On a hot summer’s day, there is nothing quite like Plugging Out and flying a kite. But there is so much more to kites than the bits of string and jolly paper at the end of Mary Poppins and since it’s National Kite Day this week, we thought these interesting facts might get you chomping at the bit to pop out for a spot of light flying:

• Plugging Out and flying a kite is so much fun that kite flying had to be banned in Japan in 1760 because too many people preferred to fly kites than go to work. Well I’m not surprised, I know what I’d rather be doing.
• If you are keen to break a world record then kites might be the way to go. There are loads of records to choose from. For instance, the smallest is currently 5mm high whilst the largest kite is 55 x 22 metres. Or the longest kite which is a whopping 1034 metres long. That’s over 3 times the height of the Eiffel Tower.
• In fact, there are so many record opportunities that I had to make another bullet point, just to keeping talking about them. To claim the fastest recorded speed of a kite, all you would need to beat is 120mph. Or if stamina is your thing, the longest kite fly currently stands at 180 hours. If you can reach a height of over 3081 metres with a kite you are in with a case of flying the highest kite. And finally, the largest number of kites flown on a single line is a very impressive 11,84. Okay. Enough kite records.
• There are many famous people who flew kites and also changed history, for instance Benjamin Franklin and the Wright Brothers. So the rule is, fly a kite and you will become famous and change the world. Maybe.
• Kites are believed to have first been flown over 3,000 years ago and were made from leaves. Of course these days all the cool kids make kites from recycled materials. But then again, leaves are free and available in all good parks so if you get stuck, you can always fashion your own.
• Think flying kites is for kids? Think again. For centuries, kites have been instrumental in warfare. They can be used for signaling, dropping secret messages and as target practice. So the next time you see someone out practicing who looks like a very keen kite flyer, check for fake mustaches and long trench coats because they may in fact be a spy relaying some important information.
• Kite fighting is popular in eastern countries such as Afghanistan, India and Vietnam. In Thailand, there are 78 rules for this slightly dangerous sport. How do kites fight? With broken glass, knifes and razor blades mostly. The aim of the game is to cut the string of your opponents kite. To rub salt in the wound, you get to keep the loser’s kite too. Well, what’s left of it anyway.
• Still not convinced that kites are cool? Well you’re in the minority. There are so many kite fans out there that every single weekend there is at least one Kite Festival held somewhere in the world (and weirdly, some are held indoors).

If that is not enough to get you racing for your coat the next sign of a blustery day, we don’t know what is.