Untitled - KiteLife

VOL . 1 NO. 3 SPRING, 198926 THE TEXAS GULF COAST CHALLENGEThe Precision Flyer's Event . . . and Texasbraggin' rights, to boot!272829BELMONT PARKCash up for grabs in the Intermediate Division .GREAT LAKES NATIONALSWhat you need to know to get In onthis hot Midwestern event .EAST COAST STUNT KITE COMPETITIONPre-event information on the biggest of them all .3 LETTERS6 STUNTER'S NEWSCompetitions, contests, and cryptic notesfrom all over!15161820243044HAWAII CHALLENGECompetition results hot from the fields!SHORT LINESMore tips and quips from the Wizard .THE SEDGWICK TAPESLee Sedgwick, one of the innovative leadersin the sport, shares his secrets of flying .This issue : KITESKIING .FIGHTER KITESOK, folks . . . you asked for it! First up,Rick O'Shea from Jacksonville, FL!THE BOOK OF ALThe last of 'The No Secrets Handbook'for Dual Line Stunt Kite Stunt Kites .SKQ'S PRODUCT REVIEWSThe largest review section of stunt kitesever published . 14 pages of new ones!ADVERTISERS' INDEX45 EVENT CALENDAR47 KITE STORE DIRECTORYON THE COVER : Gary Counts, Dan Buxton, and EricWolff forming the Mega-Team . Toledo, OH . Foregroundkite by Lee Sedgwick/Sue Taft .Photo by Cris BatdorffCopyright © 1988 by CRIS H. BATDORFF. Allrights reserved .Reproduction in any form, in whole or inpart, is strictly prohibited without prior writtenpermission of the publisher.Stunt Kite Quarterly is the only magazine inAmerica devoted solely to the sport ofstunt kite flying, Editorial offices arelocated at 356 River Street, Manistee, MI49660, telephone : (616) 723-6338 . StuntKite Quarterly's mailing address is : P.O . Box468, Manistee, MI 49660 .Editor and Publisher : Cris H . BatdorffAssociate Editor : Al Hargus IIIComputer/Ancillary Services : Harlan LinkeGraphic Design : Dale KIrchenbergPhotographic Consultancy Services : RonMuszynsklEditorial Advisory Board :Al Hargus IIIFran GramkowsklEric WolffJohn PerusseJudy NeugerRoger ChewningSubscriptions to Stunt Kite Quarterly:$12 .00 for one year (U .S.A. and possessions);$16 .00 for one year (all othercountries) . Foreign drafts must be in U .S.dollars payable through a U .S . bank or thepost office . Single copies of current orback issues are available for $3 .50 eachfrom listed distributors or Stunt Kite Quarterly'seditorial offices .Change of Address:Attach or copy mailing label in a letter,giving new address. If mailing label iswrong, please correct it .Advertising:Rates and information sheets are availableupon request .Non-solicited Contributions:Editorial contributions, including, but notlimited to articles and photographs arealways encouraged . Notification is requiredif contribution is submitted to anyother publication . Return of materials mustbe requested along with a self-addressedenvelope with adequate return postage .Stunt Kite Quarterly reserves first publicationrights in published materials unlessotherwise specified . Guidelines for submissionsare available upon request . Accuracyof contents rests with the individualcontributor, Stunt Kite Quarterly being heldharmless in the event of inaccurate copy,The views presented in Stunt Kite Quarterlyare not necessarily those of the editor,staff, or editorial advisory board .Closing dates:Advertising : eight weeks prior to publicationdate.Editorial : six weeks prior to publicationdate .

passDear SKQ,I recently returned from a tripfrom U .S. As usual my shoppingsconsisted of a lot of kite stuff - includingSKQ Vol . 1 #1 . My English isnot good enough to express myenthusiasm for the magazine .P .S. Please, an article aboutstunt kite lines :- properties, theory and practice- which line, when- handlingP.P.S. Could you have a novicedepartment explaining ("trivial")things like :-velcro?- 360?Simo SalanneFinlandThanks for the note, Simo . We'lldeal with the stunt kite line articlein subsequent issues, to be sure! A360, is a maneuver in which theflyer, by running, causes the kite todo a complete circle around him .It's kind of like an all-the-way--around .Obviously, groundthis is a very low-wind maneuver.Velcro is a trademark of Velcro-USA, Inc. It is basically composedof two pieces of material, the firstof which incorporates very smallhook-like barbs which protrudefrom it . The second piece ofmaterial is fronted with an extremelycompact "knitting" ofloops . When the two pieces arepressed together, the hooks catchthe loops and the joining processis able to hold. Hope that the informationhelps!!Dear SKQ,Thanks for your effort!I'm eager for my first issue to arrive.I hope your articles will tell howtwo people flying "squirrels" canget them to lock together inmidair, fly like a train, and thenpeel apart! I witnessed this spectaculardemonstration of kite skill(man and wife flying, I understand)at Corey Jenson's "Hair ofthe Dog" event on the beachnear Monterey on Oct . 8, 1988 .Also - how about the man flyingon 4 (count 'em) lines .Is it true that the hotel for thenext AKA conference is going tohave a bridle suite?Carl E . WellsPierson, IAThanks, Carl! We've alreadystarted researching the mid-airlocking (also known as re-fueling). . . more on that in issue #4 . Quadlineflying will be covered in anupcoming Sedgwick Tape. Watchfor It!PS. I suppose that the gal thatcleans up the bridle suite is goingto be the maid of honor? Or isthat just some kind of line?Dear SKQ,I'm not the number one dualline flyer in the country (not evennumber two) . In fact, I don't evencompete at all, but . . . I do fly dualline stunt kites .Personally, I'm not too competitiveby nature . More than that, I flyfor my own enjoyment and don'tseem to need the recognition offellow flyers, nor the approval of acrowd, to get the most out of myflying. Not to say that one way orthe other is good or bad .After several years of flying andwatching many competitions, arepeatedly asked question comesto mind . "Why aren't more ladiesflying or competing in dual line?"The answer is that a lot of us AREflying, and more ladies are enteringcompetition each year.Competition requires hours ofpractice, if you want to do well .Simply, "because of the ways ofthe world," many ladies don'thave the amount of "free time" tospend on their hobby that isneeded . The well organized"super-woman" can fit practice inher schedule the same as her exerciseclass, running the kids totheir activities, and all the otherthings required to take care of thefamily and home . With some helpfrom her family, a lady can evenget in more practice time .However, this is not about organizingtime well, or the duties of theaverage woman .As I walk around at a competitionor event, I hear ladies commentsabout wanting to dry dualline flying, "but Why don'tthey?? Power flying and stackslooks like it requires a lot ofstrength 4C weight do both . That'swhat they see at a lot of events .NOT ENTIRELY TRUE!My collection of dual line kitesincludes : several different sizes ofFlexifoils, Hawaiian Team Kite,Hawaiian Spin-Off Free Style,Hawaiian Ultra-Light Spin-Off, ActionKite Action Combo,Rainbows, and one of myfavorites, a stack of ten Trlbys .Many times, it's not entirely thewind condition that determineswhat I fly. It might just be themood I'm in, or what might be themost fun to fly . A purely feminineemotion? Not necessarily . A lot ofdual line flyers feel this way .Some thoughts about competitionand choice of kites . If youdecide to practice for competition,it is best to choose one kiteand always practice with that kite .A wise choice of kite is a light tomedium wind kite . Why? For someunknown reason most competitiondays end up offering light winds .Many competition organizers willtell you of many times when, theday before competition, the windwas "up ." Then the day of theevent, light to nearly j wind . History(of delayed competitions)and rules (the "at least XX MPHwind" rule) illustrates that therehave been wind problems forevent competitions .That's not to say you shouldn'tbe prepared for heavy winds . Younever know! Like many othercompetitive sports, you should bewell prepared physically, mentallyand well equipped for changeableconditions .Don't forget how manycategories are available atevents . Precision figures not yourstyle? Okay, put your Walkman onwith your favorite music, anddevelop a ballet routine .

sport. So be sure to enter noviceevents, in your area, as soon asyou make the decision to compete. I have worked the field (asPit Boss, Judge or ground crew),and believe me there is a certainamount of "stage fright/jitters"that strikes even experiencedflyers . Novice events can help youcope with that as well as showyou how most events are run .So, practice figures (most competitioncompulsory figures andrules are readily available fromother dual line flyers), and/or carefullyselect a good piece of musicfor ballet, relax and enjoy flying incompetition .From where I stand, it appearsthat the competitors that placewell in competitions, are the onesthat go out on the field to "have agood time" and that shows! ITSHOULD BE FUN!Dual line stunt flying can bequite a workout, but whether youwant to compete or not, ladies . . . .Get out there and try it!! The keyto dual line, for us, is not trying tofollow the men's style . We need totry new techniques and developour own style . As in any kite flying,you can do it, with "the right kitefor the conditions at the time" ;and the type of kite you enjoyflying . There are so manyvariations of stunt kites availablefor all types of wind conditionsand all types of flyers . Big, small,one or a stack, it doesn't matter . Ifind it exciting, relaxing, rewardingand nearly therapeutic . Find thekite that fits you and what youwant to do, and FLY!!!Pam HolbrookWorthington, OH .

KTA HOLDS FIRSTSOLO TRADE SHOWThe Kona Kai Club in San Diego was the gatheringspot for better than 200 members and interestedparties last January as the Kite Trade AssociationInternational held its first ever solo kite tradeshow . The event, which has in the past been associatedwith the American Kitefliers' Associationnational convention, split from the organization atthe Washington, D .C . convention, opting to pursuethe hobby as a merchandising endeavor .Michael McFadden, who was re-elected presidentof the KTA at the San Diego event, was veryhappy with the show. "We've come so far in thepast couple of years . . . I'm proud to be a part of it,"McFadden declared . There were nearly 60 boothssold for the event and the array of new products ofinterest to the stunt flying community was fantastic .(Many of the new kites seen at the KTA conventionare reviewed in detail elsewhere in this magazine .)New products included : the Revolution 1, fromRevolution Kites ; a quad-line kite that is capable of,among other things, backwards flight and launching,along with propeller-type turns . Sparless Stuntersintroduced, naturally, the Sparless Stunter, a duallineparafoil-type kite and a second stunter builtalong more traditional lines . Banshee Kites introducedthree models which make use of the flyingwing concept. New from Peter Powell was theSkyraker, a winged design complete with standoffspars . Action Kites is now offering Sky Darts in thesame attractive sail designs that have made theSuper Darts so popular over the years . New fromJerry Sinotte (Avenger Kites) is the Peregrine, awedge-keeled dual-line wing with a dual-skinnedkeel section . Top of the Line is now writing orders fortheir new -3/4-size Hawaiians and Spinoffs. Trlby has introducedthrough their sister company, GreatAmerican Kite Company, a newly designeddiamond stunter aimed at the beginners marketcalled the Screamer. Original Kitebag was takingorders for new kite bags that are large enough tohold a fair selection of stunters without having tocollapse the leading edge spars .The consensus opinion of the attendees was thatthis first venture of the KTA was a very good one . Anumber of the exhibitors commented that they hadwritten some very nice orders . In addition to thenumerous workshops held, there was ample time forfree flying and a chance to both view and try someof the new products offered .Next year's show is already in the works, beingslated for January 17-20 at the Sheraton Bal Harbour,in Miami, Fl . For further information abouteither the Kite Trade Association or their annualevent contact Carl Parlette, at 415-764-4908, orwrite the KTA at 50 First Street, Suite 310, San Francisco,CA 94105 .

INTERNATIONAL STUNT KITEASSOCIATION FORMED3 FEBRUARY 1989 - Organizersof five of the country's largest, establishedstunt kite competitionshave announced the formation ofthe International Stunt Kite Association. The ISKA has organizedan international circuit of competitionswhich will be run under aset of uniform standards . Accordingto ISKA president, Fran Gramkowski(East Coast National StuntKite Competitions), the group willalso establish a point ranking systemto determine an InternationalStunt Kite Champion .Open class flyers will be givenpoints on a 10 to 100 basis forfinishes in four of the six sanctionedevents . A first place finish will netthe competitor 100 points, 90 forsecond, and so on . Intermediateclass flyers will similarly be rankedon a 5 to 50 point basis . Becauseof the distances and cash outlaysinvolved to attend all events, finalpoint tallies will be based on thebest four finishes . Competitors whofail to finish in the top 10 will beawarded certificates of participationfor their efforts . By the end ofthe flying year, all competitorsshould be able to figure their positionin the international flying circuitas a ranking system will be inplace .Additionally, the association willwork to establish the growth of thesport through sanctioned regionalcompetitions . "We are happy toannounce that our first Europeanregional event will be held atWashington, Tyne & Wear,England, on July 15th and 16th,"Gramkowski noted .Making up the balance of theBoard of Directors of the ISKA are :Terry Crumpler (Texas Gulf CoastChallenge), secretary/treasurer ;Robert Loera (Hawaii Challenge),vice-president ; CherieMcFadden-(National West CoastStunt Kite Championships), vicepresident; and Cris Batdorff (GreatLakes National Stunt Kite Championships), -Vice-president . All fiveevents will be ISKA pointsanctionedthis year . The sixthranked event will be the AKANationals .Interested parties may find outmore about the ISKA by writing to :The International Stunt Kite Association,P.O . Box 515, Clute, TX77531 .Mike Bore ofthe Wind Wizzardsteam. TheWizzards, sponsoredby GrandBay Kite Companyof TraverseCity, Ml, wereamong a numberof flyers askedto fly duringthe NorthAmerican VASA(cross-countryskiing) racesheld in TraverseCity this lastFebruary. Hotstuff in the wintertime!SKQ Photo byCris Batdorff

BELMONT PARKCHAMPIONSHIPSTO OFFER CASHIN INTERMEDIATEFor the first tine in stunt kite competition, cashawards are being offered to Intermediate-divisioncompetitors . $3000 is up for grabs at the first annualBelmont Park National Stunt Kite Championships,being held at San Diego April 22-23 . Prize money willbe split among the top four finishers in IntermediatePrecision and Ballet in both Individual and Teamcategories . Additionally, $1700 will be distributedamong all Intermediate-division flyers that registerand compete .Cash awards have been offered at competitiveevents prior to Belmont, but were previously reservedfor Open-Division flyers . "It's a way to get theIntermediate flyers more involved," said event organizerRon Romero of ROME Enterprises . "A lot ofthe flyers don't think that they're good enough tofly at large events . . . the entry fee scares thenaway . . . we're trying to encourage then to get outand give it a try, at least they'll get somethingback ."For further information about the Belmont Parkevent contact : ROME Enterprises, 129 Samoa Court,San Ramon, CA 94583, or telephone : 415-866-8173 .(For more about the Belmont Nationals, see the"pre-story" on page 27 .)We have lost one of the clowns . John Nessimpassed away at the age of 25 in Fort Lauderdaleon February 23, 1989 . John was fairly new to stuntkite flying but had a natural talent and was a brilliantflyer. The last tine we flew together in publicwas in front of 150,000 people when we openedthe Miami Air Show .We will never forget him practicing on the narrowPompano Beach . Night after night, retirees andtourists, sometimes a hundred of then, used toline the beaches and seawall just to watch Johngive one of his dazzling and breathtaking performances. He gave people a lot of pleasure,was extremely sociable and made friendswherever he went .We will all miss him .Bill BakerPeter Powell KitesJOHN NESSIMPETER POWELLTEAM FLYER

Top of the Line in Japan? Nope . . .read on .FIRST ANNUALJAPANESE STUNT KITEWORLD COMPETITIONIt's The Samurai!The First Annual Japanese StuntKite World Competition was heldat Kugenuma Beach (nearKamakura and Yokohama),Japan, on January 22 . The eventwas obviously pretty well attendedas correspondent MasatoHorikiri's photos attest .Above (left), Top of the Line inJapan? Well, no not actually . . . it'sreally The Samurai, who say thattheir dream is to attend the 3rdAnnual West Coast Nationals .They fly to the music of Kitaro, aJapanese musician and composerwho has a good audiencein the States, as well .SKQ photos by Masato Horikiri .Part of the group of participants at the Japanese Stunt KiteWorld's first competition .

SPYRO-JETANNOUNCESHIGH-FLYINGPROMOTIONL'Atelier du Vent, Inc .,manufacturers of Spyro-Jet Kiteshas announced a new promotionthat will send the winning pilot anda friend to the AKA Nationals inHawaii and then on to Japan ."We're even going to bring themhome, again!" said Richard Garreauof L'Atelier du Vent . Here'show the whole thing will work :points will be given for anyoneplacing either first, second, orthird, in stated competitions whileflying a product made by L'Atelierdu Vent, Inc . Three points will beawarded for a first, two for asecond, and one for a third placefinish . Competitions counting forthe point total will be : The HawaiiChallenge, Texas Gulf Coast Challenge,Great Lakes National, EastCoast Championships, Black Ships,and the West Coast Nationals .The competition is open to allclasses of flyers with points beinggiven equally for finishes in all classes. High point winner walks awaywith the plane tickets .Teams are in the running as well,but must be using L'Atelier duVent, Inc .'s products to qualify forpoints . Teams earning points mustdeclare which member of theteam is to receive them as thecontest must be won by an individual.All that is needed to qualify isthat the flyer be an AKA member,and, in the event the winningcompetitor is under the age ofeighteen, a parent or designatedguardian must accompany theprize winner on the trip ."We're really excited about thepromotion," company spokesmanGarreau commented, "it allowsflyers from all divisions a chance tocompete on an equal basis ." Thewinner of the contest will be announcedat the West CoastNationals in September .Gentlemen, start your Spiro-Jets!Contact your local kite shop formore information or write : L'Atelierdu Vent Inc., at 3585 Delisle,Montreal (Quebec), Canada, H4C1N2 .

We understand that Wind Pilot, ofDana Point, CA, manufacturers ofthose little micro-circuited flashinglights for night-flying will be supplementingtheir line with two newcolors . . . amber and green . Lookfor delivery sometime this springwith prices in the $20 per unitarea .Our intelligence officer in SanDiego informs us that the Top ofthe Line team has been workingout lately with some of the littleflashing units mentioned above . . .sounds like a spectacular of somesort in the offing . . .Look for a new line oflightweights to be introduced fromPeter Powell Kites . Included in thenew offering is, reportedly, bantam-weightversions of the 4-footand 6-foot diamonds . Also set forintroduction are light Wings, MarkII's, and Skyrakers .Rumors persist that Top of theLine Kites will produce a quad-linesystem . Look for a possible introductionlater (much) this year orthe beginning of the next .GRAND BAY KITEANNOUNCESCOMPETITIONGrand Bay Kite Company, in associationwith the National CherryFestival, will run a two-day stuntcompetition and kite gamesevent in Traverse City, MI, thissummer over the weekend of July8-9 . The first time event will includecompetition in Individual Precisionand Ballet in Junior, Novice, Experienced,and Open divisions .Team Precision and Ballet will beheld in Experienced and Opendivisions .Terry Crumpler of Windwalker Kitesis reportedly negotiating a deal tohave sails made for his Wasp kite .Look for these items to be availablethrough your local kite shopby the end of this spring .In the games department, lookfor "Cherry-zilla," a Cherry BlindFly, and Cherry Combat events .Also included in the slate of activitiesis the Cherry Bullet GrandAscension .For more information about theevent, contact: John Antaya atGrand Bay Kite Co ., 121 E . FrontSt ., Traverse City, MI 49684(Telephone 616-929-0607) : or theNational Cherry Festival, P.O . Box141, Traverse City, MI 49684 .

NEW YORK AIR CIRCUSWINS $25,000The New York Air Circus, comprisedof Robbi and ChristineSugarman, Bill and Sue Edison,and Stu Cohen walked away froma New York City contest $25,000Cobra Kites, U .S . distributor forFlexifoil International has announcedthe discontinuance ofthe Hyper-16 from their line . "Thereare no more in stock," accordingto Jeanne Merry of Cobra, "andwe have no plans to produceothers ." Look for the introductionthis summer of the Super 12 .5which will replace the Hyper asFlexifoil's power unit .Nearly ready for delivery arenew fluorescent colors which willbe available on most models .Look for these in your local kiteshops in the near future .richer last fall . The contest, run byNYC radio station 92 .3 K-Rock wasdesigned to promote the station'scall letters in the most unusual andimaginative way, making it highlyvisible . Photographs, videos, oraudio tapes were used by contestantsto submit projects to the station.The NYAC took up the challenge. In conjunction with FrankAbbate of Fotovision Inc ., a videowith music and narration waspresented .Several 252 Suttons, assortedwindsocks, and the GIANT pink pigwindsock were adorned with theradio station's call letters. Threeultra-light Spin-offs were alsodecorated with the call lettersand flown by Robbi, Stuart, andBill .The grand prize boosted theNYAC's cash winnings for 1988 to arecord $28,000 .Bill Baker, of Peter Powell Kites,Inc., has announced that anyonewinning a National competitionwith a Peter Powell product willreceive a $1000.00 check for theirefforts . The offer extends throughthe 1989 flying season . Further informationmay be obtained bycontacting : Bill Baker, Peter PowellKites Inc., at 1040 N .E . 43 Court,Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334; or bycalling : 305-565-5588 ."Skip' Parks of Banshee Kites hasinformed SKQ that the Chikara willbe produced in a larger range ofwing sizes . Soon to be availablewill be 2', 4', 6', and 8' models .Check the New Product reviewsection for a full write-up on thisimpressive new stunter .Dealerships advertising Top-ofthe-Lineproducts at more than20% off manufacturer's suggestedretail will be dropped from furtherservice by TOL. Valid sales receiptsindication a sale reflecting morethan a 20% discount will result inthe same discontinuation .

THE VALENTINE'S DAYFeb . 10, 11,&12By Spectrum Flight: Lee Sedgwick,Sue Taft, Gary Counts,and Sue GindlespergerKITE AND SLED SKI RACESMother Nature came throughfor the fourth annual weekend onthe ice of Presque Isle bay in Erie,Pa. We had not had a fullweekend of good ice and snowconditions since January .This has been a very mild winteralong the shores of Lake Erie .Saturday's event found sunny skiesand good conditions. More thanenough ice on the 2 square milesof bay . Ice fishermen had arrivedvery early to take all the best parkingand we made a last minutedecision to change flying areas .Lee's new van was appropriately"Bannerized" to let everyoneknow where we were .Low winds made for a hard timegetting any power runs, in fact,long lines were in order to get anypower at all . The poor winds didn'tdeter fliers from coming from asfar as Toronto, New York, and Pittsburghto try their hand (andkites) in the springlike weather .As the hosts of the event, wehelped get people started makingsure that they had the proper e-quipment, such as a good helmet(for safety's sake) .Saturday night is reserved for theparty at Mugg's pub (a localeatery) where we decorate thetraditional souvenir mugs from theevent . Along with talk about kites,returning of lost gear (People alwaysseem to forget somethingout on the bay when they packup!) and the pleasant surprise ofviewing a very professional donevideo by John Compton ofToronto, Canada .Sunday started as even a moreperfect day than Saturday . . . 30degrees and a promise of morewind. After Gary Counts stockedup on his mandatory breakfastsweet rolls and coffee (Gary maybe called the "Man in Motion" butyou should see him without his coffee!)"The Encampment" at Presque Isle bay . SKQ photo - by Gary CountsThe bay was more crowdedthan we had ever seen it . Icefishermen, skaters, ice boaters,and just thousands of people comingout to enjoy the spring-likeweather. The "Ice fliers" were outin force as well . Fred "the sled"Bell, Mike "Where's Dad?" Keatingand "Flyin" Bryan Keating of Ohiowere on the ice . As well as soon tobe "Daddy" Dan Buxton accompaniedby Brian Fyfe of Cleveland,Ohio; John and Maryann Harveyof Buffalo ; Tom Dogery and BrianVanDerSlice of N .Y. rounded outmost of the serious fliers .Spectrum Flight decided thatthey should provide some kind ofan award for this event . After lastyear's ice and sail contraptionswe decided on the "Best IceDevice" award which was to be acustom banner that would rotatefrom winner to winner, year toyear.What? no ice devices, that'sO .K. we changed the contest andawarded the banner for the "Enduranceon the Ice" taken handsdown by "Flyin' Bryan" Keatingwho went out on the ice poweredby a single ten foot Flexifoil forhours at a time . The only time wewould see Bryan was once in agreat while when he would cruiseinto shore, holler "Where's Dad?"then cruise out for another couplehours . Now that's hard-core flying,folks!The Erie Valentine's Day fly ismore companionship and funthen a serious effort to put on a"Big" event . Fun, friends, kites andice, all make for a great weekend .Conspicuous in his was the"Wizard" AI Hargus, who is the onlyout-of-town flier to have attendedall first three flies . Al's recent moveto Manistee, Mi ., from Chicago,had him all tied up and unable toattend this year's event . "It wasn'tthe same without you, Al," but Leeadds, "But it was a heck of a lotquieter!!"Plans are in the works for nextyear's ice fly . "This is the biggestevent in the country in February,"says Sue Taft . (Besides, it's theONLY event in February!) GaryCounts says, "I wish that the baywould stay frozen until June, andthen get to be 80 degrees in oneday?")All of us at Spectrum Flight wantto thank all of you that came outand braved the cold, and hopeto see you all (and everyone else)next February .

$15,000 in Cash and Prizes Offered at an Air Affair$15,000 in cash and prizes will beoffered at the Second Annual1989 National Kiteflying Festival tobe held on the grounds of thePGA Sheraton Resort in PalmBeach Gardens, Florida, this June23-25 . Sponsored by Peter PowellKites and a host of other majorsponsors, "An Air Affair," as theevent is being billed, is held annuallyfor the benefit of R .O .C .K .Camp (Reach Out to Kids withCancer) . Donations of kites and/oraccessories for a benefit auctionare being sought for the event,and are tax deductible .Top of the Line Wins Reno EventThe revamped Top of the Lineteam of Ron Reich, Pam Kirk, DonTabor, and Eric Streed capturedfirst place and a check for $1000in the first annual Reno InternationalKite Fly Competition held onMarch 18/19. Second place and acheck for $500 in the one-eventcompetition went to ROME Team1 and included members RonRomero, Keith Landes, Phil Wiltz,and Phil Bazell . The third spot and$250 went to ROME Team 2 comprisedof Gayla Ward, Robin Ward,and Robert Zat . The winning Top ofthe Line Team flew the new 3/4size Spinoffs, ROME Team 1 -Spinoffs, and ROME Team 2 - FireDarts.According to Bob Hamilton (TheKite Pit - Reno), one of the event'sorganizers, the fly was extremelywell attended, in spite of somerather cantankerous weather. "Wehad winds of 20 mph with gusts upto 40," Bob told SKQ . "It was a realkite shredder!" In addition thecrowds, which were estimated at5000+ each day of the two-dayfestival, had to brave temperaturesthat rarely got above45° .Garnering the peoples' choicefor the most beautiful kite, and acheck for $100 was Mike Sterlingof Cal Skate and Sport (Portland,OR) who cruised around for mostof the event with a nine-stack . ofhis Cyborg kites . Mike commendedthe organizers . .. "Reno was agreat fly . . . the organizers did anexcellent job in spite of some fairlyadverse conditions." Next year'sfly date will be announced laterthis year.As part of "An Air Affair," acompetition will be held in teamand individual ballet classifications. The events will be "openclassed" (any flyer may compete) .There will be an individual innovativeevent, as well, along with stuntkite games . There will also becompetitive events for single-lineflyers . Prizes will include trips tokiting events around the countryand the world .Also scheduled as part of thethree-day celebration is a poolparty and barbeque, and livebands for entertainment . Accordingto Sue Baker, of Peter PowellKites, "The pool party-barbequewill be the biggest bash that thissport has ever seen!"Master of ceremonies for An AirAffair will be Corey Jensen . Furtherinformation about An Air Affaircan be had by contacting ReneeBusch at 305-565-4322 . A specialkiteflier's package is also availablefrom the PGA Sheraton Resort ;telephone 407-627-2000 .Ron Reich's custom sunset Spinoffis being produced by Top-ofthe-Linein very limited quantities .The kite was pictured in SKQ,volume 1-number one, Wildwoodcoverage . Consult your local TOLdealer.Word has reached SKQ of anupcoming world-record Flexifoilattempt to be made sometimesthis summer . . . probably in Europe .Anticipations are that Ray Merry ofCobra Kites/Flexifoil will be theman behind the effort .

1st - Locklan Gilford 141 .02nd - Kail Jefferies 125 .53rd - Gary Kanaya 122 .54th - Bill Praw 119 .05th - Don McNamee 115 .06th - Cheri Ledesma 110 .57th - Kelly Smith 109 .08th - Ute Ermgassen 108 .59th - Kaliko Ahyat 101 .010th - Ron Thorpe 99 .0INDIVIDUAL PRECISION - EXPERIENCED1st - Burt Hooker 155 .02nd - Priscilla Nagao 150 .03rd - True Tourtillot 147 .04th - Calvin Akamichi 145 .55th - Linda Indie 145.06th - Nadine Koba 143 .07th - Kelly Smith 141 .08th - Jim Demeter 140 .09th - Pam Markie (tie) 136 .5- George Chun 136 .510th - Irv Singer 133 .0INDIVIDUAL PRECISION - OPEN CLASS1st - Malcom Moore 85 .72nd - Ron Reich 85 .23rd - Alan Nagao 83 .94th - Don Tabor 83 .35th - Eric Streed 82 .56th - Eddie Sabo 81 .37th - Tom Kirk 81 .28th - Scott Augenbaugh 79 .99th - Jason Loo 78 .810th - Ken Peterson 77 .6INDIVIDUAL BALLET - EXPERIENCED1st - True Tourtillot 71 .52nd - Jim Demeter 69 .03rd - Priscilla Nagao 67 .04th - Calvin Akamichi 61 .05th - Pablo Ledesma 60 .06th - Pam Markie 59 .57th - Nancy Lizza 59 .08th - Linda Indie 57 .59th - Kelly Smi 55 .510th - Mitch Onoyama (tie) 55 .0- Mimi Demeter 55 .0- George Chun 55 .0INDIVIDUAL INNOVATIVE1st - Jim Hadzicki 274 .52nd - Malcom Moore 259 .03rd - Ron Reich 253 .54th - Mitch Onyama 249 .05th - Scott Augenbaugh 213 .06th - Jason Loo 202 .0TEAM INNOVATIVE1st - High Performance 82 .472nd - Elite Team 69 .23rd - Revolution 66 .47The sixth annual HawaiiChallenge took place onMarch 10, 11, and 12 inKapiolani Park, in Honolulu,Hawaii, which is also the sitefor this year's AKA Nationals .Complete event coverage, una vailable at press time, will followin SKQ's spring-summeredition .TEAM PRECISION - EXPERIENCED CLASS1st - Hawaiian Delight 123 .52nd - Typhoon Warriors 118 .03rd - Kite Fantasy Team Hawaii 109 .54th - Four plus one 108 .5TEAM PRECISION - OPEN CLASS1st - Top of the Line 126 .02nd - High Performance 118 .03rd - Elite Team 117 .0TEAM BALLET - EXPERIENCED CLASS1st - Hawaiian Delight 70 .02nd - Kite Fantasy Team Hawaii 66 .03rd - Typhoon Warriors 63 .54th - P.B.A . 55.55th - Ozone Air Force 52.5TEAM BALLET - OPEN CLASS1st - Top of the Line 80 .52nd - Elite Team 71 .03rd - High Performance 70 .04th - Kite Fantasy of Hawaii 68 .0INDIVIDUAL BALLET - OPEN CLASS1st - Ron Reich 82 .02nd - Malcom Moore 79 .53rd - Don Tabor 75 .54th - Jason Loo 74 .05th - Alan Nagao 72 .56th - Eric Streed 71 .07th - Scott Augenbaugh 70 .08th - Tom Kirk 66 .59th - Richard Peck 63 .510th - Brian Hirose 62 .5

Team flying tips, and gadgetsare the subject of this SHORT LINES .No gabbing, get right down tobusiness .(From Rod Yarger, Yakima, Wash.)If you appreciate the frictionlesscontrol given by the "Spectra"fiber lines, but suffer burn-throughfrom the low melting point of theline, consider this . When a teammember's luff-tape covered leadingedge brushes your lines, it'seither going to melt through orweaken your line due to the heatgenerated from the friction . Trythe best of both worlds, and splice15'-20' lengths of kevlar to the endof your lines. The Kevlar won'tmelt, and it may save you from anembarrassing line mend during ateam routine when everyone'seyes are on you . Just don't overdothe length of the Kevlar sectionsand splice them too close tothe point where the multiple linestwist and wrap around each otherduring spins and multiple kitewraps .(Al's Note : Some 1989 competitionevents across the countrymay restrict team and individualline lengths . e .g . WCSKC - 100ft .)Another suggestion to changethe speed of team kites to shortenthe top spreader of each of thetrailing kites by 1/4" (2nd kite 1/4"shorter, 3rd kite 1/2" shorter and soforth . Shorter for slower kites .)(From Ron Fikes, Palo Alto, Ca .)I like flying Flexifoils, but the fieldwhere I fly has stickery weeds, sothe need for a solo launchingdevice that will hold the kite up,inflated and ready to take to theair. My system makes "Duck Soup"of this . (See photo below .) The reassembledclothespins on the"ducks" hold the 'foil spar tips offthe ground . Keeps the kite fromgoing up or back while facingright into the wind (inflated) andwhen ready, a sharp pull and thekite is off and flying . The spikesthrough the "ducks" can bemade longer, if needed, for deepweeds . The only problem I havehad this device is to keep my fellowfliers from stealing the "ducks ."(After I sent a reply complementingRon on his "ducks" heblasted back two more "ShortLines")I found out right away thatsomething needed to be doneabout the "nocks" on my Spin-off- when flying in the dirt they weretaking a beating . Filled with sticks,grass, stones, and dirt from all thelandings . So I made "Nock Protectors"or "Training Wheels ."Buy a piece of 1/16" wall, 1/2 " I .D .vinyl tubing and cut two piecesthree inches long . One inch fromthe end, punch a hole throughboth sides . Using a heavy threador twine, lace the line through thevinyl twice and tie with a coupleof square knots .To install the "Protectors" onyour kite, rig as usual and afterputting on the shock cords overthe nocks, slip the vinyl tubingOVER the shock cord and thenock with the 2" portion towardsthe fabric . The cord that goes(From Dan Wheeler of PrecisionKite Co . of Rhode Island)Make sure that your team kitesmatch in speed . Lines should bestaggered about three feet withthe lead kite being the longest .Minor bridle adjustments can helpcorrect small differences in kitespeed, but be careful not tochange the turning ability of thekites in the process . Try flying on200ft . team lines, as this gives theteam more space to maneuver in .

through the vinyl is seated in thenock on top of the shock cordand keeps the protector from slidingup the spar upon landing . Thefriction fit over the shock cordkeeps the vinyl on, yet it is easyenough to remove when de-rig--ging .Ron also included a pic of anover the kite chair bag that hemade. (See photo .) Big joke withAl's chair is that if you want to findsomeplace to sit, "Use Al's chair,he NEVER sits in it!"Thanks to Ron and the rest whosent in their "Short Lines" . Keepthose cards and letters coming in .(Eventually I won't have to writeanything for this column, at all!)In case the rumor hasn't spreadto your part of the country, yourfriendly "Short Lines" associateeditor has moved to SKQheadquarters full time . Gonna tryto make a Northwoodsman out ofthis Chicago stunt flier? NorthernMichigan winter has definitely puta different feeling into me (andmy fingers and toes!!) .Send your "ShortLines" to me"Short Lines," Stunt Kite Quarterly,P.O . Box 468, Manistee, MI 49660 .(Hey, gang, I would really like tospice up the column with photos,so if you have a B&W photo alongwith your short lines, we'd love it . Anegative would be very helpful inreproducing your photo well . Wepromise to return it, too .)To close out this edition of "ShortLines," I'd like to use a line fromRon Fikes : Remember "Stunt KiteFliers do it with both hands" .

Lee Sedgwick is from Erie, Pa ., andflies both individually and as amember of Team High Fly. He isgenerally credited with being thefirst to perfect the style termed"solo flying" (i.e ., flying through aground stake) . Lee is a highly innovativeflier whose credits include: ECSKC II, 1st in IndividualBallet - , 1987 AKA National, 2nd IndividualBallet; and most recently,ECSKC III, 1st Innovative FreeFlight; 2nd in Individual Ballet; and1st (along with team member SueTaft) Open Team Ballet .KITESKIING!WINTERTIME . . . time to put awaythose stunters and dream of springand March breezes . . . right? Formost, the season of ice and snowis that period when we pursueother hobbies, take vacations towarmer climes, or just plainvegetate until the sun gets a littlehigher in the sky . These chilly days,which are unknown to those whohave chosen to live in more temperatezones, are sometimes avery harsh reality in the northernpart of the country. But packaway the kites? NEVER!An open field of snow can bean open invitation to the more inventiveflier. Admittedly, it's notthe sort of thing that everyone isgoing to enjoy but few that havetried it will dispute that it is a totallyinvigorating experience . . . and it'sreally fairly easy to begin . Juststrapping on a pair of skis, wearingthe appropriate clothing, and agood stunt kite is all one needs tobegin exploring this new realm offlight possibilities . Let's start withsome of the basics with a look atwhat you need to keep warm .Dressing for a day of kite skiingcan be looked at as one would ifone were preparing for any wintersport . . . prepare for the cold .Don't forget : the fact that you willbe moving will contribute substantiallyto the amount of wind chillthat you will experience . Layers ofinner clothing under a nylonjacket (and pants if you havethem) is a good beginning pointfor the first expedition . You cangauge upwards or downwardsfrom there . Don't forget thegloves! In cold conditions, bodyextremities will be the first thingsaffected and you'll need to keepthose fingers warm after usingthem to tie knots and work clipsbarehanded .Protective headgear is alsorecommended . Even a small kitecan exert enough force to pullyou along once the ground frictionof the flier is reduced . . . this isparticularly in evidence whenflying on ice, which presents almosta zero resistance factor .Padding is also a good idea . Likeanyone learning something for thefirst time, it's wise to prepare tomeet anticipated problems in advance. . . plan on falling! That softbed of snow can conceal allmanner of things beneath as wellas being darned hard on top . . .(which can be darned hard onthe backside, as well!) .Next, you'll need a pair of skis .The best place to find these, unlessyou want to spend a realbundle of cash, is at the localsecondhand store . Even ski shopssometimes will make deals onused equipment . About $30should put you on a good pair . Ohyes, you'll need a set of boots togo along with them . Local skishops should be able to adviseyou here but they are availablesecond hand, as well . Be sure toset the bindings for light release . . .it beats the heck out of a twistedankle or broken leg!OK . So you're all dressed up andfeeling like and Egyptian mummy. . . no what do you do? Simple,launch the kite in the usual way,keeping in mind that you'll need alot of room down field and . . . alittle traveling music, maestro! . . .you're on your way!Remember, the basic rules ofpowerflying apply here . . . kites intothe power zone will move you faster,off wind and you'll slow down .A little practice and you should beable to maneuver, after a fashion,sideways, like a sailboat on a tackingrun . Remember to keep yourknees bent, this may seem an oddposition a first but as your legsbegin to absorb some of the terrainbumps and differences in kitepull, you'll see why the position isneeded . Take a portable musicsource with you and kite skiing willtake on a whole different aspect .Most interesting is the fact thatyou're not tethered in one spotany longer . . . the interaction betweenkite and flier is noticeablyincreased .If this is your first experience withkite skiing, you'll probably find outsomething else . . . that you reallyweren't aware of how much pullthose kites generated! . For thisreason, it's wise to begin with a lotless kite than you think you mightneed . More can always be addedif needed but, keeping safety inmind, it's a lot easier to find thatyou can handle more speed thatbeing stuck with too much andbeing out of control . And speakingof control . . .Don't expect to become a masteron the first trip out . Keep itsimple and slow : there's plenty oftime for blazing speed later . . .learn to stand up first, walksecond, and run third before worrying about the soaring witheagles .As with any other form ofpowerflying, check your equipmentoften . Breaking a line orhaving an equipment malfunctionis nothing to fool with when bothflier and kites are in motion . 200Lb . is a must : 400 lb . for heavierpilots . While Spectra line is OK,there are some inherent problemsinvolved with its use . Probably thebiggest single drawback is that itcan't readily be seen against thesnow . Kevlar seems to be the lineof choice for this particular brandof powerflying . 150 feet is recommendedas a good starting pointof length . As your lines will be subjectto some adverse conditions,not the least of which is other folksrunning over them, make sure toinspect them often for fraying orother damage . Don't forget, aswith any other form of powerflying,your margins of safety arewhatever you choose to makethem!

Wind conditions are often veryhard to gauge in winter, as well . Agood number of the Beaufortmeasurements are somewhat useless. Trees, for instance, do notmove in the usual Beaufort conditionindicated . . . why? They'refrozen! Be safe, lay your hands ona good wind meter and respectthe readings. Winter winds, particularlyover large smooth expansessuch as frozen lakes can bedeceptive at best . Unless you're aseasoned veteran: don't guess,be sure .device, plus some interestingadditions . The warm weatherpractice of staking out kitesbefore launch doesn't apply onice so what is needed to make itwork is a couple of corkscrews .Screw them into the ice and theyshould hold relatively well . Padding,because of the hard surfacesinvolved, becomes anecessity here . Protectiveheadgear should also be with fullface protection .It is also time to re-evaluate thekites being used . Friction is almostprovided the surface being used isrelatively clear of snow and otherobstructions .Control is a major factor on ice .It is very difficult to achieve quicklyand involves a lot of practice .Balance should be stressed alongwith being aware of the limitationsof both the equipment and yourown body . This is an activity that isbest learned slowly. A primarydirective here is not to attempt iceskiing alone .There are a couple of constantthreats, here . The first is that ofopen water, the second is that ofthe thickness of the ice . Treat iceskiing as any other serious endeavor. . . learn about ice conditionsfrom someone who isknowledgeable and follow theirrecommendations . Experts on theice will even go so far as to carryice-picks with them so, in theevent of a breakthrough, they willhave some way to claw a wayout . Safety and education beforethe attempt is a MUST!Lee Sedgwick leaning into a good run . Note the protective gear.SKQ photo by Brian Vanderslice .Right! So you've gotten your initialbumps and bruises out of theway and are ready to move ontobigger things . Maybe there's noopen fields nearby, but there is thisbig frozen lake . . . . Can't be muchdifference, right? In the words ofthe old song : "It ain't necessarilyso . . ." Let it be said, rather quickly,that this is not an activity fornovices . Ice is very hard stuff. It'salso extremely slippery . It's alsonever frozen all the way down . Tobe blunt and truthful withoutbeing scary, a miscalculation orhasty action here can cost youyour life .The equipment needed for iceflying is basically the same : warmclothing, gloves, protectiveheadgear, skis or some other slidingnil and a miscalculation can sendthe flier careening out of control .Choose your kites very carefullybeing careful to use less than youthink that you'll need . As inpowerflying, longer lines heremake for much faster rides becausethe kites will spend a lotmore time in the power zone .Shorter ones will pass throughmore quickly. Another re-evaluationcan be made on the skisused. Ice will chew up the edgesof skis very quickly so don't useyour best set of downhills here .Best choice? Check outsecondhand stores for used e-quipment paying special attentionto those older models withreplaceable edges . . . they're oftenthe best . Skates will also workA word here on equipmentfatigue : cold weather flying willstress equipment beyond tolerances,in many cases . This is not tosay that it should not be attempted,simply offered as adviceas to what will eventually takeplace over periods of time . Plasticfittings will not, in most cases,tolerate temperatures below 400 F.They will become brittle and breakeasily upon crashing . Vinyl tubingwill exhibit much the same behavior.Many of the "high performance"spars used in competitivekites will also be more subject tofatigue . Plastic and polyethylenesails will become brittle . Be sure toinspect your equipment beforeand after each such use .Kite skiing can be a great formof chasing away those winterblahs . If nothing else, it helps keepthe interest up until the niceweather presents itself in thespring . Properly learned, it canbecome the most enjoyable timeof the year . . . after all, the idea ofgliding along across a frozen fieldor lake has fascinated men sinceold man winter has first worked hismagic on the landscape . Have agood time, give it a try, but by allmeans, learn about it first . . . FLYSAFE!

Although the wind and the kiteare, in the end, the best teachers,here are the basic principles . Thefighter (at least, the Indian fighter)is normally flat, but due to aflexible, sometimes tapered,bowstick, the kite will bow andform a dihedral with sufficientwind pressure . When flying, thekite will be unstable when the kiteline is slack . It will rock sideways orspin . then, if tension is put on theline, the dihedral will form, stabilizingthe kite and causing it tomove in the direction its nose ispointed . Alternately pulling line inand letting it out is how the kite ismaneuvered . Timing, touch, andconcentration are the keys togood flying .Robert Loera, winner of thesingle line maneuverable kitecompetition at this year's AKAconvention in Chicago, says thatthis type of kiteflying is a dying artform that is apparently making acomeback . I hope he is correct inhis prediction, and there arereasons to think he is . The fighterkite competition at AKA 1988 inChicago was still somewhatrelegated to the fringes, and theannouncement of the winners atthe awards banquet were suspiciouslyplaced at the end, almostas an afterthought . However,there was much interest and participationin the event, trophieseven, which was coordinated byBruce Jarvie, of 5/20 Kite Group ofDetroit .Joe Vaughn, world renownedpromoter and expert flyer offighter kites, and owner (he wouldsay "carrier of the torch") of theGrandmaster Kite Company ofMifflinville, Pennsylvania, wasthere, tirelessly educating us in theart of fighter kiting, always withstyle and gentlemanship. TheGrandmaster is a hybrid fighter,mylar, fiberglass, and bamboo, abeautiful kite both in appearanceand in its smooth flight, the"Porsche of kites ."Also at the convention was KarlSzilagi, fighter kite maker and flyer,an artisan who can turn scraps oftissue paper, bits of string, slivers ofbamboo fishing poles, and piecesof fiberglass into a precision flyingmachine, the "Szilagi Fighter ." Karllearned and honed his craft inCentral Park, New York .Joel Scholz delighted everyonewith his new "Butterfighter," an

exquisite ripstop and fiberglass creationthat looks like a stained glassbutterfly against the sun, an astonishinglygood flyer, unlike otherripstop fighter's I've flown . Manypotential flyers of fighter kites areprobably scared off by the apparentfragility of paper or mylarkites . An expectation discussed bymany was that Joel's new Butterfighter(and rts frilly mate, the"Butterfly") will overcome thesefears and help stimulate arenewed interest in single-linemaneuverable kiting .The three winners of the event,Robert Loera (Kite Fantasy), RickRoberts (Hawaii), and Richard (ZZ)VanMechelen (Action Kites), allflew Vic's Fighters, a kite no longeravailable. Designed andproduced by Vic Heredia, this foldablemylar fighter is an oldfavorite, the fighter I learned on .Matthew Kim and and friendswere flying their Korean fighters,on cutting lines from nimblyhandled wooden reels . Koreanfighters, unlike Indian fighters,remain rigid, and can be flown instronger winds. Too much windcauses a constant dihedral toform in the Indian, making it stableand unmaneuverable . The differencein flight characteristics betweenjust these two variations ofsingle-line maneuverable kiteshints at many more possibilities .Mel Govig of Kite LinesMagazine was out of there flyingfighters, and it was quite obviousthat he had done it before . Hediscussed the use of various sailmaterials for these and other kites .Weight, porosity, skin friction, andstrength are variables to considerin the design of any kite, includingfighters .Richard VanMechelen feels thatthe fighter kite bridges the gapbetween single line kiting andstunt kiting . Perhaps he and JohnPerusse, owner of Action Kites andmaster stunt kite designer, mayeventually release the hybridfighter we understand they havebeen secretly developing (on andoff . . .) for years .Somehow, in the rush towardstechnological perfection enjoyedin dual-line maneuverable kiting,the single-line maneuverable kitehas been somewhat ignored . Thisis finally changing, and we canexpect quite a growth in the newfuture both in the innovative flyingand in the innovative productionof fighter kites . I've got a fewscraps of graphite, mylar, andripstop I've been toying with, andcan only imagine the rippingspeed and precision of single-lineflying machines technologicallypossible but not yet invented .

STUNT KITES!Edited by David GombergCopyright, 1988 . 88 pagesIn the midst of the technological evolution of thestunt kite business, replete with graphite spars, wingloading,and all of the other attendant fol-de-rol, itis refreshing that someone has not forgotten hefrom which all things follow . . . the beginning stuntkite flyer .It is to that individual that David Gomberg, in hisnew book STUNT KITES! directs the majority of hiswell-aimed copy. From his initial discussions on thesport's sometimes hazy beginnings, Gomberg walkshis readers through a discussion of wind characteristicsthat ranges from common sense to "Gee, Ididn't know that ."In subsequent chapters, the beginning flyer willcover the vagaries of self launching various kitetypes, basic maneuvers, landings, off-wind control,and kite tuning . Still ahead is pertinent informationon equipment, troubleshooting, and advancedmaneuvers. Basic powerflying, quad-line, solo techniques,dual flight, and team flying are alsocovered . There's even a chapter on contests andcompetitions .Gomberg's conversational style is rather likebeing taught stunt flying by your kindly oldgrandfather . . . helpful but not pushy. The flyer is"talked through" nearly every point . It is made to bealmost specifically non-technical . Still, everythingthat is needed is conveyed .STUNT KITES! is, plainly put, easy to learn from . Inaddition to the various discussions of pertinent information,the text is interspersed with commentsfrom some of stunt kite flying's more stellarluminaries . This is not to be construed as "windowdressing ." The comments are timely and practical .There are few stunt kite flyers who will not learnsomething from this book . This is not to say thatSTUNT KITES! is the be-all-and-end-all work aboutstunt kite flying . As any flyer that has been aroundfor a reasonable length of time will tell you, there'senough stuff involved with this sport to fill severalbooks . Gomberg himself, in his introductory statementadmits that "Before the ink is dry on this page,new kite designs, materials and applications willbecome available and then commonplace as our'infant' sport hurries forward into maturity." If thisvolume, however, is to stand as the formal maideneffort, the maturity of the sport will have beenmade better for it .

By Al Hargus IIIIntroduction by Cris BatdorffSome years ago, shortly off er I hadtaken my first tentative steps intothe area of dual-line stunt flying, Iwas approached by a significantlymore advanced flier who thrustinto my hand a small booklet,saying, "I think that the Dragonwould like you to have this ." It wasentitled, The Easy "No Secrets"Handbook for Dual Line StuntKites, by AI Hargus III and dis-good tips and simple explanations of thingsthat were, at the time . . and areoccasionally still, quite befuddling .It was good information backthen, and with more and morestunters in the air today, it's betterinformation now .tributed by Stanton Hobby Shop ofChicago . No, I didn't study it for sixmonths and go on to win a nationaltitle . . . what I did pick upwere a whole bunch ofTROUBLESHOOTING- The kite nosedives immediatelyafter launching .- Over control- Bridle may be adjusted too low- set bridle lighter (up ortowards the nose)- Kite flies left when you pull theright handle or vice-versa .- the flying lines are reversed .- If the kite doesn't fly straight withthe handles held together :- Check the length of the flyinglines, they may be unequal orhave stretched out inrepeated usage .- The kite turns tighter in one directionthan it does in the other.- One bridle line clip is fartherfrom the nose than the otherclip . Hover the kite anddetermine which line is tighter,then move the clip on that

side toward the nose (up) untilthe problem is corrected .- The kite will not gain altitude .- The bridle clips are adjustedtoo low - set the bridle lighter(up) .- The kite does not respond or issluggish to the controls .- The bridle is adjusted too high -set the bridle heavier (down)- The flying lines may have toomany twists .- The existing wind may be toolight- The kite tends to soar directlyoverhead, then nosedives .- The bridle is adjusted too high -set the bridle heavier (down)TROUBLESHOOTING FOR TRAINS OFKITES .(Basic bridle settings suggested bymanufacturers for trains of kitesare higher than for a single kite -read manufacturer's instructionscarefully.)- The last kites in a train flair out(lag behind the rest of the kites)when doing loops .The bridle setting is too high -set heavier (down)- Several of the kites in the traintend to fly out of line, fly faster orlag behind the rest .- Check that all the train linesare exactly the same length .- The flying lines or bridles breakwhen flying a train .- Bridle setting is too heavy - setlighter (up)- Bridle lines are too light -rebridle with stronger line .- You may be flying too manykites for the existing wind conditions.(NOTE: Common senseis advised BEFORE you launcha large stack of kites in heavywinds . Can you handle them?)HIGH WIND MODIFICATIONS- In high winds (30 mph plus) thetop reinforcement stretches allowingthe spreader to slidedown, causing a change inflight control .- Push the vinyls back to theiroriginal position and glue aseparate piece of vinyl tubingonto the leading edge rod .(outer front side strut) just under the sliding vinyl . Use any'vinyl about 5/16"x1/4" long . Slitthe vinyl so that it will snaponto the leading edge rod .Glue the vinyl (e .g . Super Glueor epoxy) so that the tophorizontal spreader will notslide rearward under pressure .- A simple way to reinforce thespars for heavy winds is to findanother (smaller) spar that will fitinside the stock spar or substitutea solid fiberglass rod for the hollowone . (This will also increasethe weight of the kite. Rememberto remove it when the windsare lighter.)- At a certain high wind speed(Which will vary with each makeof kite) all winged type stuntkites leading edge rods (outerfront side struts) will begin tobend or flap in the wind . This isan indication that you are flyingin a wind that is stronger thancan be handled by the kitedesign. No modifications canresolve this problem . You shouldstop flying before the kite isseriously damaged .LIGHT WIND MODIFICATIONS- Generally the lighter the kite thelighter the winds it will fly in . Youcan replace the spars on thekite with lighter spars, to increaselight wind performance .- Fly the kite on the lightest flyingline you can . (Drag of the flyingline is VERY critical on light windkite performance .)- Ultimately the ability of the flier isthe critical factor in light windstunt kite flying . An experiencedflier can (generally) fly in lighterwinds than can a beginner .- In light winds the kite must keepmoving in order to fly . Backingup will help, but you will soonrun out of safe flying field .Never "lose" field unless ab--solutely necessary .- Keep the kite moving horizontally(from side to side) this iscalled rowing . When youmake the outside turns, alwaysturn up . Never lose altitude un--less absolutely necessary .- To gain field space in lightwinds, pull back on the lines ortake several steps back toforce the kite to climb . Whenyou then dive the kite, movequickly forward, gaining field .If there is some wind you willbe able to move down field .(Note : Be very aware of whatand who is behind you whenyou back up in light winds .)This installment rounds out theseries of "The easy No-secretsHandbook for dual line stunt kites"by Al Hargus. If you are interestedin acquiring the complete series,drop a line to SKQ .

THIRD ANNUAL TEXAS GULF COASTCHALLENGE. Galveston, Texas, will be thisyear's site for the Texas Gulf CoastChallenge. This popular event,now the second stop on therecently formed InternationalStunt Kite Association's tour, will beheld April 8-9 in the R .A . ApffelPark . According to event organizer,Terry Crumpler, "HistoricGalveston Island, with its 32 milesof beaches, should be the perfectbackdrop for the Challenge .We're looking for temperaturesnear 70 0 and ideal wind conditions.We've nearly tripled thenumber of events and skill levelsfor this year's event . . . everyoneshould have a shot at something!"Competition will be held inJunior, Novice, Experienced, andAdvanced classes . IndividualPrecision will be run in each class .The other events : Individual Ballet,Team Precision, and Team Ballet,will be held for Experienced andAdvanced classes only . Innovativeevents will be run as open or unclassified,i .e ., open to any skilllevel .Organizer Crumpler also tells usthat one of the "Great Texas Barb eques of all time" will be held onSaturday night following the competitions ."The barbeque, alone,should make anyone's tripworthwhile," Crumpler adds .Figures to be flown in the Precisioncategories are among themore difficult that we have seen ."The Texas Challenge should bejust that . . . a challenge," Crumplernoted . "Whoever wins at thiscompetition automatically getsTexas Braggin' Rights ." As well theyshould . . . check out some of them!The Texas Gulf Coast Challengeis quickly turning into one of thecountry's premier events, havinggrown steadily for the past twoyears . The prospects for spectatingshould be excellent as well .Registration fees range from$10 .00 plus $10 .00 per event forjuniors, through $35 .00 plus $10 .00per event for Advanced Classflyers . Interested parties are askedto contact : Texas Challenge,Surfside Flyers, P.O. Box 3105 B,Freeport, TX 77541 .

BELMONT NATIONAL STUNT KITE COMPETITIONROME Enterprises of San Ramon,California, has announced that itwill host its first annual event in SanDiego on April 22-23 . The sitechosen is Belmont Park, onMariner's Island, site of the 1985AKA Nationals and Convention .The event is open to Intermediateand Open Division flyers in bothTeam and Individual Classes. BothPrecision and Ballet events will beflown .A purse of $3000 is at stake inthe Intermediate Division only . TheBelmont Park event will mark thefirst time that prize monies havebeen offered at this level of competition. Approximately $1700 inadditional cash awards will be distributedamong the IntermediateClass flyers that register and competebut fail to finish in the topfour.Additionally featured will be amanufacturers' product displaywith the most creative endeavortaking home an award of $250 .An entry fee of $50 is beingcharged for the event and thefield will be limited to 100 flyers .Further information about theBelmont Park Championships maybe obtained by contacting : ROMEEnterprises, 129 Samoa Ct ., SanRamon, CA 94583, or by calling :415-866-8173 .

GREAT LAKES STUNT KITE CHAMPIONSHIPSGrand Haven State Park on theeastern shore of Lake Michiganwill be the gathering place forsome of the midwest and thenation's best stunt kite fliers andteams on the weekend of May 13-14. Hosted jointly by MackinawKite Company, Grand Bay KiteCompany, and Sandcastle . Thiswill be the third year for the majorstunt kite competition to be heldin Western Michigan (formerlyknown as the Western MichiganStunt Kite competitions) and thefirst year for the event to besanctioned by the newly formedInternational Stunt Kite Associationand the American Kite Fliers Association.There will be competitions in fivecategories : Individual and Teamprecision, Individual and Team Ballet,and Individual Innovative .(Team Innovative will be ademonstration event this year) .There will be four classes of competition: Junior (under 12 yearsold), Novice, Intermediate andOpen .Competitions will begin onSaturday, May 13 at 9 A.M ., andcontinue through Sunday, May 14 .Monday is a proposed run-overdate for possible delays in theevent .A selection of compulsorymaneuvers are shown . As is theusual format, there will be nocompulsories in the ballet portionof . the event . One surprisemaneuver will be given to individualfliers from a list given outat the Headquarters on Friday,May 12 . (Juniors will have nosurprise maneuver .) Teams will beasked to fly three of the five figures(The three will be posted the dayof the event) . Free style in Precisionevents will be between 1-2minutes . And Ballet performanceswill be between 3-5 minutes .The event will take place at the48-acre Grand Haven State Park .On-site camping will be on a firstcome, first served basis . , For campsite registration and information,contact : Grand Haven State Park,(616) 842-6020 .The Headquarters motel is the BijDe Zee, 1030 Harbor, GrandHaven, MI 49417, (616) 846-7431,and is directly across from thecompetition fields .Other additional accommodationscan be found withinwalking distance from the fields .The Khardomah Lodge, 1365 LakeAve ., Grand Haven, MI 49417,(616) 842-2990, is 200 yards fromthe shore of Lake Michigan .For registration forms, accommodationsinformation, and furtherinformation on the GreatLakes Stunt Kite Championships,contact local hosts; The MackinawKite Company, 301 N . Harbor,Grand Haven, MI 49417, (616)846-7501 .For competitions information,also contact : Sandcastle, (616)723-4344, or Grand Bay Kite Company,(616) 929-0607 .A sampling of the figures to beflown at the Great Lakes Nationalsis shown below .

The 4th annual East Coast StuntKite Championships will be heldMay 27, 28, and 29, in Wildwood,N .J . Competitions will be held inthree classes : Novice, Intermediate,and Open . Open classfliers may compete in IndividualPrecision, Individual Ballet, TeamPrecision, Team Ballet, IndividualInnovative, and Team Innovative(which will be experimentallyjudged this year) . The Intermediateclass competitor maycompete in Individual Precisionand Individual Ballet, Team Precisionand Team Ballet . Novice classcompetitors are restricted to IndividualPrecision .The ECSKC rules committee isputting finishing touches on the1989 rules book . Changes in 1989will be the addition of a tablecontents and a rearranging of informationto make the bookeasier to use . A few of the ruleschanges include a new modifiedwind rule and a revision of theground touch penalty system .One of the main aims is to aid inthe standardization of rules on anational scale .Maneuvers have not beenselected at press time, but boththe maneuvers and the new rulesbook will be available in earlyApril .Event coordinator RogerChewning : "We are also workingon 'Style Sheets' that are designedto assist not only officials andjudges at Wildwood, but prospectiveevent hosts across the countryin running more efficient orderly,and uniform events ."Registrations are anticipated tobe high at the East Coast eventthis year. Fran Gramkowski headevent coordinator anticipates, "agroup of about ten from Englandand some stunt kite fliers fromGermany as well ."With the large anticipated turnout, contestants should expect tocompete on Monday as well asSaturday and Sunday. (Use ofMonday was avoided in '86, '87,and '88 .) "This year's growth couldforce us to re-evaluate the eventfor 1990," states Roger Chewning .Event, shirts are claimed to bethe most outrageous yet, and thebanquet has been improved tomatch the Saturday night barbeque.Local motels are filling up fastand this year we anticipate takingover a third motel . Reserve early,as it is Memorial Day weekend . Ifyou want to be part of the actionoff the field, contact QuarterdeckMotels at (609) 884-2696 or thePremiere Motor Inn at (609) 723-0166 .Event registration forms areavailable from Fran Gramkowski,30 West End Ave ., Haddonfield, NJ08033 . For further information, contact: Fran (evenings) (609) 429-6260 or daytime, Roger Chewning(215) 736-8253 .

We heard about the Acceleratornear the end of Januaryfrom its manufacturer, RobertCrowell . In the couple of weeksthat followed, we learned thatwhat was being sent to us forreview was another regionallypopular kite. Although there hasbeen limited distribution on theEastern seaborn, the kite is relativelyunknown throughout the restof the country .The Accelerator is a basic, nononsense,small configurationstunter with some variations thatmake it quite interesting to fly. Accordingto the product literature, itis "a patented design incorporatingcamber or an airfoil-typeshape within the sail which enhanceslifting capabilities ." Thecamber is achieved by fitting theMODEL: ACCELERATORFABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz . ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 150 GramsCOLORS AVAILABLE : variedWIND RANGE: 5-25 mph (single); 5-30 mph (double)CONFIGURATION: cambered delta-type,58 inch wingspanMFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL: $40 .00 (single)MANUFACTURER: CROWELL'S SAIL LOFTspine into a pre-formed nosepiecewith the shaft on the windwardside of the kite . The side spars arealso set into the same nosepiececreating the dihedral angle .The element of camber is notthe only unusual feature of thekite, however. The Accelerator'sstructural geometry may also beadjusted . The lower spreader sparsare set into a single piece of vinylwhich is drilled to accommodatethe spine. Once in place, thespreader may then be tensionedby sliding the vinyl up or down . Thisallows the flyer to control, within areasonable set of limits, theamount of billow in the sail . . . morefor low wind, less for higher wind . Itwas in this low wind setting thatwe first tested our stack of twokites .At 3 .5 mph the kites flew . . . notwith great ease but in considerationthat we were well below thesuggested wind range, verynicely . Take-offs were a bit on therough side but the lower spreaderadjustment proved to be a worthydevice and as the wind picked upinto the low range, the kites tookoff . Handling was tight, as is thecase with most smaller sail kites . Itwas fun to play around with thespreaders and see what sort ofperformances we could achieveat different wind speeds . Wefound that the kite flew at nearlyall configurations, although, typically,as the sail became flatter,we had to pay an increasingamount of attention to what wewere doing as precise control becamemore critical .Particularly impressive was thekite's ability to almost completelyresist our attempts to "pull" it outof the sky. The harder we jerked

the lines in an attempt to fold it upin mid-air, the more the kite wouldrespond by dumping the excessair around the flexing wingtips . Althoughthis made the kite slowconsiderably in tight turns, wefound it to be quite predictable .We managed to "ground" the kiteonly once in the day's flying .As the wind speeds neared 15mph the Accelerators began toget into high gear. Although theywere not as blindingly fast as otherkites of their size they did trackvery well . At this point, the kites'ability to dump excess air becomesa relief from the speed anda boon to the control factor. Italso lessens the strain on thehands and arms which is a niceplus in the comfort department .We found that there are no realbridle adjustment points on thekites, at least in the traditionalsense . The bridles are a three linesystem (on each side) with an absenceof the usual sliding clip arrangement. Some of the knotsmay be retied to lengthen or shortenvarious sections of the wholeapparatus but this is obviouslygoing to be a rather time-consumingaffair. Happily, most of these .adjustments can be dealt with bythe movement of the lowerspreader bar which, at least to us,seemed to serve roughly the samepurpose .There are a number of good, aswell as interesting points about thisnew kite : the camber-enablingnosepiece, the adjustable lowerspreader, and certainly neitherleast nor last, a very nice price($40 .00 suggested retail) . Therewere some items that we didwonder about, however. One ofthese items was a cut occurring inthe lower edge of the leadingspare which is, presumably, tofacilitate the changing of theleading edge spar. This might bemore easily and aerodynamicallyaccomplished by inserting thenew spar through the opening inthe upper portion of the leadingedge . Secondly, we noticed somerandomness in the stitching thatprobably would be absent werethe Accelerator produced on alarge scale .In the final analysis, the Acceleratorproved to be a verygood flier, with more than its shareof technological plusses . We'regoing to try more of these littleguys in larger stacks. This is somethingthat in consideration ofprice, is neither beyond the realm,nor the pocketbook, of a lot ofconsumers . We think that you'llsee a lot more of these in the airthis summer .C .B .MODEL: FREESTYLER (Style Libre)FABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz. ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 310 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE : VariedWIND RANGE : 3-25 mph .CONFIGURATION : Delta-type 92 inch wingspanLIFT SURFACE : 9.1 Sq. Ft .MFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : 130 .00MANUFACTURER: L'ATELIER DU VENT INC .The Freestyler comes to us fromthe same company that gave usthe Spyro-Jet and, more recentlythe Ultra-Leger (Ultralite) models .The Freestyler is aimed at theteam market . It is noticeably largerthan either of the other twomodels . Kite assembly is by thestandard method . As you assemblethe kite you will noticeseveral features worth mentioning .The leading edge vinyl connectorsare glued to the wing spar, so theycannot move around during flight(This method also necessitatesgetting replacements from themanufacturer should you break awing spar. Also making for somedifficulty in removing a brokenspar.) The Freestyler has no arrownocks on the wing tips, but uses avinyl tubing and shock cord arrangement.This appears to bemuch more durable for hard offwind landings . The fitting has asmaller diameter tube within thatfits into the main wing spar. TheFreestyler also has a very heavyduty,hard plastic nose piece . TheFreestyler also has a pair of wingbattens that are inserted from thetop of the wing ; the battens are3/16" wooden dowell .The first day of tests were at thetop end of the suggested windrange at 15-25 mph . The flightswere made with 150' - 135#Spectra (manufacturer suggests125') . The kite exhibited somewobble at launch, and had atendency to oversteer in turns (thisis a familiar characteristic withmost high aspect ratio stunters) .The Freestyler does present a

pleasing appearance in the sky .Our test model had four colors ofnylon and an interesting angularchevron pattern . The wingtippanels are located at the spotwhere the wing battens areplaced in the sail .The kite tracked very well andonly small control movement wasnecessary to keep to a straightflight path .As with the original Spyro-Jet,the Freestyler does spins and turnsvery quickly, wing tip type turnsare made with very little controlmovement . One has to exercise abit of restraint in the turns as thiskite can be pulled into a nosedivewith excessive hand movements .Once the kite starts to fall, it isextremely difficult to recover. Thiskite requires a good deal offinesse in control, as opposed tothe gorilla moves that some otherkites allow . A considerableamount of pull is developed inhigh wind conditions, which is tobe expected for a kite of this size .(9 .1 sq . ft .)Light wind tests came quite unexpectedlyon a gusty day whenwinds varied from 5-25 mph . Byadjusting the bridles to anaverage wind setting theFreestyler did well in the air at bothextremes . Although the highaspectradio did multiply the oversteerproblem to a greater degreein the lighter winds, there isn'tmuch difference in speed of thekite in either high or low winds .The Freestyler does not come e-quipped with standoffs, addingthese may give the kite better lowwind handling . The wing battensseem to damp out some of thetrailing edge vibrations, but theFreestyler makes the characteristicwinged roar so familiar to kites ofthis configuration . The only highwind deficiency we noticed wasthat after about an hour of flyingthe overly small bridle clips werestarting to distort . This problem canbe easily solved by the substitutionof heavier clips .One item of note in this age ofstunt kites coming out on themarket at the rate of one or twonew ones a week . . . instructions .Some companies give a small,sometimes inaccurate single sheetwith their kites . The makers of theFreestyler includes an 18 pg . book,which includes such items as preflight,choice of a flying field, flyingtips and launch and landingtechniques . They have even includeda section on competitiveflying and pictures of individualand team flight figures . For mostadvanced stunt fliers, the kites instructionsare usually the first itemlost . For the beginner these instructionscan make the differencebetween success or failure in theirattempts to master this or anystunt kite .All told, the Freestyler makes fora good all around stunter. As aproposal for a team kite, it's definitelyworth a long, second look!A .H .MODEL: SPARLESS STUNTERFABRIC WEIGHT: .75 oz . ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 100 GramsCOLORS AVAILABLE: 6 standard patternsWIND RANGE: 8-25 mphCONFIGURATION : Parafoil type, ram airLIFT SURFACE : 10 .5 sq. ft .MFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : $78 .00MANUFACTURER: SPARLESS STUNTERSThe Sparless Stunter is at first encountera parafoil converted todual line .The kite comes in an 8"x14"bag so you can stash this stuntermost anywhere and assemblytime is the time required to pull itout of the bag and untangle thebridles . (There are twelve of themand some care must be takenwhen putting the kite away toavoid the tangles you can encounterat assembly time .) Portabilityis a very positive factor withthis kite as is the case with all"soft" ram air kites, be they dual orsingle line .I knew the flying characteristicsof parafoils and didn't expectmuch to be different with this dualline variation . The excitementbegan when I attempted my firstlaunch .Being a "solo" tester on the firstday of the tests, I encountered agreat deal of difficulty in selflaunching the Sparless Stunter. Thestandard, staked out line routinedoesn't work as the kite will immediatelylaunch no matter howyou leave it setting . The other occurrenceis that the kite turns into

a tangled mass of nylon .I next tried to use the somewhatshaky method suggested by somemanufacturers of letting out a littleline at a time . This method eventuallyworked but at great risk tofingers (at 20 mph winds a 10 sq .ft . parafoil exerts quite a bit ofpull) .(Note: this is a very hazardousmethod of launch and is notrecommended for this or anyother stunt kite .)Another attempt was made,using a fence and plastering thekite against it, walking back tohandles and hoping that the kitecame off untangled . I used myvan in another attempt. (Both afence and a van are frowned onas fixtures in stunt kite fields .) Thekite came with no directions andthis may or may not have been anoversight on the part of themanufacturer .First day of tests saw winds ofabout 15 mph . Once the kite waslaunched, it flew well . The SparlessStunter tracked well and exhibitedvery little over or under steer. Thekite is moderately fast for one ofthis size, and it turned in about itsown width . (Wing tip turns are anirrelevant term for a kite with nowings!) The response to controls isquick and with a steady breezethe kite flew well to the sides ofthe wind . One thing to rememberis that if you attempt to land orcrash anywhere (and most especiallyto the edges of the wind),you MUST have an assistant helpyour launch . This is a major drawbackto the otherwise good advantageof a high lift to weightratio that is present in the SparlessStunter.The next test day was gusty withwinds from 5-25 mph . There are nowind adjustments that can bemade to the bridle lines as thelines end in loops . The SparlessStunter did stay airborne in 5 to 8mph, but very little maneuveringwas possible . One disadvantageto the "sparless" soft kites is thatthey are easily affected by gustsand crosswinds . (Both of whichwere present on the day of thetests.) When hit with gusts orcrosswinds, the kite had a tendencyto collapse . If the kitedidn't tangle as it fell, there was achance to re-inflate and recover.More often then not, when thecells collapsed you ended up inthe "How do I relaunch?"syndrome .The Sparless Stunter is very portable,is quite striking in the air (ourtest model was fluorescent pink,green and black) and candevelop a considerable amountof pull for the "power" filers outthere . All you have to do is figureout how to launch it by yourself .A.H .MODEL: PEREGRINEFABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz . ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 415 Grams (standard spars) ;335 Grams (graphite spars)COLORS AVAILABLE : variedWIND RANGE: 4-25CONFIGURATION: delta-type with inflated wedge keel .96 inch wingspanMFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL: $120.00 to $190.00MANUFACTURER: ONE OF JERRY'S KITESJerry Sinotte has been makinggood kites for a long time . If youhave ever flown one of his big deltas,you are already aware of thecraftsmanship that goes into hisproducts . Jerry also produces theAvenger which has been on themarket since 1984 .The Peregrine, which was introducedat the KTA convention inJanuary, borrows an idea fromJerry's deltas . The secret to thislatest contender is the utilization ofthe unique double-skinned,wedge keel ; which inflates fromthe trailing edge . This gives the kitemore lift during low wind periodsas well as providing more drive inthe upper wind levels . The idea ofa three-dimensional keel is notparticularly new but, as far as weknow, this is the first time that it hasbeen used on a commerciallyproducedstunt kite .Another interesting feature ofthe Peregrine is the nose treatment. It is sewn together in such afashion as to create a lip aroundthe leading edge of the kite . It israther as if the wing surface hasbeen put on top of the spars insteadof the spars fitting into the

actual wing . It makes for a veryclean look and appears to createa small air dam under the leadingedge .The Peregrine is offered in fourdesigns ranging from the basicthrough full custom . The modelstested were both basic designswith the only difference being thatone kite was sparred with graphite(a $50 .00 option at retail) . Of thetwo, the graphite was our personalfavorite although both performedwell .Initial tests of the kite were conductedin light winds (2 .5 to 4 .3mph) and we were pleasantlysurprised to find that both modelshandled it with relative ease . . .even though the graphite did offera crisper response . The differencein overall kite weight, undoubtedly,had much to do withit, but the flying characteristicswere not as significantly varied asone might anticipate . We wereimpressed with the kites'maneuverability : turns were cleanand both kites tracked very well .There was no problem keepingthe kites on a straight line and stallingproblems were minimal in spiteof the fact that the sails are tightlystretched on the frames . Thewedge keel performed as advertised,lending considerable driveeven in these low ranges . Whenwe landed them, it was ourchoice rather than for lack ofsufficient wind .The very next day, we wereblessed with breezes around 12 .5mph and, again, found that thekites flew exceptionally . The onlynoticeable difference was thatthey were faster. We also got achance to experiment withanother feature of the Peregrine .Each kite comes equipped withtwo identical upper spreaderspars . One spar may be employedin the usual manner, cross-bracingto each leading edge or, if the fliershould choose to do so, they maybe connected from the leadingedge vinyls to the spine (justabove the lower spreader) in a"Y" pattern. (Some will remembera similar arrangement used a fewyears ago on the Action StarDart .) This configuration shouldexert more pressure against theleading edge to help forestallpremature bowing in heavy winds .We found the configurationsomewhat helpful in high wind(18+ mph) situations but also discoveredthat it produced significantoversteer in the lower ranges .MODEL: SKYFOIL C-26FABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz. ripstopKITE WEIGHT: 30 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE: One pattern with five colors standardWIND RANGE: 8-35CONFIGURATION : Parafoil type ram airLIFT SURFACE : 3 1/4 Sq . Ft .MFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL: $23.95MANUFACTURER: SKYNASAURSkynasaur has been makingstunt kites since 1978 . Previousmodels have proved to bedurable heavy wind stunt kites .The disadvantage to beginnershas been in the speed of the kites .Skynasaur has kept to their basicdurable, heavy wind format in theC-26 Skyfoil . The Skyfoil, however,slows everything down so that thebeginner can spend time thinkingabout which hand does what .Even though speed is lacking inthe Skyfoil, it has a lot of surprisingand enjoyable advantages . Beinga small air inflated kite (26"x18") itpacks into a 16"x6" stuff sackalong with its supplied fly lines andhandles .At no point did we find the 'Y' settingof the spars a necessity toflight .A few weeks after the initialdays on the field with thePeregrine we were presented withfour solid days of 20-25 mph winds .It was during this period that wewere able to finally to fly thePeregrine to its full potential . Thekite is quite fast and the controlsrequire a good deal of attention. . . not to say that it is unstable . . .not by any means, but one mustbe attentive . There is even a niceresonant roar for those who lovesound while they fly. The kites'cornering abilities are excellentand there is just enough possibilityof oversteer to keep things interesting!Even with the single spar inthe upper spreader position, structuralintegrity was very good withminimal amounts of distortion inevidence. This one might be anexcellent choice as a potentialteam kite .Generally we found thePeregrine to be another one ofJerry's (Very Good) Kites . It performlike their namesake . . . thePeregrines . . . there is nothing tentativeabout them!C .B.

As with any sparless kites thatire rigged for dual line, launch isbest with in assistant who holdsthe kite for you down wind . Youcan also use the recommendedmethod in the instructions of allowingthe lines to spin off the roundline holder handles letting line outis you desire . The C-26 is not a fistkite nor does it develop much pullso this method is sufficient . As inexperienced flier I also found thatthis method can be quite a bit offun is well! (The manufacturerrecommends that you weirgloves when attempting thislaunch technique .)Tests occurred on a very gustyday with winds ringing from 5-25mph . The C-26 proved to be astunt kite that loved the winds itabout 10-25 mph . The hardest partof the tests was to keep the kitegrounded in heavy winds whenyou were through flying . At 5-10mph there was not sufficient windor lift surface to keep the kiteairborne. Skynasaur does give someinstruction on changes in thebridle for low wind flying and theuse of 50# kevlar lines may help,but why waste time .The real fun of flying the C-26comes in the recommendedwinds of 10-35 mph . This kite isabout is close is you can cometo being indestructible . There iretwo 13" pieces of flexible foamstiffener in the upper edge of theair cells . These foam "sausages"hold the cells upon ind keep thekite from folding up in cross windsind off wind flying .The C-26 is not a fist turningkite, but it will run in its own length .(Note : Skynasaur uses the width oftheir kites is their numbering systemC-26= 26", C-74= 74" wide, F-36= 36" wide .) The interesting featureof the foam stiffeners is thateven very erratic or exaggeratedcontrol movements may fold upthe kite but with sufficient altitudethe stiffeners open the cells indthe kite almost "self" recovers withjust a little line tension .Skynasaur's instructions suggestrelaunch by yourself from theground by just maneuvering thekite so that the stiffener faces you,taking a step back to launch . Iwas skeptical, but the Skyfoilwould sometimes perform thismaneuver on smooth ground byitself with no efforts from the pilot .Crash in a 20 mph winds . . . wait asecond ind up the Skyfoil wouldgo. As stated earlier, it was ittimes difficult to stop flying whenyou wanted to .The Skyfoil does not trick wellacross the wind . Straight flightseems to consist of very small curvingmoves . Over-control is a bigproblem in tricking a straight line .But, is I hive said before, the C-26 was not designed for precisioncompetitions but for fun flying .If you want to experiment withflying two kites (Ron Reich style) orsolo flying, this is the kite to try . Andof special note with solo flying, youcan get hit with this kite indhardly even notice it . The FoamStiffeners act is a sort of boxingglove to soften the little force thekite exhibits.This is a big advantage for abeginners stunt kite to hive .Skynasaur does hive the perfunctorysafety message in the instructionsbut there's little chancefor injuries from the C-26 .For the expert stunt kite flier thathappens to feel the need for a bitof fun, or the beginner that wantsan inexpensive, durable, fun stuntkite . The Skynasaur C-26 Skyfoil is agood choice .A.H .MODEL: HURRICANEFABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz. ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 410 GramsCOLORS AVAILABLE: variedWIND RANGE : 10 to 40CONFIGURATION : delta-type 82 inch wingspanMFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : 90.00MANUFACTURER : TURNING POINT KITESThe Hurricane, previously knownis the HA (High Aspect), is TurningPoint Kite Company's high windkite . At first appearance, it is avisually striking product . . . our testmodel is entirely black save for thewingtips, one of which is pink, theother bright orange . The lowerspreaders ire connected to thespine by a piece of heavy-dutytubular plastic which his been drilledto accommodate the ferruleon one end ind the spine on theother. The spreader ferrule issecured by a cotter pin . This is thesame basic configuration that isused in the lighter Windjammermodel (SKQ Vol . 1, No . 2). Heavysparring is used throughout indthere ire interior, removable wing

attens to help the kite maintainstructural integrity in higher winds .All of the bunji cord connectingpoints are gromet-reinforced .Heavy wall vinyls are used on allof the spar fittings . All of theseitems point to the fact that theHurricane is intended as a kite tobe employed in windy situations .The final confirmation of this point,at least visually, is that there is almostno billow in the sail . . . it'sstretched almost drumhead tight .This is not a low wind kite! In fact,when we tried to fly it in low winds(3 to 5 mph) it was nearly an impossibletask . The aspect ratio ishigher than most and the kite wasnearly uncontrollable . But that'sabout what we had expected . . .But let the wind crank up to 12to 15 mph (and a whole bunchmore), and this kite really beginsto come into its own . Flying theHurricane is an exercise in concentration. It is not a forgiving kite .It must be flown nearly the entiretime that it is airborne . . . that is tosay that one must pay careful attentionto what is being done . Thisis the case with most high-aspectHaving been a Peter Powelldiamond stunt flier in the past, Iwas interested to note that mostof the components that are usedin the Skyraker are the same asthose of past Powell kites, down tothe bottom center connector thatlooks to be the same as that of afour foot diamond stunter . This willmake for easy parts replacement .The Skyraker's assembled in thestandard manner for a wingedtype stunter and takes aboutthree minutes . One important notein the directions is that the bottomcenter mold must be in front ofthe center strut . This gives theslight dihedral to the spars . Flightcharacteristics do change for theworse if this component is insertedimproperly .Once assembled with the standoffspars in place, the kite has thekites . Whereas a kite with a fairamount of billow will catch air onits own, those with taut sailsgenerally will not . They will, given aslack line, often flip and headearthward at amazing speeds.The way to avoid this is to makesure that there is no slack in thelines, either from sharp turns orfrom flying off-wind . This is a seemingcontradiction for those that flywith a lot of arm movement . Thetradeoff is that again, owing tothe sail's tightness, the responsetime for the kite is to react is superfast. There is no "extra" sail to billowout so response is nearly instantaneous.Keeping that point in mind, onecan then proceed to have somereal fun with this kite . The Hurricanehandles wind so well thatwe weren't able to come evenclose to what the upper end ofwhat the range might be . We flewit in 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 mphwinds, with intermittent stops betweenand there was no appreciabledifference at any of them .Nor was there any kite distortionobserved. The Hurricane flewMODEL: SKYRAKERFABRIC WEIGHT: 1 oz . RipstopKITE WEIGHT: 245 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE: VariedCONFIGURATION : Delta-typeLIFT SURFACE : 8.95 Sq . Ft.MFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : 65 .00MANUFACTURER : PETER POWELL KITES INC .unusual ability of being able tostand up by itself . The pockets thatbeautifully in each case . Not tosay that it was an easy experience. The Hurricane is not, inour opinion, a novice class kite .There is a significant amount ofpull encountered in relation tosize . The speeds developed in highwinds are blinding, and there ismore than a small amount offinesse required to make the kiterespond properly . Still, we found itexhilarating!Unlike other kite tests, whereinwe try to "pull" them from the airwith a series of rapid armmovements, tests on these"flatter" wings are more subjective. They're rather easily pulledfrom the air. The secret is in learninghow to keep them aloft . Oncethat's learned, and the kites comparedon even terms, the Hurricaneflies right up among theleaders of the pack . If you are nota flyer that likes to become intenselyinvolved with his kite, thismight not be the kite for you . . . butif you find yourself wanting to get"wrapped up" in a different sort ofhigh wind experience : try the Hurricane.C .B .the stand-offs are inserted into extendabout 1/2" under the sail,

giving the kite some grip even insand .It is interesting to note beforethe test flight that, true to PeterPowell tradition, the bridles areknotted and not adjustable . Moreon this later .Initial flights were in 15-20 mphwinds . I was quite surprised to findthat this relatively small stunterdeveloped quite a bit of pull . Thekite was test flown on 135#Spectra and launched smoothlywith no wobble whatsoever . Thekite tracked very well and flewwith moderate speed for a kite ofthis size .The Skyraker did wingtip turnsand was quite fast in response tocontrol movements . Even excessivecontrol movement is handledwell by the kite .We ran into some difficulties onthe second day of testing . Thewinds were light (5 mph) withsome gusts to 8 mph . I encounteredtwo problems, bothrelated to the bridle .Experience showed that in thelight winds the bridle setting needto be adjusted "lighter" (Towardsthe nose) . As the bridle point isknotted at the factory, you are leftto untie the knots (which had becomeset quite tightly in theprevious day's heavy winds) andeither retie them higher or install aclip to facilitate future adjustments.The Skyraker instructions state"The bridle is set to a goodaverage setting" (Standard for allPowell kites) . Remember thatwhen you try to fly in the extremeends of the wind (very low andvery high winds), the bridle needsto be adjusted . The flier who isunwilling to retie the bridles willhave to be content with the unchangeableaverage bridle settingin average winds .The second problem encounteredwas that on first launchthe kite exhibited different turningcharacteristics in either direction .This indicated that the bridle settingson one side or the other hadchanged . These points were knottedand could not have changed .I discovered that the bridle line tothe top spreader on one side ofthe kite had moved to the top ofthe vinyl tube fitting . (The otherside was at the bottom of thefitting .) This was merely an oversightin assembly, but could causemuch confusion to an inexperiencedflier. A piece of tapeMODEL: WASPFABRIC WEIGHT :(filament strapping tape seems tobe the preferred Peter Powellsecuring material) over the bridlelines at the wing spars should solvethis problem in the future .Another interesting item to noteabout the Skyraker is that it didn'tseem to make much noise eventhough it has a straight trailingedge. This may be a bad point tosome fliers that like to have theirkite roar back at them duringflight, but it does speak well for thekite's efficient design .The Skyraker is not designed tobe a lightwind stunt kite . It wasvery sluggish in 5-8 mph winds .Most of this is due to the small liftsurface and the high kite weight .But when you toss up the 'Raker ina good breeze it becomes an intriguing,and durable stunt kite .As is the case with all PeterPowell stunt kites, the instructionsheet comes with a list ofreplacement parts and prices .Peter Powell has been selling stuntkites since 1976 so you can be assuredthat the company will bearound to supply you withreplacement parts and accessorieswhen you turn the Skyrakerover to your grandchildren! Nodoubt this stunt kite is durableenough to last that long ..75 oz. ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT : 390 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE : variedWIND RANGE: 4 to 30 mphCONFIGURATION : delta-type with interior wing battensand cut-away trailing edgeMFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : $150 .00MANUFACTURER : WIND WALKER KITESTerry Crumpler of Wind WalkerKites in Clute, Texas, beganmaking stunt kites in 1988 . Havingflown all of the major stuntersavailable, he decided to try andcreate one himself that combinedthose aspects of each that heliked the best . . . the Wasp is theend result of the effort . It is an experimentin "kite genetics" thathas turned out on the wholerather well . The Wasp is a fast kitewith a relatively large sail area, yetit remains very exacting inmaneuvers . The cut-away section,between the wing battens andthe spine gives the kite a uniqueappearance, while fulfilling acouple of aerodynamic intents .

In flight, the spine flexes inwardat the trailing edge giving thevisual impression of a wasp readyingitself to sting . . . hence the kite'sname. This bowing also helps thekite's ability to withstand somefairly significant crashes . The cutawayin the trailing edge alsoopens the Wasp up in sail area .This produces a noticeable lesseningof pull while sacrificing nothingin the speed department .The sections of the trailing edgebetween the battens and wingtipsare scalloped . This seems to helpthe kite's turning ability in verypositive fashion . . . wing-tip turnsare not really a problem and, onseveral occasions, I was able toturn within the Wasp's wingspan .Off-wind maneuvers can be extendedsignificantly into thedown-wind area because of thekite's greatly lessened pull .I tested two Wasps, one whichhad been modified additionallyby the addition of stand-off sparsbetween the lower spreader andsail . Of the two, the modified versionwas the favorite, particularlyin lighter winds . Addressing thesituation of varying wind conditions,When Striker Kites did the bigground crash last fall, a lot of flyerswere upset because they didn'tget a chance to pick up on thecompany's really BIG stunter . Well,all of those folks can rest easy becauseone of the former Strikerprincipals, Steve Shapson, hasbegun producing it under thename Force 10 .At the beginning : THIS IS A BIGKITE! If you've never had achance to fly 28 square feet ofcontrollable stunter before, you'vegot a treat in store . The Force 10 is,simply put, a regular stunter builtto massive proportions . It is notbuilt nor intended as a speed kite. . . it is primarily a power exercise .Bearing that in mind, we decidedto test it as a precision unit (wesometimes are given to flights offancy like that!) .the manufacturer providesan additional set of lowerspreaders to be used in higherwind conditions . A full high-windkit consisting of the spreaders andadditional heavy wing spars isavailable .Also recommended is the use ofdifferent fly line for varying windspeeds : 75 lb . for 4-8 mph ; 135 lb .for 9-12 mph; 200 for 12-18 mph ;and at the flyer's discretion inheavier breezes .I first flew the Wasp at the KTASan Diego convention in somevery light wind situations whichprobably tipped the scales at nomore than 4 .5 mph and found it tobe a consistent performer . At thelow end of the suggested range,the kite generated enough pull tolet you know it was there andresponse was very quick. Midrange,10-15 mph, appears to bethis kite's true home . There is anoticeable absence of oversteerwhich, combined with a potentiallytight turning radius, opens upthe opportunity for some veryprecise figure work . There isenough billow in the sail to makethe Wasp very forgiving, as well .At the upper limits (themanufacturer suggests the substitutionof the heavier spreadersat 12+ mph), particularly in the 20-25 mph range, we did noticesome distortion which was, for themost part, cured by spar substitution.When we tried the reverse,that is putting them in during lowerbreezes, the sluggishness wasnoticeable and expected .Workmanship on the Wasp isvery good, the test model nowhas about 8 hours of air time withno adverse side-effects . It is apparent,however, that the kite is ahand-made product . . . seams arenot die-cut straight. Each kite carrieswith it a bit of its creator. Notto say that manufactured kites donot . . . most do, in fact . But as thissport of stunt kite flying creates forits suppliers more and greaterdemands for product, individualefforts like the Wasp are destinedto become fewer and furtherbetween . It's nice to see themwhen they come along . . . particularlywhen they are, as theWasps, great flyers .C .B.MODEL: FORCE 10FABRIC WEIGHT : 1 .5 oz. ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 1800 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE : Hot pink and blue with black wingtipsWIND RANGE : 4 to 25 mph .CONFIGURATION: Camber-induced delta with scallopedtrailing edge . 15 ft. wingspanMFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : $349 .MANUFACTURER: FORCE 10 POWER SAIL STUNT KITES

Now for the shock. The kite performedvery well . . . from one-manunassisted ground launch, and nowobblestraight-line flight, rightthrough wing-tip turns and gentlelandings . Now, of course, whenyou're holding onto this behemoth,terms like wing-tip turnand structural integrity take ontotally different meanings . A wingtipturn sweeps out 30 feet of sky .And when this kite bows along theleading edge, you can measurethe distance in feet, not inches . Afour-man team flying these thingson a horizontal crossover will needas much height as a seven storybuilding (and that with no roomfor error!) .We tested the Force 10 twice inwinds ranging from 7 to 13 mph,which is low to moderate for thiskite, and found the pull not excessiveTo say that the kites producedby the Banshee Kite Company areunusual in today's spectrum offlying shapes is an understatement. The leading edge isrounded, the keel and interiorwing battens are bent, and thewings roll over at the ends. Tensionmust be applied to the whole apparatusto even assemble it in amaneuver that is not unlike thesame movements used to string ahunting bow. The bridle points arenearly unadjustable . . . in fact, theadjustments are effected by tyingknots in the bridle lines . O .K . Supposeyou go through all of that .When you pick the Chikara up bythe bridle clips and hold it in frontof you, the kite assumes that attitudethat fairly screams "thisthing isn't going to fly . . .' WRONG!I first saw the Banshee Kite lineat the KTA convention but theymade appearances at last year'sHawaii Challenge and the WindyCity AKA Nationals . The Chikara isthe largest of Banshee's three kiteline which also includes the S .T.O .S .(Same Thing Only Smaller), whichis, naturally, a down-sized Chikara,and the Raysoar, which is similar inThe manufacturer recommends "using extreme caution" inwinds over 25 mph . We don'tdoubt it! This kite could easilypower someone of less thanproper weight off the ground . Still,in all, it's a ball to fly . Tests were runon 140 feet of 4501b . Spectra lineand, on those occasions whengusts blew in, it was needed . This isnot to say that the kite becameunmanageable : it didn't, butwhen it takes off, it really goes!Off-wind work was fun . TheForce 10 does wing stands andlandings just like its smallercounterparts . . . except when youlet the kite down from a wingstanding position to a full landing,it can take several seconds . Theonly problem that we encounteredwas pulling thespreader spars from their vinyls inlandings and tight turns . Perhaps apin could be installed throughboth vinyls and spars to alleviatethis problem .The only other problem with theForce 10 is the amount of peoplethat gather when you set it out tofly . This kite has the best "drawingpower" of any that we've flown .There was a nearly constantcrowd of on-lookers, some ofwhom were actually kite flyers!In spite of the hefty price tag,which is really very low if you'recomparing dollars to sail area, theForce 10 is something other than amere novelty . It really flies, anddoes so very well . It is very wellmanneredfor something thislarge . The Force 10 will definitelybe a force to be reckoned withthis summer!C .B .MODEL: CHIKARAFABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz . ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 415 GramsCOLORS AVAILABLE : 14WIND RANGE: 5-30 MPHCONFIGURATION : cambered airfoil, 94 in . wingspan, 26 in .keelMFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : $250 .00MANUFACTURER: BANSHEE KITESdesign but incorporates a V-shaped leading edge . The kitesappear to be very efficient shapeswhich, at least in the case of theChikara, was borne out by fly-testing.The first opportunity to fly theChikara came on a beautifullysunny day with winds that beganat 6.0 mph and rose over thecourse of the afternoon to 18 gustingto22+ . After assembling thekite, the wing tips must be rotatedinwards to create a "tunnel" effect. This creates an even air flowand, presumably helps hold downthe turbulence near the tips . Thereis also a tensioning line that runsnearly from wingtip to wingtip . Thisline is responsible for maintainingthe Chikara's structural integrity inperiods of low wind or off-wind

situations . In flight, the characteristicsare much the same as anyother high-aspect kite . . . that is,requiring very little arm movement. It is not difficult to pull thekite from the sky if it is even justslightly off of directly down wind .However, one quickly finds thatthe kite flies extremely well withshort movements . . . the turning iscrisp, the kite is very fast with just asmall amount of oversteer. Landingsare not difficult . In fact, theywere done during the initial flightby a novice flyer who was presentduring the test . In tight turns, theChikara, due to its rounded leadingedge, assumes an orb-like appearance. There is a considerableamount of flex incorporated intothe design which allows the kite to"compress" in turns, presenting alower profile and making greateracceleration possible . The kite alsotracks extremely well giving theflyer a great feeling of confidenceeven on very low ground passes .The amount of pull exerted seemsto be normal for a kite of its size .All in all the kite flew beautifully .The Sky Dart has been one ofthe mainstays of Action Kites for agoodly number of years . I've hadone of these little guys in my kitebag since 1985 and it's still goingstrong . At an inch over five feet inwingspan, it's certainly not thelargest, but in hot winds it certainlyis one of the better ones . The newwrinkle here is that the sky dart isnow available in the same colorrange as its bigger brother, theSuper Dart . This, to my way ofthinking, opens up a whole rangeof possibilities in the stackingdepartment, with the little guy asthe first kite .The Sky Dart is one of the moreresponsive kites that I've flown,particularly when the wind beginsto creep over the 12 mph mark .You'll have to do some looking tofind another kite that can equalthe turning ability of this one . And,it would seem, the more wind thatThe concerns with the Chikarainvolve two things : assembly anddurability . There are eight wingbattens in the Chikara . Two, at thewingtips, are sewn in . The other sixare wooden and curved . Additionally,the spine is re-curved .From a crash standpoint, theseimportant parts, once having sustaineddamaged, are not easilyreplaced with a simple woodendowel or other convenientlyavailable product . Unless thereplacement is carried along, yourflying might well be over for theday.During the tests, we managedto break the plastic T-fitting intowhich affixes the spine spar to theleading edge. Replacement waseasy because we just borrowedthe one from the heavy duty(substitute) spar that came withour kite . The idea of manufacturinga heavy duty leading edgespar is a good one, and useful aswell. When we spoke to themanufacturer about the problemof the T-fitting, we were told thatthe flaw had already beenforeseen and all productionmodels would be equipped withheavy duty replacements . It'sgratifying to see such careful attentionto product upgrades, particularlyin such a new product .Secondly, the fitting together ofstraight leading edge spars toform a curved surface necessarilyinvolves assembly under tension .While this is a task that will becomesecond nature to one whoflies the Chikara often, it is sufficientlydifficult to pose a ratherfrustrating exercise to the first-timeflyer.These "drawbacks" are not uncommon,it would seem, in caseslike the Chikara, where a newtype of design is being pioneered .The shape and characteristics ofthe Chikara and, indeed, thewhole Banshee line, are innovativein design . Furthermore, they'refun to fly . In the final analysis, whilenot being a kite for the beginner,the Chikara is certainly aworthwhile addition to the kitebagof the aficionado . . . the time andeffort required to put this one intothe air is well justified!C .B.MODEL: SKY DARTFABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz . ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 205 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE: VariedWIND RANGE: 5 to 35 mphCONFIGURATION: Delta-type with notched trailing edge(61 inch wingspan)MFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : 65.00MANUFACTURER: ACTION KITESgets thrown at it, the better theSky Dart likes it . It's not, in myopinion, as quick as the NoNaMe(also by Action), but offers tightercontrol . There is an absence of slurwith the Sky Dart, perhaps owing

ftto more billow in the sail . It's withinthis range of 12-18 that the SkyDart also begins to make a niceresonant roar if you happen to beone of those who likes sound inthe air when you're flying .Over 20 mph will give the flyer achance to test his reflexes .Igenerally fly on fairly short lines (90.) and in these higher windsituations, the Sky Dart performedadmirably. Level flight was free ofwobbles and square corners wereeasy maneuvers done by wristmovement alone . Lest one be misled,this is not to say that the kitesdoesn't develop a sense of pull . Itdoes. In fact, larger winds willshow that this little dart is quitecapable of producing somerather weighty flying . . . but notenough to contract a case of kiteflyer'selbow .Low wind flying with the Sky Dartcan be done one of a couple ofTop of the Line stunt kite company,headed by Don Tabor,pioneered the field of wingedstunt kites . After their first offering inthe Hawaiian Team kite they introducedthe Spinoff Free style . Iwould be willing to risk stating thatthe Spinoff is the most widelyknown (and the most widely imitated)stunt kite in the hobby andsport today . I was even temptedto list "Spinoff type" as thedescription of this wing's configuration. This is a spinoff of theSpinoff . Confused? Don't be . Ifyou are familiar with the Top of theLine Spinoff the 3/4 Spinoff is justthat . . . 3/4 size . (Splitting hairs andcall it 78% of the full sized Spinoff .)The kite assembles in exactly thesame way as its full-sized brother,time is about two minutes . The kiteis sparred with light weight epoxytubing of the same type found inthe full sized Spinoff Ultralight . Thecolor pattern of the test kite washalf pink and half yellow .The kite can be self launched inthe traditional manner (stakinghandles and leaning the kiteagainst the lines) . The first day oftests had winds that were 18-20ways . Either stock, from the bag,or by adding standoff spars (thisoption must be performed by theflyer) . I've flown the kite in lowwinds both with and without the"Van Stands" as they're called bythe Action Kite crew . I've seen e-qual performances with the kite ineither mode and conclude thatit's strictly a matter of personalpreference as to whether or notone wishes to add them . In eitherevent, the Sky Dart will perform inas little as 5 mph . With the rightcombination of lines and flyingskill, it could probably be flown inless .While the Sky Dart is a hot performer,it must be pointed out thatbecause of its size, bridle adjustmentsare fairly critical . Aquarter of an inch on thesesmaller wings will make a muchmore noticeable difference thanthe same adjustment on a largerMODEL: 3/4 SPINOFFFABRIC WEIGHT : .75 oz. ripstop nylonKITE WEIGHT: 150 gramsCOLORS AVAILABLE : Two color (varied)kite. The perennial "payback" forthe increased levels of performancehere is that it may takemore time than usual to field-tunethe Sky Dart to optimum levels forthe wind . The kite will fly fairly wellright off the factory settings forthose who don't wish to gothrough the rigmarole of walkingback and forth down the lineswhen they could be flying, but inthe case on the Sky Dart, the tripsare well worth the effort .Action Kites introduced the SkyDart to the stunt flying communityin 1984 and it met with near instantsuccess, in spite of the factthat it was basically a two-colorsail . The graphics changes, orrather, updating, will cause a lot ofnewer flyers to pick up on whatsome have known for years . . . theSky Dart is a nifty little performerand a real wind tamer!C .B.CONFIGURATION: Delta-type (78 inch wingspan)LIFT SURFACE : 5.8 sq . ft .MFGR's SUGGESTED RETAIL : $99 .00MANUFACTURER: TOP OF THE LINEmph and very choppy . There wasa small amount of slurring ontakeoff, but this can be compensatedfor by taking a few stepsbackwards at launch . The 3/4 ismarginally faster than the full sizedSpinoff due to its smallerwingspan . Without changing thefactory bridle settings the kite turnedon a wingtip . As a matter offact, with the high winds the fastspins were difficult to pull out of atthe right time to avoid those unexpectedlandings (crashes!) Thelittle Spinoff survived some heavyabuse in the high winds with nodamage, though with the lightweight spars I would not recommendtoo many unplannedcrashes . Soars are easily remov-

able in the standard manner, andare readily available at your localkite shop or from T.O .L . in case ofbreakage . The kite tends to wobbleslightly in level flight unless youpay strict attention to the controls .The kite answered the controlsvery quickly and no matter whatkind of input delivered, I couldn'tpull the kite out of the air . In thecenter portions of the wind, it justturned faster and tighter until itbecame a blur. You can flattenout the 3/4 with over control fartherto the sides of the wind, butwith enough altitude the kite willrecover about 75% of the time .This kite develops a fair amountof pull, but nowhere close to theHYBRIDS . . .From time to time, we all runacross special kites . They mayshow up at an organized kitefestival, a competition, or in thehands of their builders at the localkite field on any Saturday . Inmost cases, these kites are restatementsof existing designs alreadyon the market in plentifulsupply. Occasionally, however,something new is being presented. . . a sail of extraordinarybeauty, a design modification,a whole new theory . These oftenone-of-a-kind endeavors fallinto an entirely separatecategory . . . they are hybrids .The products of inventive minds,these hybrids are the end resultof hours of patient work oftenperformed on kitchen tables, inbasements, or on work spacesin garages across the country .In an attempt to showcasethe best efforts of some of theseindividualists, Stunt KiteQuarterly will, from time to time,review these products .NOTE : The kites covered in theHybrid section are neithergenerally available for sale, norare they intended to competewith manufactured kites in theopen market .I had my first glimpse of the Stingerat the West Michigan StuntCompetitions last spring in TraverseCity, MI . Vince was flying it in theNovice Individual Precision (whichhe won) . My first impression wasthat it was a very precise kite . Theamount that can develop with thefull size Spinoff . I have to think thatone of the main ideas behind thedevelopment of the 3/4 sizeSpinoff is to allow for the samebasic flying characteristics as thelarger version without the armyanking pull . This allows the smallerweight stunt flier to have a goodtime and still remain in the sameplace while flying . (An importantconsideration when you see allthe young stunt fliers on the fields .)I have no doubt that some hardysouls will have stacks of littleSpinoffs in the air before too long . Iam sure that even though this is asmaller version of the big guy onthe block, three or four of thesekites are going to take a bit ofmuscle to maneuver across thesky .I found quite often when writingthis review that I wanted to referto different aspects of the 3/4Spinoff in terms of "Spinoff like" or"just like a Spinoff ." That is theidea, but the Top of the LineSpinoff has become more than astunt kite . It has become ameasure by which other stunt kitesare referred to and compared .You've all heard the statement onthe field, "How does it fly in comparisonto a Spinoff?" I supposethe easiest way to describe theway the 3/4 Spinoff flies is that it isjust like a Spinoff only smaller,which is exactly what it is .A.H .MODEL: STINGERFABRIC WEIGHT: .75 oz . ripstop nylonWIND RANGE : 4 to 30 mph .CONFIGURATION : Delta-type, curved trailing edgeMANUFACTURER : VINCE BOBROSKY; Normal, ILfigures being flown were exceptionalin their uniformity . In talkingwith Vince, he said that the kitewas a variant that he had constructed,making several modificationsalong the way . Particularlystriking was the layout of the sail .The kite was very pleasing graphicallyand flew well .Some months later, I got achance to see another version ofthe Stinger at the Windy CityNationals. This time Vince wasusing it to compete (5th place) inthe Experienced Individual Ballet .The Stinger had undergone somesort of "weight loss" program andappeared to be much faster,sacrificing nothing to precision inthe process . And the sail designshad gotten even better! Our testkite was a blaze orange, black,and teal model .As with most owner-built kites,the Stinger shows the occasionalsemi-crooked seam, but that'sabout it in the drawback department.Assumedly there are relativelyfew out there who sew arrow-straight(I fall into thiscategory) . We could suggest thatthe kite might be able to use aheftier stitch on the trailing edge .It is relatively easy to see theevolution of the Stinger. There's alittle Action Kite influence' here,there's a little Lee Sedgwick-SueTaft, there's a little Chicago Fire . . .there's a lot of Vince Bobrosky . Totop it all off, the Stinger is a joy tofly .

The kite is capable of being very quick while givingnothing away to precision . The narrower wing designhelps the turning ability greatly . There is no oversteerthat is not put there by the flyer's own design . Overallperformance is very similar to the Wasp (TerryCrumpler design) in that nearly letter perfect turns areeasily accomplished .The Stinger is equally comfortable in an off-windposture with the balance being stressed . One gets theopinion that it could be flown off-wind, set on its wingtip, and walked away from without incident . Downwindturns from off-wind positions are done withoutproblem, the kite recovering very well . Additionally,there is no evidence of slur on take-off .One of the criteria by which I like to judge kites isperformance in straight flight . The Stinger tracks betterthan most. There is a noticeable absence of wobbleof any sort in any maneuver. Landing is as smooth .Standoff spars have been added both as a help withlight wind capability and self-launching from agrounded position .Bridling of the Stinger is of the "quick-change"variety, and is secured to the kite by loops of line attachedto leading edge and spine spars. The workingbridle assembly is then larks-headed to the loops .Standard heavy duty swivels and clips are used to attachthe flying lines . Additionally, our test model camewith a shorter, heavier upper spreader spar and twoelongated standoff spars for high-wind usage . .. avery nice touch .Vince will undoubtedly continue with the evolutionof the Stinger . . . a change here, a modification there. . . but always an improvement . We'd like to wish himwell . The Stinger is a real hybrid and built by a realcraftsman! C.B .

(SKQ NOTE: Due to the large numberof events across the countryand the difficulties in listing all theinformation in the space available.We have decided to use thekey with abbreviations to denotepertinent information. We hopethat this method will be easy foryou to follow as well as give youall the event information that yourequire.)EVENT SANCTIONS : (ISKA) = InternationalStunt Kite Association(AKA) American Kite Fliers AssociationCOMPETITION DIVISIONS : (J) _Junior class (12 yr. old & younger)(N) = Novice class (I) = Intermediateor Experienced class (0)= Open classCOMPETITION CATEGORIES : (IP) =Individual Precision (IB) = IndividualKite Ballet (TP) = TeamPrecision (TB) = Team Kite Ballet (II)= Individual Innovative (TI) = TeamInnovativeOTHER EVENTS : (SG) = Stunt kitegames (i .e . Tail Tag, Godzilla,Limbo, etc .) (NF) = Night Fly (FK) =Singleline Fighter Kites (W) = Stuntkite workshops (SL) = Singleline kiteevents (D) = Demonstrations byStunt kite teams and IndividualsREGISTRATION : (PR) = Preregistrationrequired (Date specified isdeadline for registration) (OSR) =On site registration allowed (R$) =Registration fee required (Amountmay be included)ACCOMMODATIONS & FOOD :(AC) = Near site accommodationsinformation available (to includeaccommodations telephone # ifdifferent from event contact) (B$)= Banquet or other party food fee(extra for non-competitors) (HA) =Direct hotel accommodationstelephone # (C) = On site campingor local camping information .Telephone # (If different fromevent telephone #)PRIZES & AWARDS: (PR$) = Eventprize money and categories to beawarded (if applicable) . (Mostevents will probably awardtrophies or merchandise for competitionwinners, but these will notbe listed specifically .)APRIL 8-9 TEXAS GULF COASTSTUNT KITE CHALLENGE (ISKA),(AKA) . Galveston, TX (See articleon pg . 26) . Contact :Surfside Flyers, P.O . Box 3105 B,Freeport, TX 77541, (409) 265-0868 . (J), (N), (1), (0), (IP), (IB),(TP), (TB), (OSR), (R$), (B$) .APRIL 8-9 "WELCOME SPRING" KITEFEST Ocean Shore, WA . Contact:Ocean Shore Kites (206)289-4103 . (J), (N), (I), (O), MasterClass, (IP), (IB), (SL), (OSR) .APRIL 15 (Rain 4/16) 3rd ANNUALPHILADELPHIA KITE FEST BelmontPlateau, Fairmount Pk .,Philadelphia, PA . Contact :Roger Chewning (215) 736-8253 . (N), (IP), (SL), (OSR), (R$),(D), (W), Stunt kite judging .APRIL 22-23 BELMONT PARK NA-TIONAL STUNT KITE CHAM-PIONSHIPS (AKA) Mariner'sPoint, San Diego, CA . (See articlepg . 27) . Contact : Rome Enterprises,129 Samoa Court, SanRamon, CA 94583 . (415) 866-8173 . (I), (0), (IP), (IB), (TP), (TB),(OSR), (R$) $50, (PR$) $3000,(I) only, (HA) . (800) 445-3339 .APRIL 29 (Rain 4/30) LIBERTY KITEFEST Liberty State Park (N .Y., NY& NJ Regional Stunt competitions)Contact : Dave Klein(212) 472-2623 or Roger Chewning(215) 736-8253 . (N), (IP), (SL),(OSR), (R$), (D), (W) Stunt kitejudging .APRIL 29-30 KALAMAZOO KITE FESTKalamazoo, MI. Contact : JohnCosby, Kalamazoo CountyParks, (616) 383-8778 . (SG), (SL),(FK), (W), (NF), (D), (AC), (C) .MAY 6-7 1st CANADIAN INTERNA-TIONAL STUNT KITE COMPETITIONand KITE FEST (AKA) Toronto,Canada . Contact : ColleenDupuis, Kortright Centre, 5Shoreham Drive, Downsview,Ontario, M3N 1S4 . (416) 832-2289 . (J), (N), (1), (0), (IP), (IB),(TP), (TB), (SL), (D), (W), (OSR),(RS), (B$), (HA) .MAY 6 (Rain 5/7) BUCKS COUNTYKITE FEST (AKA) Core Creek, Pa .Contact : Marci Miller, BuckCounty Pks ., (215) 757-0571 .(SG), (SL), (FK), (D), (AC), (C) .MAY 13 ASBURY PARK KITE FEST AsburyPark, NJ . . Contact : Irv orDee Yafee (201) 774-0511 . (N),(IP), (SL), (OSR), (RS) Benefit forMS, (D) .MAY 14 SPANGLES STUNT KITESPECTACULAR Wichita, KS. Contact: Richard Dermer (405) 372-6127 . (SL), (D) .MAY 14 1st RENO KITE RACES Reno,NV. Contact : Julie Hamilton, TheKite Pit, 3502 S . Virginia, #115,Reno, NV 89509 . (702) 829-7404 .(SG), (SL), (W), (D) .MAY 13-14 GREAT LAKES STUNT KITECHAMPIONSHIPS (ISKA), (AKA),Grand Haven, MI . (See articleon pg . 28). Contact : MackinawKite Co ., 301 N . Harbor, GrandHaven, Mi . 49417; (616) 846-7501 . Sandcastle, 356 River St .,Manistee, MI 49660; (616) 723-4344; Grand Bay Kite Co ., 121 E .Front St ., Traverse City, MI 49684 ;(616) 929-0607 . (N), (I), (O), (IP),(IB), (TP), (TB), (II), (TI-Demo only),(OSR), (R$), (B$), (HA), (C) .MAY 27-29 4th ANNUAL EASTCOAST STUNT KITE CHAM-PIONSHIPS (ISKA), (AKA)Wildwood, N .J . (See article onpg . 29). Contact : Fran Gramkowski,80 West End Ave ., HaddonField, NJ 08033 ; (609) 429-6260 . (N), (1), (0), (IP), (IB), (TP),(TB), (II), (TI-demo only), (PR$)May 15, 1989, (AC) QuarterdeckMotels (609) 884-2696,Premiere Motel (609) 729-0166,(B$) $30 .00, (C) City ofWildwood (609) 522-1407 (PR$) .

JUNE 10 7th ANNUAL SUMMERGAMES (AKA) Myrtle Beach,S.C . Contact : Klig's Kites (800)333-5944 . (N), (I), (IP), (IB), (OSR),(R$) Charity, (AC) .JUNE 10 7th ANNUAL ROGALLOKITE FESTIVAL Nags Head, NC .Contact : Kitty Hawk Kites (19)441-4124 . Stunt kite flying (SL),(W), (P), (OSR) .JUNE 11 STUNT KITE SPECTACULARMcKinley Park, Milwaukee, Wis .(Rain 6/18) Contact : KiteSociety of Wisconsin, (414) 277-9121 . (D), (SG), (AC) .JUNE 23-25 2nd ANNUAL 1989SHERATON NATIONAL KITE FESTPalm Beach Gardens, FL. Contact: Peter Powell Kites, 1040N .E . 43rd Ct ., Ft . Lauderdale, FL .(305) 565-5588 . (One class), (IB),(TB), (II), (SG), (SL), (D), (AC),(PR) May 30, 1989, (R$), (B$),(PR$) $15,000, Airline trips toJapan, Hawaii, Washington,and more . Proceeds to benefitR.O .C .K. (Reach Out to CancerKids), (HA) PGA Sheraton Resort- (407) 627-2000 .JUNE 24-25 4th ANNUAL WESTPORTFESTIVAL OF KITES Westport, WA .Contact : Pic-A-Patch Kites, 2521Westhaven Dr., P.O. Box 1487,Westport, WA 98595 . Rich or Jeri(206) 268-0877 . (N), (I), (IP), (IB),(SL), (OSR) .JULY 1-2 NORTH COAST ST UNT KITEGAMES, Toledo, OH . Contact :Uncle Wilbert (Steve Weber),1951 Potomac Dr., Toledo, OH43607, (419) 537-7036 . (SG),(NF), (FK), (SL), (W), (D), (OSR),(B$), (HA), (C) Maumee Bay St .Pk. camp-out ..JULY 8-9 THE CHERRY GAMES,Grand Traverse Resort, TraverseCity, MI . Contact: Grand BayKite Co . (616) 929-0607 (J), (N),(I), (IP), (IB), (TP), (TB), (SG), (D),(R$), (OSR), (AC), (C) .JULY 15-16 NEWPORT INTERNA-TIONAL KITE FEST (AKA) (formerlyBlack Ships) Brenton Park, Newport,RI . Contact : Kite Fest International,(401) 683-4880 . (N), (I),(IP), (IB), (TP), (TB), (OSR), (R$),(PS), (D), (SL), (AC) .JULY 29 "WINGS OVER OCEANSHORES" KITE FLY Ocean Shores,WA . Contact : Ocean ShoresKites (206) 289-4103 . (J), (N), (I),(0), Masters Class (IP), (IB), (SL),(OSR) .JULY 29-30 3rd ANNUAL BERKELEYKITE FEST AND STUNT KITE COM-PETITION Berkeley, CA . Contact :Tom McAlister, 2314 Dwight Way#4, Berkeley, CA 94704 . (415)843-7579 . (N), (I), (O), (IP), (IB),(TP), (TB), (PS), (OSR) .AUGUST 5 CANDLESTICK STUNTCOMPETITIONS CandlestickPark, San Francisco, CA . Contact:Rome Enterprises, (415)866-8173 . (One class) (IP), (IB),(TP), (TB), (D), (SG), (AC), (OSR),(RS) .SEPTEMBER 2-4 WEST COAST STUNTKITE CHAMPIONSHIPS (ISKA),(AKA), Marina Green, San Francisco,CA . Contact : Mike Mc-Fadden, Kitemakers of SanFrancisco, 5739 Christie Ave .Powell St . Plaza, Emeryville, CA94608 . (415) 652-1661 . (OneClass) (IB), (IP), (TP), (TB), (II),(PR), (R$), (AC), (B$), (HA),(PRS) .OCTOBER 4-8 12th ANNUALAMERICAN KITEFLIERS ASSOCIA-TION CONVENTION & NATIONALCOMPETITIONS (ISKA), (AKA),Honolulu, Hawaii . Contact : KiteFantasy, (808) 992-KITE . (I), (0),(IP), (IB), (TP), (TB), (II), (SL), (FK),(W), (D), (OSR), (R$), (AC), (B$),(HA) .OCTOBER 7-8 2nd ANNUAL OC-TOBER KITE FESTIVAL OceanShores, WA . Contact: OceanShore Kites, P.O. Box 607, OceanShores, WA . 98569 . (206) 289-4103 . (J), (N), (I), (0), MastersClass, (IP), (IB), (SL), (OSR) .OCTOBER 21 2nd ANNUAL OUTERBANKS STUNT KITE COM-PETITIONS Nags Head, NC . Contact: Kitty Hawks Kites, 2521Westhaven Dr., P.O . Box 1487,Westport, WA 98595 . Rich or Jeri(206) 268-0877 .(SKQ NOTE : We are interested inlisting in the stunt kite calendar,ALL kinds of stunt kite events, notjust large national competitions .No stunt kite gathering or gamesare too small. No stunt kite fly-in isunimportant . Send your eventcare of SKQ. Include pertinent information,especially contacttelephone number and location .Because of the large number ofevents and types of competitionslisted, we suggest that you contactthe event coordinators forpossible changes.)