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Compiled By Tom Lehane

 
 
To determine the height of your kite above the ground requires using a formula known as the hypotenuse (side of a right-angled triangle opposite the right angle).
Another quick way is to use a 45 degree set square. It requires three people, one flying the kite or tie it to the ground.   Using the three person system : first person holds the kite, the second one stands directly underneath it, and the third one stands to one side with the set square held at eye level, looking up towards the kite along the diagonal and changing his position until the kite appears in the extension of this line. At this point the height of the kite above the ground is equal to the distance between the second and third person, (number 2 and number 3 in the diagram on the right)  plus the height of the set square from the ground.

Kite Altitude Gauge

This method is a quick way of determining the height of your kite above the ground. The first thing to know is the length of the flying line. The gauge is calculated for line lengths of 100 - 500 meters. Click on the altitude gauge image on the left for a full page image. Print out the gauge image, cut along the line shown with the scissors. Glue to stiff cardboard then punch a hole at point shown on the top left hand site of the protractor. Thread a string through the hole and tie a knot to prevent the string falling out.
Add a small fishing sinker to the string just below the protractor. Glue a drinking straw along the top of the cardboard. Use a hot glue gun to fix the straw to the cardboard as most straws are coated with wax.
How to use, Let out the known length of your kite line (E.g. 100 meters).
Line up the kite looking through the drinking straw. Move your thumb over the string and hold it against the protractor print-out. While holding the plumb-line read the angle, E.g.  60 degree. From the chart look along the 100 meter row and read the 60 degree figure, in this case it's 86.6 meters from the ground.
Remember this is a simple quick method and is only an estimate of the kite's height. The wind will bend the flying line and the weight of the flying line will also sag due to gravity. Sighting along the flying line you could estimate the amount of bend and subtract that from the read out.