Different types of flying kites (such as water kites, bi-media kites, fluid kites, gas kites, kytoons, paravanes, soil kites, solid kites, and plasma kites) have niche applications. In nature, some animals, such as spiders, also make use of kiting.
Kite aerial photography
File:PicEddyKite.jpg|William Abner Eddy patented a kite. He used kites for aerial photography (KAP).
File:US646375.png|US646375 Willian A. Eddy kite patent image.
File:San Francisco in ruin edit2.jpg|Photo of the ruins of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake by George Lawrence of Chicago. Photographed using a kite system to loft a panoramic camera.
William A. Eddy, the maker of Eddy-kite fame, lifted cameras to take photographs of cities and landscapes. Today kite aerial photography (KAP) is the hobby of many enthusiasts, is a tool for surveying land and animals, and a mode for artistic expression. Professor Charles Benton illustrates how KAP can grow in one's life. Scott Haefner has one of the most extensive collections of KAP photographs; he shares his technology. San Francisco. Those who do KAP are called Kapers KAP.
The kite is frequently used along with a vehicle for teaching aerodynamics, mathematics, physical education, and problem-solving.
Kite rig
File:Charvolant.jpg|George dickens's contribution being illustrated.
File:Charvolants2.jpg|Painting of kite tugging wheeled vehicle.
File:Buggy Winds.jpg|Getting around in a kite buggy.
File:Cody manlifter02.jpg|Transport people up into the sky with man-lifting kites for observation, entertainment, photography, and recreation.
File:Cody manlifter.jpg|Man-lifter kite designed by Samuel Franklin Cody (1867–1913). As the kite observes its enemy it raises its antenna.
File:Kite333.JPG|A quad-line traction kite, commonly used as a power source for [[kite surfing]]. Application: sport, recreation, exercise, rest, [[product demonstration]].
Long-distance travel across the land, ice, and sea started centuries ago, but today significant tasks of moving people and goods from point A to point B are occurring; this is so in part from the advances in kites and kite systems designs and technology, a better understanding of winds, and use of computers and GPS.