National Kite Month – April 2025

History of National Kite Month

National Kite Month is organized yearly by the American Kitefliers Association (A.K.A.).
It was founded by the late Robert M. Ingraham of New Mexico in 1964. Being the largest association of kite fliers, the A.K.A. currently has thousands of members in over 25 countries.

The origin of kites has not been fully established, but it is speculated that they were first invented in China since kite flying was first mentioned in 200 B.C. in the Han Dynasty when Chinese General Han Xin flew a kite to evaluate his army’s defense strategy.

Kite flying was further developed by Chinese philosopher Motse until this novel pursuit spread to other regions, with each region developing a distinctive style for its kites. Sailors from Japan brought kites back to Europe in the late 17th century; this, however, had little impact on European culture. Over the years that followed, kites were regarded as objects of scientific research and advancement, rather than mere curiosity.

However, in the 1800s, as successive experiments led to the rapid development of mechanically powered aircraft, this diminished people’s interest in kites — they were flown only for recreation.

History tells us that kites (aside from being a form of recreation) have been used for diverse purposes. They were once used by the military for defense, attack, and surveillance. They were also used for scientific purposes, such as in Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment proving that lightning is electricity.

Recognizing that kite flying is worthwhile and pleasurable, the A.K.A. is dedicated to “sharing the joy of kites through education in the art, science, and practice of making and flying kites safely.”