When it comes to wind-assisted wooden-framed flying contraptions, there are kites and then there are kites. This almost certainly being one of the latter.
The trouble is, due its size and considerable weight, a bit of string here and there to get the beast airborne and under control is far from sufficient. A situation that means the job of chief untangler is a decidedly undesirable one — patience and perseverance being very much the order of the day.
Still, with everything prepared and a large team at the helm, it actually flew.
Quite high too.
And perhaps even more surprising is that those in charge managed to bring the thing down safely, rather than have it career out of control and terrify startled spectators.
Which, admittedly, was ever so slightly disappointing.
homebru says
Do they still hang the champion kite in Ueno train station?
Lee says
I’ve no idea Homebru, never heard of that before.
But it did seem to be a contest of sorts, so maybe.
homebru says
In the fifties and sixties, there were village-against-village kite flying contests using the large kites such as you show. I don’t remember the details of the competetion, but the champion kite was displayed for a week, high overhead in the main hall of the Tokyo or Ueno train station.
I was through both stations on a regular basis in the mid-sixties and don’t remember in which one I saw the kite.
Stories says
Just what you want to come crashing down on your head when your out and about on a nice sunny day..