people some times never find there way out it. |
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But to a master kite pilot fog must be avoided
at all costs. You never want to fly blind or at night. Thunderstorms
might have appealed to Dr. Benjamin Franklin for his kite experiment
but don't push your luck. You also should avoid big stretches
of deserts like to Gobi or Sahara because the sandstorms can occur really
fast and without much warning. |
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My good friend Leonardo Da Vinci was the first to
draft the magic kite. But he got bored with it and went on to draw
diagrams of submarines, aircraft and tanks. So he let me have keep
the plans. I got to get around posting them on my website.
I have such fun flying around the world I don't make much time to make out
the patent rules and regs. |
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So, you might be asking where's the magic?
Sounds like a lot of work! Well once you get up there on your first
flight, the angels are looking down and shaking their heads wondering
if you will treat the skies with respect. They see your mixed
emotions of joy, adulation and fear. So they breathe in your direction.
When you pray you find they steer you in the course you have laid out. |
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Got to fly now. Back to my favorite spot
Pindi Point. Jean will tell you all about it. She's almost ready
for an air balloon ride to share with me the safe and fun way to travel
before she takes her first solo flight. Love you - you can write.
I pick up my mail between magic kite flights. Good bye and sweet
dreams. Hope to see you soon. Keep looking up and you might
see me flying by. |
