A kite is a tethered heavier-than-air flying device invented in China around the 2nd century BC. For a long time, kites had no practical application. However, from the second half of the 18th century, they began to be widely used for conducting scientific research on the atmosphere and meteorological observations. For instance, in 1752, Benjamin Franklin used a kite to discover the electrical nature of lightning and invented the lightning rod. In the early 20th century, A.S. Popov used kites to elevate radio antennas to significant heights while developing radio technology. Nevertheless, kites predominantly remain a toy enjoyed by both children and adults.
In Kyrgyzstan, flying kites is still a novelty, and the RED Centre with Boom STUDIO decided to change that.
- An event dedicated specifically to kites as a separate discipline was held for the first time, with over 40 applications submitted, - said Eгор Паньшин, the head of Boom STUDIO, to IA. - The first place was taken by one of the youngest participants of the project, Nastya Kolesnikova, who launched her own kite. The second place went to Nastya's grandfather, a well-known model aircraft builder, Nikolai Kolesnikov, who constructed a five-headed kite. According to him, he hadn't slept for the last two days due to preparations. The third place was taken by Vasilisa Starzhinskaya. A special prize from the RED Centre administration was awarded to Daria Starkova and Denis Povazhny, who constructed the largest and brightest kite. Denis Yusupov's work, who built a kite with ten heads, was also memorable. Many people asked when the competition would be repeated and lamented that they had missed the chance to participate.
As for the timing of the new festival, the organizers of "Open Sky" have not yet decided. However, a suitable date is already approaching: the second Sunday of October – World Kite Day.