March is here at last, bringing more wind than a council meeting and an ideal opportunity to dig out all of those old plastic bags that would otherwise go to landfill. Here's what you do...

To construct your Double-Foil Semi-Rigid Sled Kite you will need:

• Plastic bags of a suitable size
• Three dowel rods (or similar) of approximately 6mm diameter
• Loads of sticky tape
• Loads of string

Key:

• LBF: Left Bridle Fin
• LF: Left Fin
• CBF: Central Bridle Fin
• RF: Right Fin
• RBF: Right Bridle Fin

Construct the kite according to the plan above. Make sure you attach the dowels firmly to the fins with your sticky tape, all along their length, not just at the ends. Cut the four holes very carefully as their size and position is very important. Ask an adult to help you - even if you are an adult.

Reinforce the free tips of the bridle fins with loads of sticky tape (or brass eyelets if you've got them) and attach three bridle lines, as below:

Tie the ends of the bridle lines together and attach a long piece of string with a proper handle or winder (don't try to hold just the string - this kite is powerful and you could cut or burn your hands). Now you're ready to fly!

When choosing a place to fly, remember to ask permission from the land-owners or custodians and respect other people using the area.

Some public areas (e.g. some beaches) have a local regulation on maximum flying height and you should check and respect this limit. In any case, never fly your kite above 200ft as this is the maximum legal height in the UK.

http://www.safekids.co.uk/KiteSafety.html

You can scale the size of your kite upwards or downwards a bit but, whatever you do, don't go overboard like these two foolhardy Iowa lads ("Tied her to the back of the truck - ain't seen that truck since...")

Metric, guys, Metric - not Imperial!

Happy flying!