Kite flying began much later in Europe than in Asia. While unambiguous drawings of kites first appeared in print in the Netherlands and England in the 17th century, pennon-type kites that evolved from military banners dating aback to Roman times and earlier were flown during the Middlemost Ages.
During Windsocks the 18th epoch tailless bowed kites were still unknown in Europe. Flying deflated arch- or pear-shaped kites with tails had become a popular pastime, mostly among children. The first recorded scientific application of a kite took berth in 1749 when Alexander Wilson of Scotland devoted a kite train (two or extra kites flown from a humdrum line) as a meteorologic device for measuring temperature variations at deviating altitudes.