Kite enthusiast and mechanical engineering major, James Riccobono ’12, had the chance to compete in the 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on March 27th. Riccobono has been flying kites for a little over a year and normally flies them around campus; despite the inconsistent winds.
The festival which he attended was held at the Washington Monument in Washington DC, was open to the public, and participants were required to build the kite by hand. According to Riccobono, there were various contests at the event, and he entered in the novice division.
His kite, the Masthead, and those of other novices were judged based on craftsmanship and flight performance. By the end of the competition, Riccobono managed to win 2 awards. His kite was awarded second place in the general competition and received a special recognition by Revolution Kites, a kite company.
Riccobono stated, “I walked away with a great new experience and several contacts with professional kite builders who liked my work.”
