A blog detailing our collection of Peter Powell kites, and chronicling our flying of these kites. Plus a bit of PP kite history thrown in. Our collection to date stands at 77 kites and can be seen here. I am keen to expand the collection, so if you have an old Peter Powell kite, whether made in the UK or the US, gathering dust and looking for a new home, why not get in touch? Depending on the kite (does it bring something new or different to my collection?), its condition (is it flyable? how much TLC does it need?), and the price you ask (+ shipping if from outside the UK), we may well be able to do a deal.

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Our first Peter Powell kite

As we only got into kite-flying quite recently (i.e. early 2009), we weren't flying kites in the heydays of the Peter Powell craze in the 1970s and 1980s. But that doesn't mean we didn't want to get our hands on a genuine vintage Peter Powell! Of course, eBay is your friend in such a pursuit, and it didn't take long before we could fly our very own original Peter Powell.


Blue polythene sail, fibreglass frame, and a 3-point bridle, making it a Mk II kite. Mk I kites had bridle attachments halfway along the leading edge and near the tail; Mk II kites added a third bridle attachment at the wing tips. Incidentally, Mk I kites came first with a wooden frame, then aluminium (in several versions), and finally fibreglass. Mk II kites were only produced with a fibreglass frame; though the polythene sail gave way to ripstop later.

Was good fun flying our first Peter Powell. Clearly a kite which needs a decent breeze, but as long as it has good wind pressure on the sail, it's very steerable.


The start of the collection!
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