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The parafoil kite design is relatively recent in the world of kites. People have been building kites for centuries. You can see why beaches and open fields have long been favored places for enjoying kites. There usually aren't many power lines strung on the beach so that is one less obstacle to avoid. Skillful kiters have long engaged in competitions for design, size, maneuverability and overall fun.
In the mid 1960's a new type of kite started showing up, a spinoff of a new type of parachute that was designed with air channels that filled with air during its movement and made in the form of a giant wing, narrower at the ends and wider in the middle. NASA used this new parachute design to slow the fall and create a braking drag for shuttle type craft. Testing showed it to be far superior to traditional chutes, both in deployment and in performance. It was only a matter of time before workers who witnessed these tests got to thinking, "hey, what if.."
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A 4 Line Beach Summer Sport Trick Kite with Handles. For adults and older kids, this 2.6m Quad Lines trainer parafoil gets your imagination soaring. An affordable training kite.
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High performance light wind kite offers quick turning and control with light bar pressure. Fast to inflate and deflate with high-flow air valves. Rides upwind very well
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The parafoil wind-surfing 'kites' of today are direct descendants of the chutes that worked so well to hold the vast forces of a landing aircraft. Size matters here, wind surfing parafoil kites are tiny replicas of the huge parafoil chutes used by NASA, but the engineering principles are the same. Easily guided by the lines attached at either end of the "wing", the lift and pull is directly felt and controlled by the user - often called a pilot. Letting go of the controls stops the pull so it is completely within the control of the pilot. A tether line keeps your kite from sailing away on it's own and with release of the controls, the parafoil kite falls gently to the surface to be retrieved by the tether.
Parafoil kites are used for fun. Larger professional kites can be part of an adventure on the water for wind surfing, on land for buggy surfing and on snow and ice for kite skiing. It is a thrill sport for every climate that requires less wind than you might think. Light breezes get the kite aloft and you can generally count on enough pull to move you along with winds of only 8 to 10 miles per hour. Speed and direction are controlled by bars connected to the lines that are attached to the kite.
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The parafoil kites shown here are made by Basra, Flexifoil and HQ Symphony some of America's most innovative outdoor gear outfitters. Most kites are available as a complete kit with the bars attached with lines and ready to go. Everything you need to get started is included. Kites include more gear or less, so you can find one that is just your speed. The smallest models shown, the Besra and Delta are suitable for anyone to learn to control a kite, to learn the joy of kites, but not intended for kitesurfing. The $15 - $25 price range should tell you that these are not meant for carrying weight. Like most things, price will indicate expectations. Great fun to learn with though. Check the weight charts when you order your parafoil kite.
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