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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}{{Infobox weapon |name= Benelli Kite | image= New Benelli Kite.jpg | image_size = 275 |caption= Benelli Kite |origin= {{flag|Italy}} |type= Pre-Charged Pneumatic air gun <!-- Type selection --> |is_ranged=yes <!-- Service history --> |service= |used_by=10 m air pistol shooters |wars= <!-- Production history --> |designer= |design_date= |manufacturer=Benelli Armi SpA |production_date= |number= |variants=Benelli Kite, Benelli Kite Young <!-- General specifications --> |weight= {{convert|0.8|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} (no magazine) |length= {{convert|433|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} |part_length= {{convert|240|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} |crew= <!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> |cartridge= {{convert|4.5|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} diabolo air gun pellets |caliber= |action= Pre-Charged Pneumatic |rate= |velocity= 145 m/s (adjustable 135-165 m/s) |range= {{convert|10|m|yd|1|abbr=on}} |max_range= |feed= single air gun pellet |sights= open, fully adjustable }}
The '''Benelli Kite''' is an air pistol manufactured by Benelli Armi SpA of Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kite |url=https://benelli.it/en/arma/kite |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=Benelli}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nagy |first=Attila |date=6 February 2015 |title=These Air Pistols Look Like Weapons from Star Wars |url=https://gizmodo.com/these-air-pistols-look-like-weapons-from-star-wars-1682944263 |access-date=2025-09-20 |work=Gizmodo}}</ref> It is a single shot .177 inch calibre pre-charged pneumatic air pistol designed for the 10 m Air Pistol ISSF shooting event.
The Kite was used by Francesco Bruno to win a gold medal in the Italian Championship 2008. It is also used by Tanyu Kiryakov, who won gold in the 10 m Air Pistol at the Olympic Games in Seoul 1988.
==Design details== Like all air pistols designed for the 10 m Air Pistol event, it has fully adjustable sights, a mechanically adjustable trigger (for stroke and weight of 1st and 2nd phase and trigger stop) and an anatomically adjustable grip available in three sizes and for left and right-handed shooters. The model pictured here is fitted with a stabilising balance weight, designed to further improve stability of the pistol during firing and to minimize recoil.
The barrel is manufactured by Lothar Walther with 12-twist right-hand rifling and 450 mm pitch. Air power is supplied from an under-barrel cylinder, available in four different capacities: long (300 shots), intermediate (230 shots), medium (180 shots) and short (80 shots). It uses atmospheric air compressed to {{convert|200|bar|lk=on}}. A pressure gauge on the end of the cylinder allows for constant monitoring of the pressure.
The '''Benelli Kite''' features micrometric rear sight adjustment with four settings:
1 click = 1 mm windage (left/right adjustment) at 10 metres. 1 click = 2 mm elevation (up/down adjustment) at 10 metres.
The sight aperture is adjustable by lever and screw.
==Performance== The following tables show the results achieved by competitive shooters using the '''Benelli Kite''' in major competitions:
===Gold medals=== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Benelli Francesco Bruno.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Francesco Bruno]] --> {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Competition ! Location ! Date ! Competitor |- | Italian Championship Master | {{flagathlete|Bologna|ITA}} | September 2003 | Alberto Cardinali |- | Italian Championship Student | {{flagathlete|Bologna|ITA}} | September 2003 | Elena Ruan |- | European Championship | {{flagathlete|Gothenburg|SWE}} | November 2003 | Mikhail Nestruev |- | Finnish Championship | {{flag|Finland}} | 2004 | Teemu Lahti |- | InterShoot | {{flagathlete|Netherlands|NED}} | February 2004 | Joao Costa |- | European Championship | {{flagathlete|Győr|HUN}} | March 2004 | Mikhail Nestruev |- | ISSF World Cup | {{flagathlete|Munich|GER}} | August 2005 | Mikhail Nestruev |- | Mediterranean Games | {{flagathlete|Almería|ESP}} | 2005 | Francesco Bruno |- | Italian Championship | {{flagathlete|Milan|ITA}} | September 2005 | Francesco Bruno |- | Finnish Championship | {{flag|Finland}} | March 2006 | Kai Jahnsson |- | European Championship | {{flagathlete|Moscow|RUS}} | February 2006 | Tanyu Kiryakov |- | Italian Championship | {{flagathlete|Milan|ITA}} | September 2006 | Francesco Bruno |- | Italian Championship | {{flagathlete|Bologna|ITA}} | September 2008 | Francesco Bruno |- | Italian Championship Juniores | {{flagathlete|Naples|ITA}} | September 2008 | Andrea Scafa |}
===Silver medals=== {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Competition ! Location ! Date ! Competitor |- | European Championship | {{flagathlete|Győr|HUN}} | March 2004 | Tanyu Kiryakov |- | ISSF World Cup | {{flagathlete|Milan|ITA}} | June 2004 | Tanyu Kiryakov |- | ISSF World Cup | {{flagathlete|Fort Benning|USA}} | May 2005 | Mikhail Nestruev |- | Internationaler Wettkampf | {{flagathlete|Munich|GER}} | January 2006 | Tanyu Kiryakov |- | ISSF World Cup | {{flagathlete|Munich|GER}} | May 2006 | Joao Costa |- | ISSF World Cup | {{flagathlete|Milan|ITA}} | June 2006 | Tanyu Kiryakov |}
===Bronze medals=== {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Competition ! Location ! Date ! Competitor |- | ISSF World Cup | {{flagathlete|Granada|ESP}} | October 2006 | Tanyu Kiryakov |- | European Championship | {{flagathlete|Winterthur|CHE}} | February 2008 | Tanyu Kiryakov |}
==See also== * Benelli Kite Young - smaller version of the '''Kite''', for junior competitors. * Benelli Armi SpA * 10 metre Air Pistol * ISSF shooting events
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Benelli Armi SpA}}
Category:Air guns of Italy Category:Air pistols