First it was a ban on kite flying in Afghanistan during the period of control by the Taliban from 1994 to 2002. Now there is a ban on kite flying in Pakistan based on a Supreme Court ruling handed down in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan , on Monday, October 24, 2005. The reasons for the bans in the two countries are very different. In Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammed Omar and the ruling clerics imposed the ban in 1994 based on a strict interpretation of Sharia Law utlized by the Taliban in governing Afghanistan. The purpose of the ban on kite flying was to . .

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While doing some research deep in an on-line University archive, I came across a reference to a theory on an early use of kites to life humans that I had never seen before.  

 August Steinman has put forth a rather surprising hypothosis about the huge soil drawings located between the towns of Nasca and Palpa in Peru.  Located about 400 miles south of Lima, these huge geollyphs have intrigued archeologists since they were discovered by Paul Kosok of Long Island University (NY) in 1939.

 August Steinman's hypothesis is that these were take off and landing areas for man lifting kites of the Nazca civilization.  Steinman has stated that he believes:

"The people of the Nazca civilisation were able to fly kites that could take off and land while being tied to a rope. And they could even land without being tied like a glider. In spite of their Stone Age civilisation the Nasca had the technical prerequisites for the production of such kites through the manufacture of threads and fabric. That is known from many grave finds. The known two thousand years old history of manned kites in Asia also supports this possibility."

In addition to the account detailed in the university archives, Steinman gives a detailed account on the web site of the respected Otto Lillenthal Museum located in Anklam, Germany.  The specific account of Steinman's theory of evidence pointing to a possible use of kites for man lifting much earlier than many believed possible in the Americas is well worth reading and pondering about. 

Certainly, this will be cause for me to do some more digging and discussing of this hypothesis in the months ahead. 

There is always something "new' in historical research about kites!  No wonder I find it so interesting. 

The inaugural Niagara International Kite Festival was a terrific event which brought together renowned kite makers and fliers from local clubs in the Western NY and Ontario regions. The festival was held over three days from October 7-9, 2005. The principal organizers, Meg and Bill Albers of Buffalo NY, did a fine job of tacking the complex logistical issues of getting a major festival off the ground and into the air. Meg worked for over a year to set up the mechanics of the festival, round up sponsors, coordinate with local tourism officials, and secure the necessary permissions to launch the event. Then it was on to inviting guests and ...

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On Friday,  October 7, 2005 I took part in the Niagara  International Kite Festival's "Homan Walsh Challenge Flight".  I was a member of the Niagara Windriders Kitefliers Association's team.

 The challenge was to fly across the Niagara River's gorge as young Homan Walsh had done in 1848.  His flight led to the pulling across of heavier and heavier lines and eventually a steel cable that started the construction of the first suspension bridge over the Niagara River.

 The organizers of the Niagara International Kite Festival,  Meg and Bill Albers of Buffalo NY, worked hard to secure permission to fly kites over the international boundary for this special challenge event. 

The Niagara Windriders were just one of a total of ten teams participating in this very challenging event.  Our team was the only team to fly across the gorge on this occasion.  Special thanks to: Vaino Raun (for amazing piloting of a mylar fighter kite on 2500+ feet of line) and the support team of:  Bob Luft; Tyrone Hobbs; Terri Stayzer; Mary, Kristen and Michael Kort ; Fred and Lisa Taylor for their help with the team effort!

A complete account of the event, complete with photos, can be found on the Niagara Windriders Newsletter Blog. I hope you enjoy reading about this amazing day.