I’ve never seen a pan flute kite made by anyone else… I’ve seen photos, and plans – but never seen another actual kite. And yet, they are an easy, forgiving kite to make. Not a remarkable flyer, but sometimes it can be fun.
“Pan flute” really describes it well, though I’ve also heard the name “rammed air Ferrari” kite. It consists, generally, of 7 ‘tubes’ of fabric, bigger at the top than the trailing edge of each tube.
Though it seems it could best be made with just two pieces of fabric, it is nicer if made as discrete ‘tubes’ – and makes a more colourful design. I’ve made these anywhere from about 500mm tall up to about 1800mm.
The kite is not a ‘high flyer’ – some that I’ve made struggle to gain height. But others, a pull on the line results in a quick climb.
Flys well without a tail, too, with a back and forth swaying motion.