Jon Burkhardt, of Rockville, is the head judge of the 42nd annual Smithsonian Kite Festival, to be held March 29 near the Washington Monument.
What do you judge?
This is a competition for kite builders. We look at how well kites are constructed and construction design. Those, we look at on the ground.
When it’s in the air, we’re looking at flight performance, angles of flight and visual appearance.
A flight is really good if it flies high in the air. Eighty degrees is excellent. Ninety degrees will go over your head.
For visual appearance, does it have a “wow” factor? A good-looking kite looks like stained glass. The colors just sing.
How did you get involved in kites?
My professional work has to do with senior citizens, with older drivers and public transportation for seniors. (I met) a man in Farmland, Ind., who started making kites when he was 89 years old. Each year, he’d make a dozen great big delta kites. He’d make the spars — the sticks — using Indiana basswood. He cut and shaped them and sanded them down. He also made the kite winders, the device used to hold the line. And he was taking care of a 250-square-acre farm and taking care of his invalid wife. I don’t think he ever slept. I thought, ‘This guy has found the secret of youth.’ So I started making kites of my own. Then I met other kite makers. And I thought, “This is a great bunch of people to be around.”
When was that?
Almost 30 years ago. (I bought) a kite for the kids and pretty soon I was having more fun than they were. Kite flying opens a whole world of opportunities. I got to teach Martha Stewart, on the TV show and in the magazine. It was great. She put off other appointments because she enjoyed it so much.
