I designed the MacStar in 1993 as an exploration of alternative forms and methods. A great flyer with interesting features, I built a couple for myself, which I flew for many years. Somewhere along the way, the star kite got put on the shelf while I focused on other aspects of kiting. A while back, I dusted off the old bird and updated the design with a bit of what I’ve learned over the years. The resulting kite is tougher, simpler, more consistent, and a better flyer than the original ever was.

As you can see, the body consists of twelve equilateral triangles, joined at the corners and supported by a simple radial frame. The MacStar uses simple geometric patterns for the panels of body and tail, which can be configured in a large variety of layouts, just a few of which you can see on this page.

The MacStar comes in two graphic patterns – the angular “tri-radial”, and the curved “fan”. Pricing and specs are the same for both patterns. Where the two diverge is in the positioning of the panels themselves. The “fan” pattern requires that the panels be cut and oriented in certain directions to control flight and wear. The “tri-radial” pattern allows us the flexibility of moving the panels around for a while to get a completely different look.

With so many variations of layout and color, one could easily become overwhelmed. That’s why we’ll work together to come up with an attractive design that meets your needs. It’s simple – pick the panel style that appeals to you, and give me three colors. I’ll send you back a handful of drawings from which to choose or use as a starting point for further explorations.