Introduction: Fire Kite
My friend told me about this from another friend so I dont know how this originated. Anyway basically when you set the kite on fire it heats air trapped in pocket, and then rises like a hot air balloon and eventually incinerating its self about 30-40 feet in the air!!!
Honestly I have only been allowing the kites to get 10 feet into the air after that Ive been shooting them down with a fire extinguisher; a ball of fire rising above the tree line late at night might piss off the neighbors
Bellow is a video of a fire kite it is not my firekite I didnt make it film it or post it on youtube I take no credit in making this video, I will post my own after I have a chance to film it
i can not post a video of my own because my area has had 2/5th the amount of rain it normally receives thierfor i do not intend to set a of a device that will fly up into the air dropping ashes as it goes
Step 1: Get Materials
All you need for this is a hole sheet of newspaper, a stapler, and fire.
Step 2: Fold It Up
Look at the pictures, this is really quick and easy.
Fold 1and 2 together and staple
Step 3: Keep Folding
Ok you should get the idea by now just fold the last 2 corners to the center
Step 4: Fly the Kite
To fly the kite flip it over so the side with staples is facing down then, just light all 4 corners at exactly the same time and within a few seconds you will have a large fire ball quickly rising into the air.
This leaves a trail of hot embers so only do this after heavy rain.
Im not responsible for any damage deaths or any thing bad caused by using this is really really really dangerous only use when nothing burnable is within a 100yard radius do not use in high wind
I am sorry for not having any pictures in flight but it has not rained here for a week and as I said this is dangerous the first few flight honestly I didnt think it would fly at all so I didnt really think about how dry the grass was
Some stuff to think about, I think the best time of year for this would be the winter after heavy snowstorm, less of a risk of fire and remember that this works because the air inside the balloon is lighter than the air around it so I think it would go really really high in the winter ; D
68 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
I made a few out of printer paper for new years:p
11 years ago on Introduction
My brothers and I used to launch these out in the desert almost 40 years ago. Not a lot to burn in the way of forests out there. Great fun for kids (make sure one is responsible, though)
I'm not sure how this would work in humid climates but in places with calm thin air, you get some real height.
As far as tape or staples, staples worked pretty good, but truth be told we used small twigs to braid the corners of the paper. (We were poor but creative!) A stapler was a luxury.
Have fun and be safe!
12 years ago on Introduction
I successfully launched these many times as a kid - a failure was rare. However, when I tried recently with a grandson, I found the newspaper disintegrated rather than formed an ash "balloon." I think the paper used for newsprint has changed over the years and the ash doesn't hold together as it did 50 years ago.
14 years ago on Introduction
iv seen this before in a book called backyard ballistics it is a awsome
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
same dude i got it over in the uk
tried but it failed
i thinks this show a little bit more explanation
13 years ago on Step 3
i tried it and it was beast i put a fire cracker on it and an exsplosive ending
15 years ago on Step 4
dude i love the hot wheels radar gun!
Reply 13 years ago on Step 4
Yess i just revamped it all jet black. Didnt do a great job at tracking the lacrosse balls though.
15 years ago on Step 4
will it work if you use tape instead of staples? I need to know.
Reply 15 years ago on Step 4
yeah it should just dont weigh it down to much.
Reply 13 years ago on Step 4
The other guy with a similar Instructable made his out of tape, and in the video he posted the tape melted and it kinda fell apart.
14 years ago on Step 4
I think I'd like to take this idea to the burning man festival. It gets pretty cold there at night, so it should work out. Is it possible to slow the burning by dampening the paper slightly? I'm wondering if I can use a light misting bottle filled with water to slow things down.
Reply 13 years ago on Step 4
dont know but oldnews paper is free.
15 years ago on Introduction
Wouldn't it work better if you sealed the pocket completely so less hot air gets out?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
yeah but that adds weight. and sense its one fire tape would burn and more staples would weight it down to much.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
use a little duct tape
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
or maybe some of that aluminum tape now that i think about it. Just a small piece though, it would also add some structural support (i think)
14 years ago on Step 4
Sweet, but isn't that dangerous to launch a kite on fire into the air??
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
yes.
14 years ago on Step 4
These fire kites are harder to make work in warm weather. Doing one in Florida almost requires a winter night.