KAP works best in the gentler winds, as a smooth airflow will provide stability. Most KAPers work between Bft 2 to Bft4 and, with care, in Bft5.
Force
| mph
| kmh | m/s | kts | Description
| | Effect on kite | 0 | 0-1 | <1 | <9.3 | 0-1 | Calm | Smoke rises
vertically. | Launch frustrated
| 1
| 1-3 | 1-5 | 0.3-1.5 | 1-3
| Light air
| Direction of wind shown by smoke drift, but not by wind vane.
| Very large lightweight Dopero, delta, Rokkaku etc, may fly on a light line | 2 | 4-7 | 6-11 | 1.5-3.3 | 4-6 | Light Breeze
| Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary vanes moved.
| Sutton ff30 lofts 650g at 3.5mph | 3 | 8-12 | 12-19 | 3.3-5.5 | 7-10 | Gentle Breeze
| Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flag.
| KAP works well with most suitably sized kites at Bft 3. Drogue needed on Flowform kites | 4 | 13-18 | 20-28 | 5.5-8.0 | 11-16 | Moderate Breeze
| Raises dust and loose paper; small branches are moved
| Reduce kite size increase line weight & drogue size | 5 | 19-24 | 29-38 | 8.0-10.8 | 17-21 | Fresh Breeze
| Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland waters.
| Precautions needed against risk of gust impact on kite stability
| 6 | 25-31 | 39-49 | 10.8-13.9 | 22-27 | Strong Breeze
| Large branches in motion; whistling heard in wires.
| KAP difficult as camera stabilisation becomes problematic | 7 | 32-38 | 50-61 | 13.9-17.2 | 28-33 | Near Gale
| Whole trees in motion;inconvenieance felt when walking.
| KAP not possible..
| 8 | 39-46 | 62-74 | 17.2-20.7 | 34-40 | Gale | Breaks twigs off trees;generally impedes progress.
| ..without severe risk of injury...
| 9 | 47-54 | 75-88 | 20.7-24.5 | 41-47 | Severe Gale
| Slight structural damage occurs (chimney pots and slates removed).
| ...to operator and equipment! | 10 | 55-63 | 89-102
| 24.5-28.4 | 48-55 | Storm | Seldom experienced inland;trees uprooted;considerable stuctural damage occurs.
| | 11 | 64-72 | 103-117 | 28.4-32.6 | 56-63 | Violent Storm
| Very rarely experienced;
| | 12 | 73-83 | >118 | >32.6 | 64-71 | Hurricane | accompanied by widespread damage. | | Note:
Low wind speed: Bft 1-2 A mix of a large sail area, light line and light rig is required to lift a camera in light winds. Caution is needed to be able to keep aloft during lulls, and be ready for any rise in wind speed which will make a large kite a risky platform for a camera! High wind speed: Bft 4-5 Short gusts of 25mph may be survivable by a robust kite (such as the PFK Nighthawk) but if the wind is steady at these speeds the turbulence in the KAP flying zone of 30-60m AGL (above ground level) is usually such that photography is pointless. Adding a drogue or tail will help the stability of most kites in winds over Bft 3 (about 12 mph). It is worth bearing in mind that gusts are often double or more the average wind speed so a survivable gust is often a warning of a rising wind. Flying a large kite in a strong wind is not for the faint hearted, and can be downright dangerous. |