Chapi-chapi

Chapi-chapi is a small, two-stick kite popular in the Philippines that can be quickly recycled from cheap materials such as newspapers, old bristles of a walís tingtíng (a broom made from thin splints of dried coconut leaf midribs), or discarded plastic sheet.

A chapi-chapi constructed from broom bristles and plastic sheet from a discarded plastic bag, on top of other kites.

A strong, straight stick is used for the vertical frame. The horizontal stick is tensioned into a bow in order to provide greater support for the paper or plastic sheet. A very long bottom tail is almost always necessary, while side tails or fins are optional.

A woman flies a chapi-chapi constructed using newspapers, in Rizal Park.

This kite, with a simple two-point bridle, has moderate lateral roll and flutter (oscillation) that some prefer in kite fighting over stable, quiet flight. Unlike the diamond-shaped Malay kite^[1] or the Eddy,^[2] no extra strings are used for the edges of the frame, making the chapi-chapi easier and faster to assemble but relatively more fragile. The chapi-chapi is similar but not identical to the Thai "female" kite pakpao,^[3] to the Patang or Indian fighter kite,^[4] and to the Nagasaki Hata or Matt Star fighter kite.^[2][5]

The kite in the 1999 Filipino film Saranggola is a chapi-chapi.

See also

• Fighter kite