††A kite is a light frame covered with thin material, which can be made to fly at the end of a long string. Around the year 400 BC a Chinese man called Lu Pan made the first kite. Its original purpose was a very practical one: by 1232 the Chinese were using kites to send messages across hazardous territory during wartime.
During the 19th century experiments were carried out, for example by Baden-Powell, to see if kites could be made to lift humans. Although this was achieved, there was no practical use for this idea, and kites are now mainly used for leisure purposes. Modern kites are available in many shapes, using a variety of materials ranging from traditional wood and paper to modern synthetic fibres and plastic. Kite-flying is currently regarded as a serious sport in some parts of the world, particularly in its Chinese homeland.
