Dropping Teddy Bears from Kites

There is a long and honourable tradition, at least in the UK, of dropping teddy bears from kites. The teddy (or indeed any other sufficiently brave stuffed fluffy) is attached to a parachute and carried up a kite line by some mechanism and near the top of the line the mechanism is caused to release its payload and the teddy floats parachuted to the ground.

There are a number of different mechanisms for carrying the teddy up the kiteline and for releasing it; a learned discussion is planned for a future version of this scrapbook page.

A number of fliers and clubs have made this a feature of their displays, but the largest collection of professional teddy bears is to be found in the ménage of Carolyn and Jerry Swift. You can see their wonderful collection by clicking on the picture of the bears (below right).

Carolyn and Jerry can be seen at festivals all over Britain and as far afield as Malaysia and China, entertaining children from 1 to 99 with their parachuting soft toys. Every child whose toy has made a voluntary drop is awarded a certificate. They have been kite flying (and 'fauna bombing’) for nearly 20 years. Carolyn and Jerry live in North Yorkshire.