lssue103 1Dril2005 Price £2.00 We have moved to Tel: +44 (01525) 229 773 The Kite Centre Fax: +44 (01525) 229 774 Unit 1 Barleyfields sales@dunstable-kites.co.uk Sparrow Hall Farm Edlesborough Beds LU6 2ES

The Airbow is a revolutionary hybrid which combines the carving turns and trick capabilities ~ I~ 11-~ 1 • 1 of dual line kites with the precise handling and '""-' • '-=' "-"' ~ total control of quad line flying. The unique 3D shape is symmetrical both left-to-right Airbow Kite and top-to-bottom, giving the kite equal stability £190 in powered flight in all directions and unprecedented recoverability from slack line trick and freestyle flying. Switchgrip handles Switchgrips are also available (Airbow dedicated handles) £24 Flying Techniques is an instructional DVD presented by three of the UK's most respected sport kite flyers; Andy Wardley, earl Robertshaw & James Robertshaw Flying The DVD is aimed at the kite flyer who wants to take their skills to the next level and is presented in a way that even Techniques a complete novice can follow. lt also details the methods for creating flying routines and concentrates DVD on the skills required to master four line and two line sports kites £20 including the Airbow, Revolution, Gemini, Matrix and Dot Matrix. Flying Techniques lasts 93 minutes and there are 20 minutes of extras.

The Peak is a new entry level trick kite from DIDAK With its high aspect ratio and its anti tangle trick line arrangement PEAK makes it an ideal kite for the intermediate flier wishing to learn some of the more radical tricks, packaged complete with £48.90 Dyneema lines and Wriststraps.

Para Kites new for 2004, these four colourful characters -..•• --'~.-~ actually do fly as a kite! Ideally suited to the stronger wind conditions these will find a place in most peoples kite bags. They are completly ready to go and just need the flying line attached to the bridle and unfold the chute and there ready to go! Para-Kites £9.30 each Or a set of four £35.00

Colors In Motion present a brand new tail for 2004 with there Transistion Tail, At 24ft in length its ideal as a stabiliser for an erratic kite or for when the wind is very strong. the unique stripe will create an eyecatching display item.

Transistion Tail £9.00 Kite people of the world! Dont forget here at Dunstable Kites we still keep a huge range of fixtures and fittings of all shapes and sizes, we have even been known to find illusive or long lost parts! Our Ripstop range always has a wide variety of colours including the standard 14 colours of Spiraglyde, but we dont just stop there we also have wind meters, books, line, handles and many more bits and pieces needed to make that new kite. So don't delay call us today!

Windsocks and Windgames Yes still popular as ever we have a huge collection of these items available so many that to list them all would need a Kiteflier magazine of its own to house them all. You can see most of these items at Kite festivals throughout the show season. We continue to update our website but with so many items its hard to keep up! Dont forget our new Phone Number is 01525 229 773. See you on the Flying fields. The Kite Society of Great Britain P. O. Box 2274 Kites in the Sky 4 Gt Horkesley Colchester Essex Flex Ring Review 4 CO6 4AY Tel: 01206 271489 Some Points on Kite 5 Flying Email: [email protected] Private Ads 9 http://www.thekitesociety.org.uk

Trade Directory 10 Editorial Dear Reader cently and hopefully you Bits & Pieces 18 In this issue you will find will find it easier to use. the Kite Trade Directory. You can also renew your Please support these trad- subscription online using Papillion Kite 21 ers and get your Kite Socie- Paypal—which allows credit ty discount as well. Due to and debit card payments. space constraints we have Finally, don’t forget Wey- Events News 22 delayed the publication of mouth. During the Sunday the Group Directory until evening reception in the Pa- Events List 27 the July issue. However, up villion from 7:30, Tony to date information for both Cartwright will be showing directories can be found on some more of his old 8mm Roman Candle 29 our web site films of Kite Festivals from www.thekitesociety.org.uk. the past. If you were at Many of you may have al- Portsmouth you may re- Aerodyne 34 ready visited the web site. member the laughter! Hope We have revamped it re- to see you there.

Marilyn Pothecary from STACK UK Membership Information Experienced pairs champions The main vehicle of communication between members is the quarterly Close Encounters showing that publication ‘THE KITEFLIER’. published in January, April, July and single line kites can be fun too October of every year. ‘THE KITEFLIER’ contains news of forthcoming with this weird and wonderful kite festivals, kite retailer news, kite plans, kite group news and a creation from HQ Kites called the comprehensive events list. Other benefits of membership include free, Flex Ring. This is designed by or reduced, entry into selected kite festivals in the U.K., special parking Rainer Hoffmann who also arrangements where possible, discount - from 5% to 15% - on all kite designed the other kites on the purchases from the majority of kite retailers in the U.K. cover. He is one of the invited guest kite fliers at the Weymouth A membership ‘year’ runs for four issues of ‘THE KITEFLIER’. plus International Beach Kite Festival other occasional mailings. Each member receives a membership card 1st and 2nd May, entitling them to free entry and discount. Membership Type Fee

Marilyn photo by Allan Pothecary. If you wish to join The Kite Other photos from Society you can join online and Individual £10.00 www.hora-kites.de pay using Paypal (credit or debit card payment) at Family - all members in the £11.00 www.thekitesociety.org.uk or same household. send your name and address Whilst every effort is taken to get (plus the names of any supple- O.A.P. £8.00 the details correct The Kite mentary members) and your Society cannot be held payment for the appropriate membership type, to the address O.A.P. - Family (Husband £9.00 responsible for any errors or shown above. All cheques, made & Wife) omissions that occur. Opinions payable to ‘The Kite Society’ expressed in this magazine are and, for overseas members, Overseas - Europe and £12.00 not necessarily those of the should be drawable in the U.K. Surface Mail Editors or The Kite Society. and be in sterling. Overseas - Airmail £16.00 Page 4 The Kiteflier, Issue Kites in the Sky—George Webster

Kites in the Sky is a series of articles which (hopefully) they appear and their chapter number if they were to will end up as a book. appear in a book.

I have set out below the brief titles to the articles What I intend to do is update chapters 1—10 using which I have written, the issue of The Kiteflier in which comments that I have received, new information (particularly on Asian kites) altering the balance of Chapter Title Kiteflier illustrations and just getting rid of first time glitches. Number Number Chapter 1 would have to be greatly simplified for a 1 Origins 98 book. Chapter 11 (this issue) is the most elementary 2 ‘An Outline History’ 97 which I have written but I have included it as it would be part of a book. 3 Kites for a Purpose 94 Chapter 12 has grown out of my original idea to have 4 More Box Kites 99 something on tails. I decided to write something on 5 Bird Kites 92 how kites fly. Ernest Barton saw a draft of this part and said I did realise that there is a strong view that 6 Flat Kites 96 the Bernoulli effect of airflow over a wing providing lift by pressure difference is rubbish. SO I have read up 7 Deltas 88 on it and hope to provide the first ‘non-Bernoulli’ ex- planation which I have seen in a kite book. I could not 8 Sleds 90 quite manage it for this issue but I am sure it will be 9 Soft Kites 102 ready for the next.

10 Exceptional Kites 99 As usual comments are welcome—plus any ideas on publishing. 11 Some Points... This issue 12 How to Analyse your kites’ flight Next and tails. issue

Flex Ring—Marilyn Pothecary

At second attempt or, if you have already seen it up, the Flex Ring is quite simple to construct although it Because the rods are so flexible you could easily get looks more complicated. this kite in to a suit case and turn a few heads on a holiday beach. It’s about four foot nine inches in diameter and uses fiberglass rods. The pull is nicely firm so you could even hang your towel on the line to dry. It comes with a bag filled with weights which keeps the kite in an alternative, upright position and gives Another new kite for this year you should be able to the kite a completely different appearance - It makes find it for under £60.00. you wonder whether this was planned or accidental but it is quite amazing never-the-less.

When we tried it the wind was around seven mph which was about as low as we felt comfortable with.

The manufacturers claim a 4 to 18mph wind range so perhaps we should have tried some adjustments but I am a believer of reporting on how it comes out of the bag because that is how most people who don’t under- stand bridles would want it.

In that wind The Flex Ring was a little cumbersome to get away but once it had gotten to around 80 feet it sat in the sky as steady as a rock.

This is one of those kites that look better from any angle other than straight on, from the flyer’s point of view, so the sooner you get it staked the better then try the different angles using the weight.

The ripstop sail folds down to practically nothing and weighs about the same. The Kiteflier, Issue Page 5 Some Points on Kite Flying—George Webster

1 Introduction People fly kites and get interested in kites for 5. Have your kite under control. No kite will many reasons. The two things are different, fly in all wind conditions many of us fly a kite bought casually as a toy 6. Use gloves either when a child or with a child. A few of 7. Have a clearly-visible fixed point on the us ‘get interested’ and buy a second kite or ground but don’t leave it unattended with perhaps make one. Many people now buy a 2 a kite up -line kite for fun on a beach. Section C - Lines are important If you are ‘interested’ then I strongly advise that you make contact with fellow enthusi- 8. The ‘best’ line depends on the size of the asts. It may be as easy as going to the local kite, the intended wind speed and, of flying spot on a Sunday – or you may decide course, how high you wish to fly to contact the Kite Society of Great Britain. 9. If you cross lines with another flier, walk They will put you in touch with your local kite towards the other person. As usually the club and give you knowledge of local events. kites are flying at different angles to the You will find out the location of your local kite wind, the tangle will move down the line to store and the nearest gathering that attracts the two of you and it is then easy to sort a trader. out 10. Don’t try to fly your kite on a very short Obviously fellow enthusiasts are the best line, say less than 20m. (We are not con- source of information on how to get more cerned with two line kites, but if we were, from kites. Kite clubs add something extra as the most common beginner’s error is to many are introducing a safety code for their try to fly one on anything less than all the members. This becomes increasingly neces- line supplied) sary, not particularly because single line flying has become more dangerous, but because Lastly power kiting (2- or 4-lines, buggies, boards etc.) is inherently more dangerous and how- 11. Leave the site tidy – pick up line, spars ever good the flier is a damaged onlooker is etc which can be dangerous more likely to think of legal action nowadays than some years ago. Local authorities, who Exhibit 1 is a version of a demo that Tony tend to be the owners of flying sites, some- Cartwright’s Skystage puts on sometimes at a times do not distinguish between multi-line festival where the points made by the com- and single line kites and seek to ban the lot. mentator are illustrated to interest spectators Safety schemes help to preserve sites as well (e.g. Point 7 a small kite struggling to fly on a as reduce damage. length of clothesline).

My only advice on choice of kite is to get The next section (2) says a little on good something fairly straightforward from a kite practice when you first get on to the field. I specialist so that if conditions are right it will will then review each of the sections above in fly. Go for nylon fabric rather than plastic. a little more detail. Read the rest of this chapter and the next. 3 Pick the right sport – Section A Exhibit 1 4 Fly sensibly – Section B 5 Lines are important – Section C Ten Tips for Safe and Sensible Kite Flying 6 Lastly

Section A - Pick the right spot The approach is a brief treatment of things which seem important to me. Not a compre- 1. It should be a clear open space – a park, a hensive one; I’m not going to suggest where field or a beach you put your suntan cream. 2. Do not fly downwind of trees or buildings 3. Do not fly in a thunderstorm or into a rain 2 First Moves cloud 4. Do not fly over roads or near cables If you are new to kiteflying, fly with a friend. Give yourself a good start by putting the kite together for the first time at home. With chil- Section B - Fly Sensibly dren rehearsal is vital. All the ‘bonding’ and Page 6 The Kiteflier, Issue Some Points on Kite Flying—George Webster

‘problem solving’ is much better done from cal measurements are taken 10m up). So the basis of a correctly assembled complete your immediate objective is to get your kite kite. On the field you have a wind to blow the safely up through this lower level. bag and instructions away and it is so much easier to lose a piece in the grass. If the smooth field has buildings or trees, then these will cause eddies like those next to When the kite has been erected, hold it by its a riverbank. The effect is felt downwind bridle point upside down so that the lowest roughly ten times the height of the obstruc- point of the kite is just above the ground. tion. I used to fly regularly on a West London This is easy for a single spined kite such as an common where new fliers would come with Eddy or a Delta. The kite should be balanced expensive new kites, set them up in the each side of its centre spine and the angle of shade of one of the chestnut trees round the the rear point above the ground should be edge and wonder why their kite wouldn’t fly, about 30 degrees (this is the angle of attack but mine would 50m away in the middle. mentioned in the next article). In more com- plex kites you should still look for balance, Not only is the wind more turbulent near the angle, correct bridling etc. on the field. ground but also there is often a ‘wind gradi- ent’, meaning that the wind 50m up is strong- The next stage is to check that you can give er. While that might be more than your kite out line quickly (see 5 below) and, if flying by needs obviously if you want a stronger wind yourself, then hold the kite from the bridle for your kite you will want to get up into it. point and let line out slowly. It is easier if you have a friend. By-standers who are not Three points about wind gradient: fliers are rarely reliable, they are given to 1. It isn’t always there and anyway isn’t a launching your new kite upside down with a smooth continuous effect – I was once reflex gesture as if it has become electrified surprised to find on a transatlantic flight which hurls it into the sky at a multiple of its which gave you all sorts of info – airspeed normal flying speed. However, the friend can etc, to see windspeed at 35,000ft regis- be asked to take out about 20m of line down- tered as 1 knot. wind and let go or gently toss it up on your 2. The law says that you may not fly higher instructions. If all does not go well then you than 60m (200ft) anywhere in the UK. might be glad you read the next chapter and Kite events not near an airport often get at least knew the first two rules of kiteflying. permission to go higher – 1,500ft is quite common. Now we need to discuss WIND. 3. If all goes well your kite rises, you let out line gently and soon you are flying at 60m. Most people think of wind in terms of its di- What to do if instead something dramatic rection, its strength and whether the speed is is happening will be found next article. variable (gusty). Kitefliers know that the wind will also be smooth or bumpy – some- But suppose that when launched it doesn’t times called ‘rolling’, ‘full of holes’ or just rise except if you pull on the line resulting in ‘bad’. People I have asked seem to think that it flying towards you and gradually losing airflow is usually ‘smooth like water in a height. It could be that there just isn’t river’. Look at a river and you will see nu- enough wind. But there are things to try to merous eddies and little whirlpools only some see if there is enough wind ‘up there’. of which are obviously the result of the irreg- ular shape of its banks. Don Dunford wrote in Firstly, walk back slowly, not winding in, so Kite Cookery ‘wind is like a large number of producing the effect of a stronger wind. If giant sausages that move along at different this allows you to let line out and gain height heights and at different speeds. They curl up- to a stronger breeze then fine; if not then wards and downwards when they meet obsta- stop walking before you fall over something. cles, and are constantly overtaking or being overtaken by each other’. Secondly, you can try what is sometimes called a ‘long launch’ or ‘high start’. Your Even above a smooth field the wind might be friend launches the kite at least 30m away bumpy and yet in such ideal conditions the and you pull in the line as slowly as you can wind for the first 10m will be affected by the while the kite climbs. When the kite is say drag of the land’s surface (sometimes called 5m up, let out the line slowly hoping not to ground effect and a reason why meteorologi- lose too much height but to have the kite The Kiteflier, Issue Page 7 Some Points on Kite Flying—George Webster drift, still low but flying say 50m away. Now around a telephone cable or power line. In pull in the line and the kite will rise, again the latter cases leave it alone and contact the drift the kite downwind and this time, or the power supplier or telephone company. A next, when you pull in on the long line the quote from Maxwell Eden in ‘The Magnificent kite will rise enough to get into a stronger Book of Kites’ (in such circumstances) ‘walk wind. This process can be started with a very away without trying to retrieve it. Your next long line if the kite has enough lift – you can kite will be a better one because you will still even long launch by yourself – watch another be alive to fly it.’ kiteflier to see how it is done. The danger from a lightning strike is real. The important point is NO RUNNING. Why There is an argument as to whether Ben not? Surely children run around with kites. It Franklin really did his famous experiment of may be good exercise and it certainly wears launching a kite into a storm and producing out the kite. But consider. Few people can long sparks at ground level. But if he didn’t – run backwards successfully. Even fewer can and he certainly invented the lightning con- run while looking over their shoulder at the ductor – others undoubtedly did. kite. If the kite will only fly at the extra, say 10mph from running, it is unlikely to keep fly- 4 Fly sensibly ing when you stop. In most cases a running speed pushes the kite into a gusty windspeed It may not be you, or your kite’s day; but cer- with which it can’t cope and it crashes. An tainly if your kite is out of control it won’t be aware backwards walk; yes. Running; no. the other flier’s day and crashes can hurt peo- ple and not merely things. If your kite has more major problems then next article might help. Always have gloves in the bag. Good ones called ‘riggers gloves’ are often sold in bar- Now returning to Exhibit 1. gain stores for £1. Surprisingly small kites can damage hands. 3 Pick the right spot Some sort of ground anchor is a good idea It should now be obvious why you should be and essential if you are flying alone. A popu- clear of buildings and trees. Being down wind lar anchor is a dog exercising screw (looks of even a low cliff isn’t a good idea as the like a giant corkscrew), big kites use metal wind rolls over the edge like water over the pegs and hammers, and small kites on grass lip of a basin. Turbulence is a reason why a can be controlled by a meat skewer. Remem- hilltop is not a good site – but the uphill part ber to make the anchor visible (e.g. by an or- with the wind behind you might be. ange nylon streamer), make sure it is ‘man- enough’ for the job and hang something on There are many cartoons on the theme of kite the line if you are not close to it. -eating trees. The reason why this happens is not simply that trees have a malevolent dis- A fixed point position towards the beautiful artefacts that 12. Allows you to rest fly above them. It is more because if you do 13. Gives you time to get your next kite fly your kite not far above the downwind side ready of a tree, turbulence may cause the kite to 14. Enables you to fly two kites at once drop and it, or its line, to be caught. We have 15. Is vital to allow you to get a big puller all done it; I once spent several evenings a down. Again, most of us have done it. week for 5 weeks poking a (very valuable) With a fixed point you can put your kite from a tree. gloved hand over the line and walk to- wards the kite, bringing it down with Check what is underfoot as you may find least effort yourself moving fairly quickly while looking up into the sky. Frank Watlington in Bermuda 5 Lines are important Kites wrote ‘Don’t fly your kite near holes or The line is the essential characteristic of a kite cliffs for you may easily fall over in the excite- (see Diagram 1). Any depiction of a kite ment of getting the kite up’. shows the line. Good lines help a kite to fly better; bad lines drag it down or break and It is not sensible to be in a situation where lose it. Look at the line connecting the kite to your kite might fall across a road, wrap itself you and it always hangs in the curve shown in Page 8 The Kiteflier, Issue Some Points on Kite Flying—George Webster the diagram. Of course if the kite is pulling reel). hard the deviation may be very slight. Line has that shape because of its weight (pulling The third problem with the ‘free line’ is that down) and air resistance (drag) which pulls it you need something better than a fiddly small back. Too much of a curve shows too heavy winder – a crushed drinks can is better than a line for the lift from the kite. Line drag is that. While there are beautiful handmade not of great practical importance unless you ‘deep sky reels’ available, for most purposes a are using unusually fat line for its strength or, winder used for fishing hand lines or one of most significantly, when flying high. The the many versions of ‘hoops’ will be fine. You cross section may be less than 1mm but if need something that is fairly tough (they get you have 1000m out…………… bounced on the ground), big enough to take the line easily (you don’t want to have to look Most line supplied ‘free’ with a kite is inade- at it rather than the kite) and finally large quate in three ways – enough that each turn takes in an appreciable length. Remember that if you wind directly 16. It is poor quality; twisted not woven on to your reel (or whatever) while the line is 17. It is too short tight, many lines stretch under load, contract 18. The plastic winder is too small so wind- when wound and have been known to crush ing in is very slow. quite solid cores.

You are looking for a line that is light and thin 5 Lastly for its breaking strain. While you don’t need some of the ‘high-tec’ lines that are primarily Be responsible and leave the site clean. on sale for 2/4 liners, you should get at least Spare lengths of line can trouble wild life. a decent woven polyester. Woven as it tan- Some kites use carbon fibre spars – if one gles less easily than twisted. For line breaks take it home, the stuff produces non- strength it is best to be guided by the seller’s degradable splinters. experience. Above all – enjoy. There was an old American rule that the breaking strain (in lbs) should be 3 times the It wasn’t the New Zealander Peter Lynn but area of the kite (in sq.ft.). So if you are flying the American Wayne Brumitt who said ‘the a Della Porta (Chapter 6) of 2ft x 2ft = 4 sky is big enough for all of us’. sq.ft., your line should be at least 12 lbs. I would use line 3 times that strength. Firstly kite line strengths aren’t guaranteed. Sec- ondly they have to endure considerable shocks near the kite as it responds to wind- speed changes. Thirdly you are bound to have at least one knot connecting line to bri- dle and many knots reduce line strength by 50%. And if you do fall foul of a tree, hard pulling might be required.

Length of line is worth some thought. There Diagram 1 are considerable advantages in having a sin- gle length of line (if only because knots can weaken it) but why should you need more than 60m (maximum height) + say 50m for the flying angle and line belly? Well you might fly in circumstances where you can ex- ceed the usual 60m and it can be nervous fun to fly 200m up for the first time. The other reason for buying more is that if you fly fre- quently then it is a good idea at the end of each season to get rid of the last 10m. This Flier has had most wear from shocks, dragging on the ground and even exposure to sunlight (some fliers simply reverse the line on the The Kiteflier, Issue 103 Page9

Private Ads

For Sale: Due to lack of space. and 10.30pm Monday to Friday or any time on a weekend. 6 various single line kites, homemade from rip­ stop, carbon/dowel. Deltas, Vented Roller, For sale Conyne, etc. All good fliers plus various fittings Singer Pro. Sewing Machine Straight and Zig-Zag and materials. £30.00 the lot or offers. (with table and light) £150.

The Kiteflier magazine 1991-2003, free. Libre kite buggy big wheels splash guard and back pack £350 Telephone: John 01483 726937, Guildford, Wok­ ing area of Surrey. Greens Mega Mega Delta 20' X 12' (frame needs looking at) £50 For Sale: • Nasa Parawing hybrid power kite - brand new Please contact Alex Burt on [email protected] unwanted gift- complete with lines, handles and drawstring bag. Bright rainbow colours - For Sale. just over 1 metre wingspan - £9.50 including Martin Lester Legs Kite. £50.00. Incl. lOOm postage 80kg Dacron line and delivery. • 3 "letre foil power kite in rainbow colours with carry bag - brand new unwanted gift­ 280cm x 80cm. Made, signed and numbered by no lines or handles - £35 including postage Martin. • Chris Matheson Sandpiper- hardly used - 'Rain' colour scheme - with bag but no lines Please contact Robert Wardell or handles - Only £65 including postage. alphaplane200 1 @yahoo.com Please call Nigel on 0117 9568772 between 9pm

''CHALKIES KITES'' KITEWORKS UK

Kites & accessories, flexifoil Ripstop Nylon 1st& 2nd quality. HQ Chikara, Icarex, 2,4,6 oz. P.U Nylon, E I • • P.K. D. Threads, Zips, Webbing etc available Retail or Wholesale. 0 aGala 'lrehaA Kite bags in various sizes to take up to 25 kites, holdalls, Rfl~b F 11"., line winder and stuff bags. Bespoke bags made to order. ¥111 lJS ·ot Full rage of fittings available. G o·d ElI luuon Carbon Fibre Rod!fube, Fibreglass Rod, Dowel. p Q-Fil. I ak Re\'0 Clothing made from specially treated Ripstop Nylon. a~ P~ ., aIf:..~· r. .al Fully reversible wind/shower proof .,~,A- "l·g~' ~~~~ O.o. " available in child & adult sizes. '\1~ r ••te l'\l'q ,uer "'rts"' .. DOT KITES Oflici.U U.K Distnbutor ~tilt!! f ~ ea~ ~0 Excobng range ofTnck I P

This directory has been compiled by sending a questionnaire to all of the kite traders that we know of. The information is as supplied (subject to typos) and the contents of the directory were correct to the best of our knowledge. However details may change and it is best to contact the trader before travelling any great distance.

This is a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) list of kite retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and traders currently known in the U.K. The Kite Society supplies this directory in good faith. An entry in this directory is not an endorsement or recommendation.

Discount, where shown, is available only to Kite Society members.

Classification S Shop SL Single Line Kites W Wholesaler MK Sport and Multi-Line Kites R Retailer BK Books and Magazines F Festival Trader KM Kite Making Materials and Accessories M Manufacturer BG Buggies and Equipment O Mail Order SK Surf Kites and Equipment C Printed Catalogue PK Power Kites and Equipment L Online Catalogue ST Kite School and Training E Web Only Store JG Juggling Equipment

Bedfordshire www.kempstonkites.co.uk 58 Springfield Avenue, Hor- [MK/SL/BG/PK] Dunstable Kites Mon - Fri 10 - 5, Sat 9 - 1 field, Bristol BS7 9QU [S/W/R/F/O/L] [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PL] 0117 951 1247 Kiteshop Unit 1 Barleyfields, Sparrow Cash - 10% CC - 7.4% nick- [S/R/O/L] Hall Farm, Edlesborough, [email protected] 1c/d Arbury Road, Cam- Beds LU6 2ES Berkshire 10 - 6 bridge, Cambs CB4 2JB 01525 229773 Tradewind Kites [SL] 0845 130 4791 Fax: 01525 229774 [S/R/O/L] Kite workshops in schools. [email protected] [email protected] 23 Harris Arcade, Reading, Cash - 10% www.kiteshop.co.uk www.dunstable-kites.co.uk Berkshire RG1 1DN 10am to 6pm Mon - Fri 9am - 0118 956 8848 T.K.C. Sales Ltd [ALL] 5.30pm Sat 9am - Fax: 0118 959 8755 [W] Mountainboards 3.30pm During summer sales@tradewind- Unit 5, Ashmead Industrial Cash - 5% CC - 5% please phone for times be- kites.demon.co.uk Estate, Ashmead Road, fore travelling as we may be www.tradewindkites.com Keynsham, Bristol BS31 Wind Designs at a festival near you! 9:30 - 5:30 Monday - Sat- 1TZ [W/O/C] [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ urday 0870 870 0150 Unit 5, Century Park, Lynn ST] [ALL] Fax: 0870 870 0151 Road, Chettisham, Ely, Stockist of Jackites the Cash - 10% CC - 5% [email protected] Cambridgeshire CB6 1SA most realistic flying www.tkcsales.co.uk 0870 870 6065 birds. Large selection of Bristol [ALL] Fax: 0870 870 6665 Flags, Wind- Atmosphere Kites [email protected] socks, Windgames and Tel- [S/R/F/L/O] Cambridgeshire www.wind-designs.com escopic Poles. Also some of 137 St Georges Road, Ja- Flexifoil International 8:00 - 5:30 the largest commercially cobs Well, Bristol BS1 5UW Ltd [ALL] available Single Line Kites 0117 908 7153 [M/C/L] Selection of toys. on the market today! [email protected] 27 Regal Drive, Soham, Ely, Cash - 10% CC - 5% www.atmospherekites.com Cambridgeshire CB7 5BE Cheshire 10.00 - 5.30 01353 723131 Extreme Kites Gone With The Wind [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK/ST/ Fax: 01353 722311 [S/L/O] [R/E/L/O] JG] [email protected] 752 Knutsford Road, War- 82 The Baulk, Biggleswade, www.flexifoil.com rington, Cheshire WA4 1JS Beds, SG18 0QA Bristol Kitestore 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday 0781 748 6409 01767 315675 [S/R/F/O/C/L] to Friday [email protected] enquir- 39a Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 [MK/BK/BG/SK/PK] www.extremekites.co.uk [email protected] 6JY 9-5:30 Monday to Saturday www.blusteryday.co.uk 0117 974 5010 Billys [MK/BG/PK] [SL/JG] Fax: 0117 973 7202 [S/R/L/O] Mountain Boards, Bug- Selection of wind toys, [email protected] 15 Burleigh Street, Cam- gys. North West UK Power boomerangs, aerobies. www.kitestore.co.uk bridge CB1 1DG Kite Specialists :: Kite, Bug- Discount available. 10:00 - 6:00 Mon - Fri. 01223 568368 gy, Mountain Board and 9:30 - 5:30 Sat Fax: 01223 464522 Kitesurf specialists and en- Kempston Kites [ALL] [email protected] thusiasts. [S/L/O] Cash - 10% CC - 7% www.billys.co.uk Cash - 10% 9 Singer Court, Bedford, Monday to Friday - 10.00am Beds MK42 7AW to 6.00pm Flying Empress Kites Ltd 01234 840411 Nick James Kitemaker Saturday - 9.00am to [W/R/C/L/O] [email protected] [W/R/M/O/C] 5.30pm Thurnby, Greenfields Lane, The Kiteflier, Issue Page 11 Trade Directory 2005

Rowton, Chester CH3 6U Cornish Kites students to buy equip- surf shops, ski shops and 01244 335408 [S/R/M/O/C] ment. Learn some new Paragliding outfits etc). We [email protected] The Kiteshop, Meaver Road, and exciting sports and also publish the book www.flyingempress.com Mullion, Cornwall TR12 7DN have an excuse to spend "Kitesurfing - The Complete [SL] 01326 240144 even more time on Corn- Guide" Kite reels. We offer a huge Cornish- wall's beautiful beaches. range of high quality tradi- [email protected] Mobius use different loca- Devon tional Chinese Kites from www.mulliononline.com tions to suit changing wind Brookite Ltd our offices in Beijing. Many Low season; Monday to Sat- directions. All locations are [M/O/C/L] kites feature designs rich in urday 0900 to 1700hrs high no more than 30 mins from Brightley Mill, Okehampton, Chinese culture and symbol- season 7 days a week 0900 our base at Perranporth. Devon EX20 1RR ism, explained in depth in to 1800hrs Approved by the BKSA, Mo- 01837 53315 our literature. [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/JG/PK] bius offer lessons of the Fax: 01837 53223 Cash - 5% highest quality by fully Monday - Thursday 8:30am Kites Aloft qualified and insured in- - 4:45pm. Friday 8:30am - [S/R/F/L/O] The Extreme Store structors. Female tuition, 1:45pm 49 Bridge Street Row, Ches- On the Beach, Watergate group bookings and corpo- [email protected] ter CH1 1NW Bay, Cornwall TR8 4AA. rate days available. Children www.brookite.com 01244 311125 01637 860840 under 16 must be accompa- [MK/SL/KM/PK] Fax: 01244 315552 [email protected] nied by an adult Cash - 10% CC - 10% [email protected] www.extremestore.co.uk www.kitesaloft.com We specialise in recreational North Cornwall Four- Kiters Mon - Sat 09:30 - 17:30 kites, power/traction kites winds Flags & Flyers [R/O] Sun 11:00 - 17:00 and kitesurf equipment. We [R/F/E/L/O] 35 Carswells, Kingskerswell, [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK/ST/ run a traction and kitesurf Mobile Market Trader, PL31 Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 JG] school (IKO) and we oper- 1DP 5BL Outdoor games eg frisbee ate a demo centre for all 0788 4143 779 0845 226 9439 aerobie and flying Flexifoil products. info@fourwinds-flags- [email protected] things!! Can purchase on flyers.co.uk www.kiterz.com line and pick up at shop if Just Kites www.fourwinds-flags- [MK/SL/BG/ST] required On line kite club Trebetherick, Polzeath, Nr flyers.co.uk Sea Scooters, wetsuits, with loyalty scheme. Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 10am-5pm 7 days phone surfboards. Discount Available 6TL calls only, p&p service, or Cash - 10% CC - 10% 01208 862993 meet me out & about Cleveland [email protected] [MK/SK] On Shore Surf Store www.justkites.org I travel all around Cornwall [S/L/O] [S/W/R/C/L/O] mainly steam rallies, cara- Barton Road, Woolacombe, Bishopton Lake, Bishopton, Martin Lester van clubs, beaches, holiday EX34 7BA Stockton On Tees, Cleve- Lower Margate, Bodmin, parks, car shows, vintage 01271 870807 land TS21 1EY Cornwall PL30 4AL rallies etc [email protected] 01740 631199 01208 812422 Cash - 10% www.on-shore.co.uk Fax: 01740 631058 [email protected] Opening times vary [email protected] www.martinlester.co.uk Skyblue Leisure throughout the year. See www.surfstore.co.uk [R/F/L/O] website for up to date de- 9 - 6 Mon - Thur, 9 - 5 Fri, Mistral Kites 27 Pydar Close, Newquay, tails. Sat & Sun [S/R/F/L/O] Cornwall TR7 3BS [MK/SL/BK.BG/SK/PK/JG] [BG/SK] Higher Market Street, East 01637 873951 Flexifoil, Ozone, Peter Lynn, Lake based centre. Looe, Cornwall PL13 2PJ [email protected] DaKine, Libre and many 01503 263050 www.skyblueleisure.co.uk others. Discounts available Co Durham Mobile: 07812 130917 9 - 5 Mon - Sat for multiple and repeat pur- The Kiteman [email protected] [MK/SL/SK/PK] chases. [R/O/L/S] www.mistalkites.com Kites, windsocks and tele- Bluebell House, Market Summer Hours Tuesday - scopic poles. Powerballs Torquay Wind Surf Cen- Place, Middleton in Tees- Saturday 10:30 - 4:00 and other outdoor products. tre dale, Co Durham DL12 0QG Restricted hours in Win- Cash - 10% CC - 10% [S/R/L/O] 01833 640584 ter. Please phone - 55 Victoria Road, El- mal- all other times by ar- Cumbria lacombe, Torquay TQ1 1HX [email protected] rangement. Kinell Kites 01803 212411 www.kiteman.co.uk [MK/SL/BK/BG/PK/ST] [W/M/L] tor- Home business - phone be- Cash - 10%, CC - 5% Dale Foot, Mallerstang, [email protected] tween 10am and 5pm Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria www.kitesurfing- [SL/MK/BK/KM] Mobius Online CA17 4JT torquaywindsurfing.co.uk Kite festival/display organis- Perranporth (Nr Newquay), 0845 123 2555 Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 10.00- er. Kite workshops. Hope to Hayle (St Ives), Marazion Fax: 07092 384294 3.00pm Sat 10.00-5.30pm open Europe's first (Penzance), Hawkers cove [email protected] [MK/SL/BK/BG/SK/PK/ST] Kite Museum (Padstow), Par and Pen- www.kinellkites.com kites, boards, buggies, land in 2004. Specialise in Chi- tewan (St Austell). Office hours: 10-5 every- boards, wetsuits and all nese, Japanese and other 01637 83 13 83 day (summer) 10-5 Mon-Fri accessories. 1-day kitebug- Asian kites. School work- [email protected] (winter) gying courses £75 2-day shop materials. www.mobiusonline.co.uk [MK/BK] Kitesurfing courses £150 Cash - 5% March until November Wholesale in Uk through (Boat used) All year round [ST] TKC sales Ltd. (Though we max 4 persons per course. Cornwall Work along side shop's for do supply other outlets like IKO, BKSA, BBC. Page 12 The Kiteflier, Issue Trade Directory 2005

Cash - 10% CC - 10% 01202 247478 [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ 10:00 - 18:00 7 days [MK/SL/KM/JG] ST/JG] [SL/MK/BM/KM/BG/SK/PK] Waterfront Sports Cash - 5% The only specialist kite shop Paragliding equipment and [S/R] in Gloucestershire. holidays The Seafront, Exmouth, Essex We build Buggy parts to Cash - %10 CC - 10% Devon EX8 2AY FNK Limited order. Basic flight lessons 01395 276599 [W] and demos can be ar- Woolmer Forest Compo- pe- 40 High Street, Clacton-on- ranged. Mountain boards, sites [email protected] Sea, Essex CO15 1UQ sale, hire and instruction + [W/O/C] www.waterfrontsports.co.uk 01255 434116 parties. Out of hours open- 44 Hilland Rise, Headley Times: 10:00-13:00, 14:00 [email protected] ing available Bordon, Hampshire GU35 -17:30. Days: Mondays, Premier Kites and Rhombus Cash - 10% CC - 10% 8LZ Tuesdays (summer holidays Kites Wholesale. 01428 712126 only), Wednesdays, Thurs- Guernsey Fax: 01428 714914 days, Fridays, Saturdays, Kiteworld Trick of The Eye Kites [email protected] Sundays [S/F/O/L] [S/R/O/C] www.woolmer.co.uk [MKBK/BG/SK/PK/ST] 42 High Street, Clacton-on- Trompe L'Oeil, La Ramee, Open reasonable times! Kitesurfing kites & boards Sea, Essex CO15 1UQ St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 [KM] by Naish , Flexifoil & North. 01255 221059 2ER Carbon and Glass fibre rod, Powerkites by Flexifoil and [email protected] 01481 715405 tube and rectangular strip. HQ. Accessories & wetsuits www.kiteworld.co.uk Fax: 01481 715405 G-Force/Avia spars by Naish, Mystic, Da Kine, Seasonably variable open- carl@trick-of-the-eye- O'Neill Windsurfing sails by ing. Please check web site kites.co.uk Hertfordshire Naish, North & Tushingham. or phone www.trick-of-the-eye- Extreme Kite Sports by Windsurfing boards by [MK/SL/BG/SK/PK/JG] kites.co.uk County Kites Naish, Starboard & BiC . Land Yachts. Secure online 9.00 - late seven days [R/E/L/O] Also surfboards, kayaks, store. [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK] 35 Burleigh Road, Hertford, mountainboards, skate- Discount Given Mountain Boards Hertfordshire SG13 7HA boards, inliners, clothing Cash - 10% CC - 10% 07963 654683 from O'Neill, Animal, Sky Blooms 0870 020 3493 Quiksilver, Roxy. [W/R/F/M/O/C] Hampshire [email protected] c/o The Kite Society, P.O. Kites Up www.countykites.co.uk Dorset Box 2274, Gt Horkesley, [S/W/R/F/C/L] All day everyday by e-mail Hengistkites Colchester CO6 4AY The Studio, Station Road, or phone, if no reply leave a [S/R/M/O] 01206 271489 Cliddesden, Basingstoke message please! 106 Broadway, South- [email protected] RG25 2NL [PK/SK/BG] bourne, Bournemouth, Dor- www.skyblooms.co.uk 01256 812487 Powerkites, buggys, boards set BH6 4BH Home Business - Phone be- Fax: 01256 812487 and surf kites we also stock 01202 422133 tween 9:00 and 5:00. Wind- [email protected] Safety Equipment, kite ac- Fax: 01202 422133 socks and Banners a speci- www.kitesup.co.uk cessories, and clothing. The hen- ality. 10am to 5.30pm Mon to Fri only powerkite specialist [email protected] [SL] (please call on Fri- retailer in Hertfordshire, on- k Also specialises in wind- days). 10am to 5pm Sat line but giving a high level www.hengistkites.com socks, custom banners (please telephone first to of personal service, includ- 9:00am—17:30 Mon-Sat. ensure we are in first) ing try before you buy, free Sunday 9:00—14:00 Closed Skeleton Coast [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK] delivery and set up service. Tuesdays [S/L/O] Colourful kiting trou- [SL/MK/BM/KM/BG/PK/JG] 2A Queen Street, Colchester sers. Banners, Flags and Screaming Lines Distri- Spares and repairs. CO1 2PJ bespoke kites made to or- bution 01206 574500 der (dye-sublimation print- [W/E/C/L/O] F C Watersports [email protected] ing). 35 Burleigh Road, Hertford [S/R/O] www.skeletoncoast.co.uk Cash - 10% CC - 5% SG13 7HA 4 Banks Road, Sandbanks, Mon - Fri 10am-5.30pm, 0870 020 3493 Poole, Dorset BH13 7QB Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am- The Kiteshop Ltd [email protected] 01202 707757 4pm [R/O/L] www.screaminglines.com [email protected] [MK/SL/BG/SK/PK/ST] Unit 3, Compass Point, En- Open 08:00 - 19:00 Mon - www.fcwatersports.co.uk Mountainboards and Acces- sign Way, Hamble-le-Rice, Sat for trade enquires only 9am - 5.30pm 7 days a sories, Protective gear, Air Southampton SO31 4RA (No personal callers) week. toys, Skateboards, Long- 0845 130 4791 [MK/BG/SK/PK] [MK/SL/BG/SK] boards, extreme style cloth- [email protected] We stock Viokite, Kans Windsurfing, kitesurfing, ing. Mountainboard hire and www.kiteshop.co.uk Kitesports, and other prod- wakeboarding, kayaks, lessons available. 9am to 5:30pm Mon-Fri. ucts. bodyboards, surf cloth- Cash - 10% [SL/MK/BG/JG/PK] Cash - 5% ing. Check F C Watersports Cash - 10% CC - 5% Academy, 19 Banks Road, Highflyerz Herefordshire Sandbanks (next to the Gloucestershire [S/R/O/L] Airdynamics Sandbanks Hotel) IKO and Kite 'n' Sk8 6 Briarswood Rise, Dibden [W/M/O/L] BKSA kitesurf school. [S/R/F/M/O/L] Purlieu, Southampton SO45 P O Box 22, Hereford HR4 29 Silver Street, Dursley, 5SW 8UW James Hartley Glos GL11 4NA 023 8084 5791 01432 271598 [W/R/F/M/O] 08456 589299 Mobile: 07708 292 675 Fax: 01432 271598 1 Bethia Close, Bourne- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] mouth, Dorset BH8 9BB www.gruntys.co.uk www.highflyerz.co.uk www.airdynamics.co.uk The Kiteflier, Issue Page 13 Trade Directory 2005

[MK/SL] Whitstable WIndsurfing customers to hire bikes Kites & More Cash - 5% CC - 5% [S/R/L/O] around £3000! As we [S/R/O/C] Beach Walk, Whitstable, change our fleet every sea- 18 Water Lane, Threeking- Isle of Wight Kent CT5 2BP son customers can purchase ham, Lincolnshire NG34 0BE Racing Finish 01227 276566 prestige ex-demo bikes for 01529 240908 [M/R/E] mark@whitstablewindsurfin a fraction of the cost. We Fax: 01529 241080 Tenneyson Road, Cowes, g.com also house the biggest bike [email protected] Isle of Wight, PO31 7PY. www.whitstablewindsurfing. showroom in the UK selling www.kites4u.co.uk Mobile: 07771 785956 com bikes including Kona, Rocky Flexible Visits by appoint- [email protected] 10 - 5:30 6 days a week, 10 Mountain, Cove, Giant and ment www.racingfinish.co.uk - 2 Sundays. Raleigh. All our bikes are [MK/SL/BK/BG/PK] G10 Fins, Footpads, Foot- [MK/BK/BG/SK/PK/ST] full serviced and are quali- CLIMAX kite line, Beach straps, Carbon Footplates. Wetsuits, mountain boards, ty. Rolly, Glove Puppets and Carbon kitesurf boards. Car- kiteboards, snowboards, more .. bon mountain boards. clothes, boots and Knowledgeable and friendly Cash - 10% CC - 5% Cash: 10% shoes. We carry a huge staff help customers with range of kitesurfing equip- the often complex proce- London Jersey ment with often more than dure of buying a kite. Flex- Carl Robertshaw Kite Re- Conjuring Kites Ltd 100 kites in stock. foil kites and accessories lated Design Also known as Seakites. Cash - 5% are one of our fastest grow- [W/R/M/O/C/L] [S/R/O] ing ranges. Please pop 46 Bond House, 20-32 17 Cheapside, St Helier, Lancashire down - you never know Goodwood Road, London Jersey JE2 3PG Barracuda Buggys what you might find!! SE14 6BL 01534 618548 [R/M/E/C/L/O] 020 8691 9560 Mobil: 07797 727207 130D Liverpool Road, Skel- Rutland Water Cycling offers Mobile: 07976 560835 (Sacha) mersdale, Lancashire WN8 up to date clothing ranges Fax 020 8691 9560 Fax: 01534 607032 8BX and bike accessories. Fox, [email protected] [email protected] 01695 727725 Polaris and Gill offer warm www.kitestudio.com www.conjuringkites.co.uk in- coats and snug base layers, 10:00 - 18:00 Mon - Fri Saturdays from 11am and [email protected] perfect for this time of year, [SL/ST] by appointment. www.barracudabuggys.co.u plus lots more. Billabong, All kites are made to order, [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ k Quiksilver, Roxy and Oakley also tensioned fabric struc- ST/JG] Kitelines and handles. Man- satisfy the more fashion tures for architects and de- Fire equipment. VAT free ufacturer of custom high minded customer, allowing signers. prices spec buggys and retailer for relaxed shopping without U-Turn kites. the prices and crowds of the Kite Corner Kent big city! [S/R/O/L] Air Born Kites Greens Of Burnley 657 Watford Way, Mill Hill, [S/R/L/O] P.O.Box 105, Burnley, Lancs Lincolnshire London NW7 3JR Unit 082c, Upper Thames BB11 4GN EMKAY 020 8959 0619 Walk, Bluewater, Green- 01282 426643 [W/C] Fax: 020 8906 2599 hithe, Kent DA9 9SR Fax: 01282 426643 Unit 1, Hadley Road, [email protected] 01322 427000 [email protected] Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7EG www.kitecorner.co.uk enquir- www.greenskites.com 0845 130 1161 10 AM - 6PM SUMMER M0N [email protected] Fax: 01529 415700 -SAT. 10 AM – 5PM WIN- www.airbornkites.co.uk Leisure Lakes The Kite [email protected] TER WED - SAT [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ Store www.emkay-kites.co.uk [MK/SL/BK/BG/SK/PK] JG] 1st Floor, 124 Rochdale Visit to our showroom by Airtoys and fireworks (all Cash - 10% CC - 5% Road, Bury, Lancs BL9 7AY appointment only. year round). We specialise 0161 797 5625 [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK/SK] in ‘one to one’ communica- Allgoodfun Ltd Fax: 0161 797 4332 All types of kites, kite lines, tion to ensure our custom- [S/R/F/M] Manchester@leisure- windgames and accesso- ers get the item best suited 149-153 London Road, lakes.co.uk ries. Trade enquiries wel- to their requirements – Dunton Green, nr Seven- come. please ‘phone for discus- oaks, Kent TN13 2UP Leicestershire sions 0870 3003 213 Rutland Water Cycling Inflight Cash - 5% Fax: 01732 462213 [S/L/O] [M/O] [email protected] Whitwell Leisure Park, nr Unit 53, Normanby Park The Kite Store Ltd www.allgoodfun.com Oakham, Rutland LE15 8BL Workshops, Normanby [S/R/O/C] Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-5pm 01780 460705 Road, Scunthorpe DN15 48 Neal Street, London [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ Fax: 01780 460792 8QZ WC2H 9PA ST] [email protected] 01724 280307 020 7836 1666 Have exclusive distribution www.rutlandcycling.co.uk Fax: 01724 282172 Fax: 020 7836 2510 of Wicked Fish kiteboards, Winter: 9.00am to 5.30pm [email protected] 10:00 - 6:00 Mon - Fri. (Jan where you buy what you Summer: 9.00am to www.skynasoars.co.uk - March). Rest of year want - we make it to your 6.00pm Normally 9:00 - 5:00 visi- 10:00 - 6:00 Mon - Wed & ideas, or choose one of our [MK/BK/BG/PK] tors should telephone in Fri. 10:00 - 7:00 Thur. own versions. Manufacturer As a rapidly expanding fam- advance 10:30 - 6:00 Sat. 11:00 - of Allgoodfun quad line ily run business, we are Inflatable kites : fan blown 5:00 Sunday (December power foils and have com- becoming a one s shop for inflatables, windsock sculp- only) plete in-house kite repair those who love the out- tures, wind blades, banners [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ and manufacturing. doors. We house Europe's and flags ST] Premier Bike Fleet allowing Estes and other rockets. Page 14 The Kiteflier, Issue Trade Directory 2005

Discs, Radio controlled glasses www.cochranes.co.uk Road, Troon KA10 6QR blimps, Gliders and Planes. Location = only 1 mile off 01292 316611 Tin boats. Assorted air toys the A149 main road going Scotland Fax: 01292 316611 Cash - 5% CC - 5% through to Hunstanton, Adventure Hebrides [email protected] Updated: 24/03/05 Brancaster and Wells which [R] www.windthings.co.uk are excellent kite beaches 20a Coll, Isle of Lewis HS2 Sat/Sun/Mon 12noon to Middlesex 0JR 6pm. Tue/Wed/Fri 12noon Dotkites Windseekers 01851 820726 to 7pm. Thur CLOSED. [M/E] [S/R/F/L/O] [email protected] [MK/SL/BK/BG/SK/ST] 8 Harvil Road, Harefield, Staith Street, Wells-next- m Mountain Boards, kitesurf Middlesex UB9 6JR the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1AN www.AdventureHebrides.co DVDs. Wind things 2 are a 01895 823315 01328 710718 m fully insured traction & Mobile: 07976 734168 [email protected] Contact for opening times. kitesurf centre with a team [email protected] www.windseekers.co.uk [MK/SL/BG/ST] of qualified expert instruc- www.dotkites.com Summer = 09.30-17.30 We run power kite training tors offering tuition in all Anytime (Mon-Fri) 09.00-17.30 (Sat) in Lewis and Harris in the aspects of traction kiting at [MK] 10.00-16.00 (Sun) Winter = Outer Hebrides. a number of excellent ven- Please telephone 01328 ues in Scotland. Inter Active Kites 710718 Another Planet [M/O/C] [MK/SL/KM/BG/SK/PK] [S/R/O] Shropshire 36 Lawrence Drive, Icken- Aerobie, Windsocks, 34 Ashley Terrace, Edin- High Sports ham, Uxbridge, Middlesex Windwheels, Kiting Accesso- burgh EH11 1RE [S/R/C/O] UB10 8RW ries and Repair Parts. Se- 0131 337 0072 51-52 Wyle Cop, Shrews- 01895 461692 cure ordering is available Fax: 0131 337 4753 bury, Shropshire SY1 1XJ theskydanc- via our website. Telephone [email protected] 01743 231649 [email protected] lines are open 08.30-21.30 www.another-planet.com Fax: 01743 231649 www.theskydancer.co.uk every day for information or www.intowind.com/ [email protected] [MK] telephone orders www.highsports.co.uk Quad line only Cash - 10% CC - 10% Extreme Zone 9-5.30pm every day except [S/R/L/O] Sundays Norfolk Northumberland 20 Portland Place, Troon, [MK/BG] Oceanside Gokites on Tour Ayrshire KA10 8AB Paragliding and mountains 8 Southend Road, Hunstan- [F/L/O] 01292 676010 sports equipment ton, Norfolk PE36 5AW Aldersyde, Station Road, [email protected] Cash - 15% CC - 15% 01485 534455 Cramlington, Northumber- www.extreme-zone.co.uk [email protected] land NE23 1EN 9.00am - 5.00pm Closed Secta Kites www.oceanside.co.uk 01670 731350 Wednesday. [M/C/L/O] We are also the distributors Fax: 0191 267 2095 [MK/SL/BK.BG/SK/PK/ST/ The Yellow Suite, 7 Stuart for Flysurfer kites/boards [email protected] JG] Way, Market Drayton, and Kiteloose kiteboards www.gokites.co.uk Snowboards and equip- Shropshire TF9 3TT [MK/SL/KM/BG/PK] ment, skateboards, ATB's, 07967 304951 Raindrop Cash - 10% CC - 10% Kitewings, dirtsurfers. [email protected] [S/W/R/F/M/O/C/L] Cash - 10% CC - 10% www.sectakites.com Helen Howes, 4 The Raven- Nottingham 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to ingham Centre, Beccles Airboss World Ltd Kite HQ Aberdeen Friday 09:00 to 17:00 Sat- Road, Raveningham, Nor- [S/R/L/O] [S/R/C/L] urday 09:00 to 16:00 Sun- wich, Norfolk NR14 6NU 62 Main street, East Leake, 29 St Andrew Street, Aber- day 01508 548137 LE12 6PG deen, AB25 1JA [MK/KM/BG] Mobile: 07732 911669 0870 321 2130 01224 649644/825900 Buggy wheels and [email protected] 01509 852693 Fax: 01244 709440 tyres. Buggy Up- www.raindropkites.co.uk [email protected] [email protected] grades. Buggy powder 11:00 - 4:00 Monday - Fri- www.airbossworld.co.uk www.kitehq.co.uk coating day. Weekends by appoint- Tues - Sat 10am-5:30pm 9am - 6pm All Secta products are pro- ment Store. [MK/SL/BG/SK/PK/ST] duced in the UK. [SL] Mon - Sun 10am-5pm Cash - 5% CC - via Paypal Cash - 5% CC - 5% Single line kitemaker, own School 5% makes only, from stock and [MK/BK/BG/SK/PK/ST] commission. Banners, tex- We also stock all downhill SkyBums Kite Designers tiles works, Sky Theatre mountain board brands. [R/F/O/C/L] productions. Club Boss members receive PKD UK Distribution 7 Sunnyfields, Bell Lane, up to 10% discount on [W/M/L] Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 Surf 55 Lifestyle Sports items purchased. We run 30 Murrayfield Gardens, 5EW [S/R/O] an interest free short term Edinburgh EH12 6DF 01743 244677 125 Wootton Road, Kings credit system on all items 0131 313 4353 [email protected] Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4DJ purchased over £150. Fax: 0131 313 1353 www.kites4.co.uk 01553 679090 [email protected] 10am—6pm Closed Mon Fax: 01553 679090 Oxfordshire www.pkdkites.co.uk [SL/MK/KM/BG/PK/ST] [email protected] Cochranes of Oxford Ltd [MK/PK] Commissions, Banners, www.surf55.co.uk Leafield, Witney, Oxon Wholesale only. Flags and Workshops. 9-5:30 Mon- Sat OX29 9NY [MK/SL/BK/BG/SK/PK] 01993 878641 Windthings 2 Somerset watersports, skates, skate- Fax: 01993 878416 [S/L/O] Kite-n-Buggy Co boards, bikes, clothes, sun- [email protected] Unit 7, Block 8, Dukes [S/R/O] The Kiteflier, Issue Page 15 Trade Directory 2005

Dimmer, Castle Cary, Som- equipment, IKO Instructors 01243 576425 www.celtickites.co.uk erset BA7 7NR and we are affiliated to Kite [email protected] www.celtickiteschool.co.uk 01963 351482 Surf East Anglia www.macfighterkites.co.uk 09:00 - 17:00 Mon - [email protected] (www.kitesurfea.co.uk), the 8am to 9pm Sat. Tue closed at k BKSA registered club for the [SL/KM] 4pm. Sun at beach There most days - call first. East of England. [MK/SL/BK/BG/SK/PK/ST/ [MK/SL/KM/BG/SK/PK/ST] Megakites JG] Kite workshops for large Kiteboarding UK [R/F/O/L/E] Clothing, toys etc. Cardiff's and small groups. [S/L/O] 1A New Broadway, Tarring Premier kite shop. 301 London Road South, Road, Worthing, West Sus- Cash - 5% CC - 5% UFO Powerkites Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 sex BN11 4HP Dan Leigh Delta Kite De- [S/O] 0DX 0870 200 6360 signs 41 Alexandra Parade, Wes- 0871 711 5151 [email protected] [R/M/O/C/L] ton-super-Mare, North [email protected] www.megakites.co.uk 54 Osborne Road, Ponty- Somerset BS23 1QZ www.kiteboardinguk.com Online retailer - open 24 pool, Gwent NP4 6LX 01934 644988 10:30 to 17:30 most days hours a day. 01495 750875 Fax: 01934 644988 of the week Please call for [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ www.deltakites.com [email protected] appointments ST] Down rigs for falcon training www.ufopowerkites.com [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ Cash - 5% CC - 5% 10 - 5:30 Mon - Sat ST] Kitesurf Wales [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PG/ Full extreme watersports Rye Water Sports The Rectory, Pennal, ST/JG] shop. We have a kite [S] Machynlleth, Powys SY20 Skate Equipment training school as well as Northpoint Water, New Lydd 9JS Cash - 5% our own KUK club, one of Road, Camber, Rye, East 07739 031593 the biggest in the UK, kiting Sussex TN31 7QS [email protected] Fabrics-n-Stuff at Lowestoft, Kessingland, 01797 225238 www.kitesurfwales.co.uk [E/L] Sea Palling and Hunstanton Fax: 01233 758684 All day, Every Day 45 St Austell Road, Weston- every Sunday [email protected] [MK/BG/SK/PK/ST] Super-Mare, BS22 8LJ Cash - 10% www.ryewatersports.co.uk Kite surf Wales is based in 01934 414166 [MK/SL/BG/SK/ST] between Aberdovey and jean.smith@fabrics-n- Sussex (East & West) Harnesses windsurfing Borth, in mid west Wales. stuff.co.uk Air Born Kites equipment. Specifically a Perfect kiting locations for www.fabrics-n-stuff.co.uk [S/R/L/O] kitesurfing school both land and water kiting. Open 24 Hours (Online shop 42 Gardner Street, Bright- Open 7 days a week, all only) on, East Sussex BN1 1UN Tyne & Wear year round. Qualified in- [KM] 01273 676740 Airotherapy structors and up to date kit. Fax: 01273 676752 [S/R/O/L] Power kite shops, kite Suffolk enquir- 25 East Street, Whitburn, sports demo centre Edgeriders Extreme [email protected] Tyne & Wear SR6 7BY Sports www.airbornkites.co.uk 0191 529 4400 Scruffs [S/R/O/L] 10-5:30 Mon-Fri. 10-6 Sat. [email protected] [S/R/O/C/L] 53 Upper Orwell Street, 12-5 Sun. www.airotherapy.com The Full Kiting Experience, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1HP [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ Wed to Fri 2.30 to Lluest House, Pant-Y-Gog, 08452 260760 JG] 5.30. Sat 11.00 to Pontycmer, Bridgend, Wales [email protected] Cash - 10% CC - 5% 5.30. Sun 11.00 to 1.00 CF32 8DR www.edgeriders.com [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK/JG] 01656 871871 SHOP OPEN ALL YEAR: Coastguard Kites Boomerang, kite related art, Fax: 01656 870000 Mon - Sat 10AM - 5.30PM [R/O/M/L] mountain board. [email protected] Sun 10AM - 2PM(April-Sept) East Grinstead, West Sus- Discount available. www.kiteshops.com Please call before travelling sex www.thekitingexperience.co on Sun-Tues due to events 08702 401018 GoKites m and demos [email protected] [S/W/R/F/O/L] 10:00 - 5:30 Tue-Sat all [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ www.coastguard-kites.com 10 Denton Park Shopping year. ST] [ALL] Centre, West Denton Way, [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK/ST/ Secure online store, kitesurf Cash - 10% CC - 5% Newcastle Upon Tyne NE5 JG] training(BKSA Instruc- 2QZ Land boards, ATBs, Dirtsurf- tors) and discounts availa- Flying High 0191 267 2075 ers, Clothing, Eyewear, ble. We specialise in Ex- [E/L/O] Fax: 0191 267 2095 Wind meters, Kite lights, treme Sports which include Sawyers Close, Burgess Hill, [email protected] extensive range of lines and kitesurfing, powerkiting, West Sussex RH15 0QB www.gokites.co.uk accessories. Stockists of snowkiting, kite landboard- 07890 396166 9 - 5 Mon - Sat kites by Flexifoil, O-Zone, R ing and more.... [email protected] [MK/SL/KM/BG/PK/ST] -Sky, Benson, l'Atelier, Ad- We stock Flexifoil, Takoon, www.flyinghigh.me.uk Boomerangs, airtoys and vance, Libre, HQ, Hooter- Cabrinha, RRD, Ozone, PKD, [MK/BG] Diablos mans etc. Large showroom Peter Lynn, Mystic Kite- Buggies, a huge range of Cash - 10% CC - 10% including exhibitions of boarding, Dakine, Litewave, buggy tyres, rims and some older kites. Education Brunotti, HQ, Libre, Carve, tubes. Wales resource centre. Set in Kheo and all manner of ex- Celtic Kites landscaped grounds with treme sports equipment Mac Fighter Kites [S/R] car park and coffee bar, including wakeboarding, [W/R/F/M] Unit 7a, Gripoly Mills, SLop- Scruffs is just 5m north of snowboarding, landboard- 3 The Avenue, Hambrook, er Road, Cardiff CF11 8AA M4 J36 on the A4064 – fol- ing, clothing, accesso- Chichester, West Sussex 02920 343030 low the Brown Tourism ries. We provide demo PO18 8TZ [email protected] Signs. Page 16 The Kiteflier, Issue Trade Directory 2005

Land boards, buggies, safe- [MK/BK/BG/PK/ST] Cash - 10% CC - 10% Spider Traction ty gear, clothing, eye wear, Full range of accessories, [M/L] own brand of kite bags and landboards and flying toys. Active Edge 13 New Street, Burry Port, holdalls. Vast range of fit- Some kitesurfing kites [S/R/] Carmarthenshire, Wales tings lines and accessories, stocked (eg Peter Lynn Twin 153 The Mill, Glasshouse, SA16 0RT rod and tube in carbon fibre Skin range). Demo kites Harrogate, North Yorkshire 01554 834576 and fibreglass. Kites by- and buggies always availa- HG3 5QH Fax: 01554 834576 Flexifoil, PKD, Ozone, HQ, ble. Please use freefone 0845 129 8286 [email protected] Eolo-Gayla, Rhombus, number 08000-890-335 for Fax: 0845 129 8286 www.spidertraction.ic24.net Premier and many more. availability. Try before you [email protected] Open 24/7 Fighter kites and accesso- buy! 2 mins from Hoylake www.activeedge.co.uk [MK/BG/PK/ST] ries from around the world. beach. Power kite and bug- Mon - Fri 9:30 - 5pm. Any Discount available Check out our monthly spe- gy training available. other time by appointment The Beach House cials page !! Cash - 10% CC - 10% [MK/SL/BK/BG/] [S] Cash - 10% CC - 5% Paragliding and Kite Sports 10 New Street, Aberdovey, Worcestershire Gwynedd, Mid Wales LL35 Powerkiteshop eXtremekiteshop Anti-Gravity 0EH [S/R/F/O/C] [S/R/F/O/L] 8 Colliergate, York YO1 8BP 01654 767030 Studio 4, Euro Business Action Sports Park, Worces- 01904 631696 01654 767979 Park, Summerton Road, ter Road, Holt, Worcester [email protected] Fax: 01654 767030 Oldbury, West Midlands B69 WR6 6NH www.anti-gravity.co.uk craig@the-beach- 2EL 01905 620044 house.co.uk 0870 240 5677 Fax: 01905 620022 Anti-Gravity www.the-beach- Fax: 0121 552 1938 [email protected] Corn Exchange Shops, Call house.co.uk [email protected] www.extremekiteshop.com Lane, Leeds LS1 7BR [MK/SL/NK/BG/SK/PK/ST] www.powerkiteshop.com 10:00am - 5:30pm Mon - 0113 244 3592 Surfing & wakeboard equip- Shop open 10:00am until Sat. 10:00am - 5:00pm [email protected] ment/ mountain boards, 6pm 5 days a week (we fly Sun. www.anti-gravity.co.uk safety gear & lifestyle cloth- on the other two) but con- [BK/BG/SK/PK/ST] Mon - Sat 10:00 - ing. BBC/PKSF qualified tact anytime for service Dealer of power kites, bug- 5:30. Sun 11:00 - 4:30 powerkite instructor school help or advice! gies, landboards, kite- & demo. [MK/BK/BG/SK/PK/ST] boards, and accessories. All Five-Forty Kitesports aspects of kite training of- [S/R/O/L] Turbulence Selly Oak Juggling and fered by fully qualified staff 659 - 661 Ecclesall Road, [S/R/O/L] Kites on our purpose built lake Hunters Bar, Sheffield S11 148 Conwy Road, Llandudno [S/R/O] and field area. Information 8PT Junction, North Wales LL31 800 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, on all kite related sports. 0114 266 0321 9DU Birmingham B29 6NA Also includes safety advice. in- 08456 589656 0121 472 5775 Cash - 10% CC - 10% [email protected] [email protected] juggl- www.fivefortykitesports.co. www.ukkiting.com ing.shop.birmingham@tiny Kaos uk Mon - Fri. 10 - 6. Sat 9 - world.co.uk [R/F/L/O] Tue - Sat 10:30 - 5:30, late 6. www.juggling-kites.co.uk Mail Order Address: 32 Lyt- night Web 7pm. [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/ Mon - Sat 10am - 5:30pm tleton Street, Worcester [MK/BK/KM/BG/SK/PK/JG] ST/JG] [MK/SL/BK/BG/PK/JG] WR1 3JN Walk-in shop and online Kite buggy school. National Air sports, magic, unicycles, 01905 611820 store. Flexifoil and Peter Instructor training centre stunt kites. [email protected] Lynn main dealers. Many for kite buggying, Kite surf www.kaosuk.com other brands stocked. Pow- School. Mountain boards Wiltshire Online store, mailorder and er Kites, mountain boards and clothing. The Family Adventure festival trader and kitesurf sales. Cash - 5% CC - 5% Store [MK/SL/KM/BG/PK/JG] Marsh Farm, Hilperton, Air toys, comprehensive West Midlands Trowbride, Wiltshire BA14 puppet range, circus Kite Works UK 7PJ toy. Professional circus [S/W/R/F/M/O/C/L] 01225 768630 entertainer ,juggler, stilt The Studio, 22 Cranfield Mobile: 07971 252394 walker, stilt-cyclist, fire per- Place, Delves, Walsall, West www.familyadventurestore. former, clown, circus work- Midlands WS5 4PL co.uk shop, double-act and more. Tel:01922 624739 Powerkites along with www.stevekaos.com Fax:01922 624739 Trampolines, canoes, kay- Cash - 10% CC - 5% [email protected] aks, and weird fish clothing www.kiteworks.co.uk Yorkshire 10am-6pm Mon - Sat. April Action Pact to October trading at festi- [S/R/O] If you know of a Kite vals across the UK. During Wirral 26 Mayfield Road, Harro- trader that is missing this period Friday and Sat- Pro Kites Ltd gate, North Yorkshire HG1 then please let us urday no answer at studio [R/E/L/O] 5HB know. You can use the call mobile for sevice 0777 24 Waverley Road, Hoylake, 01423 560001 form on our web site: 564 3746 or send email and Wirral CH47 3DD [email protected] we will contact on our re- 08000 890 335 www.action-pact.co.uk www.thekitesociety.org turn. [email protected] Mon- Sat 10am - 5pm. .uk [MK/SL/BK/KM/BG/PK/ST/ www.prokites.com [MK/BG/PK] JG] 24 hour availability Mountainboards PMIMr ICIIIIIalndlan Flgher Kltell ._.. LIBe --··~ FeMurlng 4101CP ...... Ray Te..nAd,.... ID open la .1rJt- T--Sp•W um Kite fiJing for vlaltors

Craft F r IWralluaaats Klteltlllls Camping Fwt~rt. w..~en ,._ ClltlrJI• c.11 ot.m 141825 •1111 ROTARY CLUB OF ROYSTON

KITE FESTIVAL 2005 Sales Assistant

Therfield Heath Required Baldock Road West midlands based kite retailer requires sales assistant to help at kite festivals across the UK Royston from April through to October 2005 Herts Reliability is essential and a basic knowledge of kites and associated products is preferred but not necessary as full training will be given to the Sunday August 7th 2005 successful applicant.

So if you like kites and enjoy travelling we would like 1 0.30 am - 4.30 pm to hear from you. For further details please contact-

Spectacular Kite Kite Making Work­ Keith White Flying displays shop Tel: 01922 624739 ( Mobile: 07775643746 [email protected]. Teddy bear Flights Refreshments Page 18 The Kiteflier, Issue Bits And Pieces

New from EMKAY Kites in Lincolnshire are a "It's worrying that there's little control over variety of new kite lines for this season. DA- moving dangerous weapons round." CRON lines for single lines are now available in strengths from 10daN/20lbs up to A spokesman for Business Post said: "The op- 500daN/1100lbs and also swivels that support erator concerned with the error in question weights up to 1500lbs. has been retrained to ensure he understands fully the possible consequences of such er- For power, sport and competition flyer they rors. have a range of high performance lines from the Climax line system for kites. NEW this "We have also informed the French distributor season will be Climax combat 4-line sets for that consignments of firearms will not be ac- Buggy, Surf and Snow Kiting. cepted for delivery in future."

For single line flyers EMKAY provides large Kite Record Attempt. An update on the kites like Cody, Genki and 4m Deltas in addi- progress of the world single kite altitude rec- tion to a large range of fun kites. For the ord attempt. Accommodation is booked for power addict RHOMBUS Firebee Force (a Cobar, a remote part of NSW, Australia. I will much improved Firebee) and AMUN High Per- be at Cable Downs, a 50,000 acre sheep sta- formance 4 line kites are NEW in 2005. tion (ranch) 40 km north west of the Cobar township. I will be flying from a disused air- For more news and information and a stockist strip. near you email your address to in- [email protected] or write to EMKAY Kites – Unit I've almost completed the modifications to 1 Hadley Road, Woodbridge Road Industrial the winch and have added a capstan, storage Estate, Sleaford, Lincs. NG34 7EG. reel, an adjustable line tensioning clutch and a line laying system. The whole device will be Kite man's rifle delivery shock. A man mounted on a steel post on a box trailer so it who ordered parts for a kite buggy was can swivel like a tank turret. The line payout shocked when he received two Winchester ri- is measured with a digital meter, triggered by fles instead. a magnet on the capstan drum. Line retrieval is 4,600 metres/hour. Andy Coptcoat, from Berkshire, ordered two steel tubes through Bristol-based Atmosphere The line is 9,500 metres of 200lb Spectra, a Kites, who forwarded the order to its suppliers high density, braided Polyester fibre. This line in France. is 0.8mm thick. As I had bad experiences at the October testing due to poor line splices, I "I thought the shape of the package looked have focused on line integrity and have strange and when I checked it, the two fire- checked the entire line 3 times. That is nearly arms were inside," he said. 30,000 metres of line! i also made a line test- ing rig and the Spectra measured between A spokesman for carrier Business Post, 195 - 210 lbs breaking strain. Their will be blamed human error, saying there had been a "fusible link" near the bridle. This will consist mix-up with labels. of 160lb braided Dacron. If the kite encoun- ters unexpected high winds, rather that Mr Coptcoat, 34, took the guns to Reading breaking near the winch, the line will break police station, but said he was horrified they near the kite. The kite will drift to ground could so easily be sent through the post. quicker and eliminate the chance of the line dragging through the countryside, prolonging "They were shipped in cardboard boxes and its flight or snagging a tree and flying outside not secured, I could've been stopped by the the allocated zone. The line will also drop police or the car could have been stolen and more quickly. the guns fallen into the wrong hands," he said. Four other people will be assisting me, Mi- chael Richards, kite builder, Hugh Moore, sur- Alistair McHardy, from Atmosphere Kites, veyor, Greg Moore, mechanic and David said: "The parts still appear to be stuck on Moore, photographer. the French side, but we've placed a new or- der. The guns were apparently meant for a We will be at the site from April 24th - April dealer. 30th. The Kiteflier, Issue Page 19 Bits And Pieces

The Air Safety Authority as allocated a 40km diameter and 20,000 ft high zone. There are VINTAGE BOX KITE strict conditions I must adhere to such as no A rare opportunity to acquire a Vintage Box night flying, not flying in cloud and not flying Kite by Findlayson Bousfield and Company in winds over 25 knot ground equivalent. The Limited,Johnstone, Scotland. nearby weather station will play a vital role by providing wind data from ground to high alti- This item is in good condition and consists of tude via daily balloon Radio Sonde flights. metal frames attached to fabric panels, with a The kite is a 12 sq metre full cell Conyne Del- cord leading from the kite to an octagonal ta. It has a three legged bridal with elastic cardboard cord storage box with the makers lower and centre legs. These will limit the pull logo name and location shown. generated and smooth out gusts. This kite easily flew to 7,500 + ft in the October test- Instructions on how to assemble the kite are ing before the a splice separated at the 3,000 printed on one of the canvas panels. Also kite metres point. The altitude will be measured M=357-A which may be a model number, as with onboard GPS and two theodolites spaced well as various other information. 1 km apart. The later will be rendered useless by cloudy conditions but with 27 years experi- A really outstanding unusual item which has ence as a survey technician, Hugh can meas- survived in such good condition. A collectors ure positional accuracy to within 1 metre. This item or toy for the nostalgic. is better than the manufactures claim for the GPS. Sold for £72.00

It should take, at the most, 3 hours to reach Kiteplane Challenge. A kite which is as sta- the target altitude of 18,000 ft in ideal condi- ble and controllable as an airplane. A tions. It may take about an hour longer to kiteplane! And you are going to design it. And winch it back. If I am successful at reaching in doing so you will compete for a number of 14,500 ft I will apply to the Guiness Book and prizes, as well as, be a hero for the sustaina- the newly established AKA records committee ble future! for recognition. I need to satisfy all their evi- dential criteria. After 2 years of research and The kiteplane challenge is a design competi- preparation, I am quietly confident of break- tion, which has been organized by ASSET. ing the record. I have nearly completed my The purpose of the kiteplane challenge is to Web site. innovate the current kite ideas and to show the general public the enormous potential a Bob Moore kite has. Anyone who feels the need to pick up this challenge can compete. Not just stu- From the Pages of Ebay. dents, but hobbyists and other enthusiasts Historic BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Kite Flying Elec- are also invited to pick up the gauntlet and tricity 1752 Magazine & Much More - Historic ! start designing their remote controlled kite. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, De- cember, 1752. Inside this issue is a wonder- All designs will enter a competition on the fully historical accounting of an almost leg- beach of Scheveningen in the weekend of Au- endary event in history. The article gives a gust 6th 2005. During the competition, the splendid account of instructions on how to participants will have to fly their designs, "...build a kite out of a large thick silk hand- picking up small buckets and setting them kerchief and a wire to draw the electric fire down in different locations. The challenge is out of..." storm clouds. The article is signed in to acquire as many points as possible. The type: "B.F." for Benjamin Franklin. The article participant who has gathered the most points gives some nice details on this event--rarely will win the grand prize of 1000 euro. An in- found in periodicals of that time! This 40+ novation price of 750 euro can also be won by page issue includes 3 full page plates includ- the most innovative design. ing a watercolour print of "The Crested Fly- Catcher". Also the full title/index page with an Are you prepared for this challenge? Do you engraving of St. John's Gate. Measures about think you can do better than anyone else? Do 5 by 8 inches. Great condition & a very signif- you want to contribute to a sustainable fu- icant issue. INTERESTING VINTAGE READING. ture? Enter the kiteplane challenge now at Great for framing! Starting bid was $270— www.kiteplane.com but no bids received. Page 20 The Kiteflier, Issue Bits And Pieces

Kites Generate Electricity inform air traffic control of its position. Stabil- Kiteplanes Power Up. The wind energy at ity of the wings is important in the unpredict- 30,000ft is 20 times more powerful than at able, turbulent winds near the ground, but sea level. Flying a kite in the park has in- the kites higher up the system would support spired an innovative concept to generate elec- the lower cable, said Ockels. The most critical tricity from powerful winds miles above the aspect is controlling rotation about the cable earth. axis. The team plans to control this by chang- ing the kites' shape, or by fitting small propel- The 'Laddermill' concept, envisaged by a team lers, which could be controlled remotely or by at Delft Technical University in the Nether- 'smart kites' that reposition themselves. lands, is a chain of wings or kites attached to Drachen Foundation. The Drachen Founda- a looped cable stretching up to 10km high. tion has quite a few books Available for pur- The 'kiteplanes' exert an upwards force on one side of the loop and a downwards force on the other, causing the cable to rotate and power a generator in the base station. The kiteplanes' angle and shape can be altered to generate the opposing forces needed.

Delft University team leader Prof Wubbo Ock- els, an ex-astronaut and head of ESA's educa- tion office, said the wind energy at 30,000ft is 20 times more powerful than at sea level. 'Above a certain altitude there is a massive amount of wind power,' he said. 'Kites that can tap into that wind can generate a great deal of energy.' One Laddermill could gener- Kiteplane Options ate 100MW, the researchers claimed, com- pared to only a few MW for conventional wind turbines. chase and it always worth a look to see what At the recent European Wind Energy Confer- they have. ence, the The Laddermill team announced plans to test a variety of kiteplane designs One of the newer publications is the ‘Samuel next year using inflatable and lightweight ma- Franklin Cody Pictorial’, price $15.00. terials. A working model will be built in the next four years, e4engineering.com reported. This is the first of four volumes to be pub- The apparent dangers of a structure extend- lished by The Drachen Foundation on the ing kilometers above the earth could be over- flamboyant life of Samuel Franklin Cody. come, the researchers said. 'If the wind dropped the Laddermill would drift gently to This pictorial collection includes many of Co- the ground', said Ockels. 'We want to be safe. dy’s professional portraits from his acting Flexible or inflatable kites wouldn't be hazard- days, glimpses of his family, his innovative ous; the worst that would happen would be kites, gliders and airships, and his successes the kite becoming dirty when it landed,' he with powered flight. said. 'We would only operate the system with a good forecast and the wings would be This edition is curated by Cody collector and adapted to weather patterns.' authority Jean Roberts, England. Many of the pictures; published for the first time, comes The ground station could deploy and retrieve from several archives throughout Europe, as the Laddermill in hours, he added, and they well as Robert’s own extensive personal col- would only be built in uninhabited areas. The lection. Detailed captions lead the reader cable connecting the wings would be made of through a crash course in Cody’s life and dis- materials such as Dyneema, said Ockels. Ca- pel many of the myths created by Cody and ble breaks would be unlikely, because the ca- still promoted today. Softcover, black and ble could be inspected as the system rotated white images, 56 pp. through the base station, and sections re- moved for maintenance. To order email [email protected] with your requirements and they will get back to you. Each kiteplane would have a GPS sensor to The Kiteflier, Issue Page 21 The Papillon—Allan Pothecary

Who says that Close Encounters are only in to could find about this kite and I saw one site pairs flying. TKC recently asked us to try out saying that it was developed by Didier Fer- some single line kites and the first one we ment (probably for HQ I would think) and an- tried had a surprise bonus! other which said that the Papillon was de- signed for Atelier by Alain Micquiaux but that The Papillon from HQ Kites was a great bundle seemed to be more like a butterfly – and very of fun. The trouble is I get sent kites which nice too – but if you’ll pardon me then I’ll stay are usually prototypes or a sample, forward out of those types of discussion as I know not! model, just for demo and they rarely have in- structions so I am never quite sure what I’m Whilst I was looking around I saw that some- doing but as Marilyn says – “What man ever one had made up a kit to change the Papillon reads instructions anyway?” in to four-line kite. Remembering a line once uttered by Mark Lummas that you could fly a I sorted it out though and got it together with- rain-coat if you put four lines on it (must try out breaking anything whilst sheltering from that some-when) I decided that it seemed the wind behind the tailgate of my car in the fairly rigid as it was and hooked it up to my 30 middle of Salisbury plain – If I had done it foot lines. wrong I was sure no one would notice out here at minus two degrees. This was the bonus – it worked! A slight ad- justment to how I have the Revolution set At first launch it was a little bit wobbly at first (How come you can never mention four line but I found a couple of things weren't quite with out talking about Revs?) and I could get level. After that I found it an incredibly easy a fair amount of accuracy with it – stops, kite to fly. In ten miles per hour (I measured starts forward, back, spin and hold upside it - I can now - more about that another day!) down – brilliant – but of course you’ll have to there was a firm but not strong pull and the buy your own lines as it only comes with 60 kite shot up in to the air even easier than a meters of single line. Recommended for force delta, I thought, and at a really nice angle - 1 to 5 Beaufort. nice to know I had worked out the adjustable bridle OK. In the shops at around £36 to £40 and new this year - go see your favorite trader! At one stage it came back almost overhead – wonderful. As the wind increases the design Close Encounters are sponsored by allows it to self adjust and not seriously in- www.kiteworld,co,uk crease on the pull as the wings bend back. It doesn't sit there stable - you don't want it to because you can fly it like an Indian fighter kite which was handy because I had forgotten to bring a stake so I managed to fly it down toward the ground and with a deft piece of foot-work did a gentle landing!

I found that it was also quite easy to do a re- launch without having to go to the kite as long as it doesn’t sit upside down. For those who may not know, you steer a kite like this by al- lowing the line to slacken and the kite will spin and you pull the line taught again when it is facing the direction you want.

You need to take more care with this kite – it is a good way to learn how to steer a single line because it tends to settle in an upright position but at four feet by four feet you do need a bit of room and the 4mm rods stretch- ing out the ripstop nylon sail will seek out and hurt some innocent as long as Murphy has a law.

I looked around the web to see what else I Page 22 The Kiteflier, Issue Event News

Swindon Kite Festival, 7 & 8th May Science Museum, Wroughton Nr Swindon The festival will be hosting for the 5th year run- ning, a round of the UK National ‘ STACK ‘ White Horse Kite Flyers are pleased to announce Championships, this will include all disciplines. that the festival is again at the Science Museum, STACK (Sports Team And Competitive Kiting) this year, the British Buggy Club is supporting involves some of the best teams and individuals the event, if you want to buggy you will need to from around the UK. Judges will decide a winner be a member of the BBC. Tents & Caravans are in various competitions and they in turn can allowed on site for a fee with water and toilets eventual qualify for the UK, European and available behind D4 as previous years. Food will World Championships. be available and the bar will be open on Friday night; all day Saturday until late, plus Sunday The following superb Display teams have also until 4pm. One big difference this year is that been booked and include Team Adrenalize entry is FREE to all, so there is no excuse not to (Power kiting display) including their famous come! ‘Man Lift’; The Beccle's Bunch (Large Inflatable kites some over 100ft in length); Brighton Kite Members of the Historic Kite Group of Germany Club ( Large Inflatables and decorative kites); are bringing over the Arno Haft collection, which Dark Star ( Bryan Cantle – One-man three will be on display in hangar D4. The Vice Presi- kites); Eastern Rocket Association (Model Rock- dent of the German Kite Club, Ralf Maserski is et display); Team Spectrum ( Colourful kite dis- also coming over. We have a return visit of the play team to music); Stuart Fletcher with his Southern Rocket club, who will be displaying huge Flexifoil stacks. their spectacular rockets in hangar D4 plus fir- ing some, at intervals throughout the weekend. For the first time at the Suffolk Kite Festival we There is also a gathering of Gibson Girl’s, if you are pleased to introduce you to Karl Longbottom have one and would like to display it, please who not only designs his own kites but makes bring it along, lets see how many we can and displays them at festivals throughout Eu- “Gather”. If there are any “Pinheads” still out rope. There will also be displays from the best there, there will be a festival pin limited to 100 of the UK STACK teams and individuals and the and another for the Gibson Girls, so if you want finals of the International Fighter competition one you will need to get there early. If you have including the UK round of the European Manjha been to Wroughton before you will know that it Cup in the main arena. is a very large site with room for all types of kite flying. If you require any further information Many of the kite clubs from the UK will also be please visit the club website at attending, some of which are kite professionals, www.whkf.org.uk. showing of their kiting skills. They are always willing to past on their vast knowledge and give Suffolk Kite Festival, 14th & 15th May help to the general public in flying that never Carl and James Roberstshaw “ Evolver” World flown kite you purchased a few years ago. The Championship Display Team will be displaying main arena will be filled with non- stop action for the second time at this year’s festival. for the two days of the festival. Known throughout the world for their dazzling displays to music, this is sure to attract a large This is the biggest kiting event held in East An- crowd at our 8th Suffolk International Kite Festi- glia and takes place on what must be one the val on 14/15th May 2005 largest flying sites in the UK. Rougham Airfield is “ West Suffolk’s Premier Open Air Venue” This After the great success at last year’s festival we is 8th Suffolk Kite Festival and is staged jointly are delighted to once again be hosting an Inter- by the Suffolk Kite Flyers Club, Friend’s of national Fighter Kite Competition. Last year fly- Rougham Airfield and Rougham Estate at the ers from the UK, France, Germany, Holland, and beautiful and large flying site of Rougham Air- Belgium took part in a weekend of competitions. field near Bury St Edmunds.

Dr Azhar Mir from England will be defending his This is a festival for all kiter's and a great family title as last year’s champion of the second “ day out and includes a full range of children’s Fighters Over Rougham” competition. Let’s see entertainment, fairground, kite workshops, if us British can retain the title this year. We are sweetdrops, and competitions Adults will enjoy also delighted to be staging for the very second a visit to the Rougham Tower Museum where time in the UK. The British round of the Europe- they will be able to the witness the history of an Manjha Cup. Other rounds will be held this famous WW11 - 94th USAAF Bomb Group throughout Europe in 2005. Last years overall with Blenham Bomber s, B-26 and B-17s air- winner of the Cup was Tom Apura again from craft. England - Congratulations to Tom The Kiteflier, Issue Page 23 Event News

A full range of catering facilities, beer and tea admission charge and all other money raised tent will be on the festival site. Craft Show and will contribute toward the funding of the event. kite traders will be there for all your kiting needs, talk to the experts and pick up a bargain For further information: from the kite professionals. www.wallopkitenbuggy.org.uk, www.britishbuggyclub.co.uk, www.flexifoil.com The British Fighter Club will also be holding vari- ous competitions as well as the International Camping is available on the Friday, Saturday competition described above throughout the and Sunday evenings in the area by the wind- weekend. These fantastic small kites are unbe- sock. There will be toilets facilities and water lievable to watch, see them dance in the sky available on site. and perform to your command. A reasonably priced licensed bar (including soft Don’t miss this fantastic FUN FAMILY DAY OUT drinks and nibbles) will be available and open in Suffolk. Event will be fully sign posted off the throughout the day and most of the evening and A14 – Ipswich to Cambridge road. This will be a selection of food traders will also be present an action packed event with one or two surpris- and will remain open as long as food is required. es; a sky full of color and the best flyers in the UK and Europe will be there to entertain you England’s Largest Lawn: 800 acres of grassed with their fantastic skills. area the majority of which is allocated for bug- gying and landboarding. There will be no addi- Camping is available from 2pm on Friday 13th tional charges to BBC members and PKSF insur- (NO earlier please, we need Friday morning to ance is compulsory for power kite activities. set up the site etc, thanks – unless you would like to help?) and you can stop on site until the Parachuting teddy bears, a Kite Workshop for Monday if required. Due to ever increasing costs children, a general fly for all, no arenas just lots to stage the festival, a small camp fee of £5.00/ of space. Single liners are welcome, please night will be charged this year. No need to pre- bring your kites-large or small-and lets fill the book. sky with colours! Come along and give us your support again we look forward to seeing you Important: - For safety reasons - NO vehicles there!!! will be allowed on or off the main Festival site between 10am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday Basingstoke Kite Festival—4th & 5th June except in an Emergency. At Down Grange Sports Complex, Pack Lane, For up to date information including camping Basingstoke. 10 am to 5 pm both days. Come arrangements, site layout, map location etc. along to our 13th Festival and join in the fun! please visit our web site www.skfc.co.uk or e- mail [email protected]. The theme for the weekend is to be JAPAN. There will be a prize will be awarded for the best The festival will be fully sign posted on the A14 themed kite, so soon you can let your imagina- - 2 miles east of Bury St. Edmunds. Follow the tion get carried away!. signs to Rougham Industrial Estate and NOT Guests will be from Home and abroad and as Rougham village which is on the opposite side of well as things going on in the display arena, the A14 there will be the usual array of activities, along with various Kite & Food traders. There will be a Finally we are grateful to all our sponsors and raffle over the weekend with lots of donated kite supporters including East Anglian Daily Times. related prizes, Kite traders please take note! The Suffolk International Kite Festival is part of famous BURY FESTIVAL 2005. On Saturday evening we will be having a social get together in the marquee, and everyone is FlexiWallop 1, Middle Wallop, May 28th to welcome. 30th. On the A343 Andover to Salisbury Road Camping is available on the Friday and Saturday (Hampshire). evenings @ £5 for the weekend (payable on the weekend), showers and toilet facilities are on Once again we have access to the largest lawn site. in the UK. Gates will open at 6.00pm on Friday 27th and we all need to leave by 5.00pm on So come along and have a laugh and we look Monday 30th . forward to seeing you there!!!

As the site is owned by the MOD there will be an Contact: Alan Cosgrove 01256 421800 or Roy Page 24 The Kiteflier, Issue Event News

Broadley (Kites Up) 01256 812487 could you want….

Butser Hill Festival of Flight Sunday June Southampton Kite Festival, 18th & 19th 12th 2005 June This is to be held at Queen Elizabeth Country This year sees the 10th. Southampton Kite Fes- Park, off the A3 (follow the signs for Butser tival organised and run by Solent Kite Flyers in Hill). Kites, Hand gliders, Para gliders and Model conjunction with Southampton City Council and gliders are welcome. C Coles Fun Fair. It is to be held over the week- end of 18th. & 19th. June 2005. from 10.00am. Plenty of space for flying and a café is on site to 5.30pm. each day with night flying on Satur- for refreshments. Sorry, but no buggies are al- day. The venue is Lordshill Sports Ground .5 lowed. Acre Field, Lordshill. Southampton. Hampshire. which will be AA. Signposted for the event. Ac- Come along and have some fun! cess is via Junction 2. M271 off Junction 3 M27. and the site entrance is off Redbridge Lane. Contact: Roy Broadley (Kites Up) on 01256 812487 or Queen Elizabeth Country Park on This year’s event, the 10th. will be the biggest 02392 595040 yet with a greater emphasis on different types of kites and flying displays, kite competitions Shrewsbury Kite and Boomerang Festival, and general activities around the Festival Site. 18th & 19th June To confirm the change of venue of the 22nd an- Each day will see Kite Flying Displays from the nual Shrewsbury Kite and Boomerang Festival UK’s best Individuals, Pairs and Teams in Na- on 18th and 19th on June 2005. Due to work tional Sport Kite Competitions as well as general being carried out on the Sundorne site we have entertainment and display flying to music, along been given access to the London Road sports with a few very special arena displays from local facility of the Shrewsbury Technical College. It is groups. There will also be International Guests very easy to find and has similar (if not better) flying and giving displays around the Festival facilities to the old site. site which has plenty of open space available for public flying so there is no excuse for not joining Camping will again be available from the Friday in with the fun. C Coles Fun Fair will be on-site afternoon until Monday morning. There will be a and open all weekend for those thrilling rides slight increase in fees due to the fact of the site and side stalls. There will be a Kite Making costing more. There will be caterers on site from Workshop, in which everyone will be able to Friday afternoon and breakfasts will be availa- make their own simple kite, A Sport Kite Flying ble. There will be the usual mix of competitions School for help in getting started in two and and free flying over the weekend and a raffle four line kites, as well as several Kite Traders will again be held to help pay for the event (any selling a range of Kites and Accessories to all raffle contributions will be greatly appreciated). levels of experience and price levels. Craft Stalls, Refreshment Traders, Live Music, Street For more information please contact Sky Bums Theatre, Arena Displays, Marching Majorettes, on 01743 244677 or go to the website at Face Painting and Punch & Judy will also be www.kites4.co.uk and go to the Shrewsbury there to keep all ages entertained throughout page. the day.

Teston Bridge Kite Weekends Maidstone There will also be ‘Parachuting Teddy Bears’ so Kent 2005—June 11th & 12th Weekend- don’t forget to bring along your own ‘Cuddly August 13th&14th Weekend. Toys’ so they can join in the Fun! Weather per- The best little Kite-fly in Kent Since 1987 mitting, there will be a ‘Night Fly’ on Saturday Evening from Dusk. This is open to all fliers to So that makes it that this will be the 18th year join in, with the kites having lights attached or for our little Teston, and still going strong using reflective tapes etc. Some of the food thanks to you for supporting us. So do come traders will stay open as long as there are cus- along, business as usual, nice relaxing weekend, tomers to serve! it is not compulsory to fly, sit around, fly a kite, what ever, in the lovely Kent countryside… If you don’t want to fly, then why not just come and watch one of the most colourful and excit- Camping on site from Friday afternoon for a do- ing events to happen in Southampton this year. nation to the park. Entry is free, parking is free and the wide open sky is free for all to use and enjoy On site all weekend Kiteworld traders, Michael & Linda. Catering…teas, food, etc. What more Sunderland International Kite Festival, 2nd The Kiteflier, Issue Page 25 Event News

& 3rd July than Friday morning on July 1st. Northern Area Playing Fields, District 12, Wash- ington, Tyne & Wear NE37 3HR For maps, car/camping passes, accommodation at the Campanile and other enquiries, please The Sunderland International Kite Festival is send a LARGE S.A.E. WITH YOUR CAR DETAILS now recognised as one of the major Kite Events - make and registration and telephone number in Europe attracting specialist kitemakers from to :- (No e-mail requests for car passes throughout the World. The Festival also features please). a variety of music, dance, visual arts etc and is well known for its hospitality and friendliness Malcolm Goodman, Bluebell House, Middleton-in and attracts over 60,000 spectators each year! -Teesdale, Co Durham DL12 0QG. Telephone - (01833 640584 ) please not after 8:00pm. We will host some of the Worlds best kite mak- Email - [email protected]. Web Site ers from Japan, China, Germany, Austria, Swit- www.kiteman.co.uk. Festival web site – zerland, Italy, Holland, France, Ghana, Austral- www.sunderland.gov.uk/kitefestival Festival ia, USA and others who have yet to confirm – site postcode NE37 3HR for web maps. plus of course the best of British! Brighton Kite Festival 9th & 10th July The Festival is a wonderful opportunity to see kites you have only seen and read about and to It’s not often you can have a totally free Day meet their makers - plus great displays of sin- out for all the Family, but the Brighton Kite Fes- gle, two and multi line kites, the European Air tival is one such day. This year in its 27th year Gallery, the latest creations in soft kites, many it promises to be better than ever and have lots having been made specifically for the Festival. for people to do and see.

Besides seeing beautiful kites from all over the Each year the event has attracted more and World we will have as usual a fabulous enter- more interest from not only kite flyers, but also tainment programme throughout the two days the public alike. Last year between 5 -10,000 including - international street theatre and mu- people attended (even though the weather was sic – marquees with arts and crafts, visual arts, not forecast to be good) All seemed to have a international cuisine, kite trade stands, a chil- good time and went home with smiles on there dren's village and lots more. faces, and some times new kites as well.

Following the success of previous years spectac- The event this year again is planned Stanmer ular ‘Chinese Dragon Kite Display’ (we managed Park, Brighton, East Sussex. On the 9th and 11 in the sky at once in 2003) we will be repeat- 10th July 2005, the opening times to the public ing the event on both days - so if you have a are between 11.am and 5pm with a night fly on Dragon please bring it along. the Saturday night for kite flyers if the weather allows, quite often the wind drops so this is not On Saturday evening you are invited to a buffet possible. (on site) 7:00pm to 10:30pm - no liquor license - please bring your own! We will be having arena displays throughout both days from internationally recognized flyers Once again due to the rising cost of accommo- and UK club members. There are also large are- dation, marquees, site fees, catering and re- as of land where non-arena flying can take duced a budget we plan to hold an auction on place. We have a large area for those spectacu- the Saturday evening to help boost our funds. I lar inflatable display including this year the want to thank all those who contributed and to clubs new “Cat in the Hat”, these can be seen the generosity of everyone who made last years from quite a large area around the festival. auction such a success – this has enabled us to invite some ‘long distance’ kitefliers to this A children’s kite workshop where a basic sled years event. kite can be made free of charge will takes place on both days. There will also be prizes are given We will be using the Campanile Hotel again this to the best flying workshop kite flown in the year. Anyone requiring accommodation - please arena at around 3.30pm. With the clubs aim of contact me direct. the festival, being to give all those that attend a good spectacle and fun as well, we will be hav- Free on site camping/parking places are limited ing other non kiting attractions for the public to and will be issued on ‘first come first served ba- be entertained by, and this year there include sis’. Public car parking is £3 per car. have following, birds of pray, local fire brigade, fun fair including bouncy castles and slides, etc For those camping – please arrive no earlier There will be a selection of traders at the event Page 26 The Kiteflier, Issue Event News including kites stalls, food outlets, ice cream van the kite section of this unique rally such a suc- and a local Cider producer along with some non- cess and I hope that this support will continue kite stalls selling clothing and such like. this year, if all goes well this kite event might just become an annual fixture The festival will be signposted from the A23 and A27, which will direct you to the PARKING at This year the organisers of the parent rally, Sussex University. The nearest British Rail Sta- which by the way is a paid for ticket only en- tion is Falmer. On the BRIGHTON & HOVE bus trance rally, have increased the kite flying allo- route 25 from Brighton. For more information cation and hopefully some of you reading this look at our Website may wish to spend a few days flying your kites www.brightonkiteflyers.co.uk or contact Simon with us at the end of September, all you need to Hennessey at [email protected]. do in the first instance is to contact me, I will do the rest, the numbers are limited so I am afraid We would like to thank Brighton & Hove City it will be strictly first come first served Council and Tates Cars are sponsors for this years festival Brighton Kite Festival. You do need to be prepared to “camp” onsite for at least the weekend of the show, you may ar- Please note that all events are weather depend- rive at the site anytime from Thursday 22nd and ent and Brighton kite Flyers can note be held you may stay over until the following Monday responsible for changes and cancellations. afternoon, it really is a bit of a hoot as the loca- tion is also shared with the permanent head- Hereford Kite Festival 2005 July 16th & quarters of the “Western” association and you 17th are just as likely to bump into a cowboy or an As in the past couple of years the Festival will Indian in full costume, including six shooters take place at Kingstone High School, Kingstone, and pink Long Johns while you walk around the Herefordshire HR2 9HJ. main show ground. The show area itself will be filled with farm and field exhibits, mainly old en- On site camping is available from the Friday gines that have been restored and are to be evening (after 4.30pm please) through to Mon- seen running most of the time when the visitors day morning. This year's event falls within term to the rally are onsite, plus there are the usual time so please make sure you leave site early food and commercial stalls associated with any on the Monday. country show. For our part we have a separate field adjacent to the main show ground where We will have the usual disorganised chaos, with we are able to camp and fly our kites competitions as the mood and wind allows and a Saturday night meal and Auction. The actual dates are the 24th and 25th Septem- ber, you may arrive on the 22nd and stay until For further details please contact Karl Longbot- the 26th. You must have a “pass” to gain access tom on 01981 550326 or to the site and under “normal” circumstances [email protected] you will not be permitted to drive your vehicle on or off the rally field when there are paying Kingsfold Engine Rally and Kite Festival— guests around, so if you are interested in a jolly 24th & 25th September good fun flying weekend with the added attrac- tions of both a country show and an insight to For the third year running I have been invited to how the “west was won” please email me or tel- present a kite festival alongside a traditional ephone me after 8pm most evenings if email is and well established steam rally and country not available show located on a farm showground on the A24 just south of Dorking in Surrey. John Dimmock

Personally I am quite pleased that we have been Email: [email protected] invited back again because it means that our Telephone: 01903 502272 kites are obviously a real attraction for the main event and to me this is perhaps one of the rare occasions when we get to fly and introduce our hobby to enthusiasts of a completely different discipline, namely steam and stationery engines

In the past I have been very lucky in that many members of my own club, Brighton Kite Flyers (BKF) and several of my kiting friends from oth- er clubs have given up their time to help make The Kiteflier, Issue Page 27 Events List

May 2005 1-2 Weymouth International Kite Festival, Weymouth Beach, Dorset The Kite Society 1-2 Beverley Kite Festival, The Racecourse, Beverley, nr York 01430 860070 www.kite-festival.co.uk 7-8 Swindon International Kite Festival. Wroughton White Horse Kite Fliers 14-15 Suffolk International Kite Festival, Rougham Airfield, Bury St Edmunds, Martin Corrie Suffolk. 14-15 Cleethorpes International Kite Festival, North Lincolnshire 01472 323352/323004 15 Poole Kite Picnic, Baiter Park, Poole, Dorset Poole Kite Fliers 28-30 Tewkesbury Kite Fun Weekend, Tewkesbury School, Glos. Peter Whitaker 01452 728521 28-30 FlexiWallop1, Middle Wallop. [email protected]

June 2005 4-5 Basingstoke Kite Festival, Down Grange Sports Centre, Pack Lane KitesUp 4-5 Beacon Country Park Kite Festival, Northern Kite Group 5 Ashdon Kite Festival, near Saffron Walden, Essex [email protected] 5 Stourport on Severn Kite Event, The Riverside, Stourport on Severn, Dave Montague-Smith 01562 Worcs. 66102. www.wryeforestdc.gov.uk 11-12 Wirral Kite Festival, New Brighton Promenade, Cheshire Northern Kite Group 11-12 Margam Park Kite Festival, Bridgend, Wales. www.thekitingexperience.com 11-12 Teston Bridge Kite Weekend, Maidstone, Kent. RonDell 12 Butser Hill Festival of Flight, Hampshire Kites Up 12 Peterborough Kite Festival, Ferry Meadows, Peterborough Great Ouse Kite Fliers 18-19 Fylde International Kite Festival, The Beach, Lytham St Anne's, Lancs www.flyingcircus.info/ 18-19 Southampton Kite Festival, Lordshill Recreation Grounds, Redbridge Solent Kite Fliers Lane, Southampton. 18-19 Shrewsbury Kite and Boomerang Festival, London Road Sports Facility, Skybums Shrewsbury Technical College 20-22 Longest Day Fly-in, Uig, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides Western Isles Kite Company 01851 672771 www.extremehebrides.co.uk 25-26 Bedford International Kite Festival, Russell Park, Bedford Andrew Pidgen

July 2005 2-3 Sunderland International Festival of Kites and Music, Washington, Tyne Malcolm Goodman & Wear 9-10 Brighton Kite Festival, Stanmer Park, Brighton Brighton Kite Fliers 9-10 Barmouth Beach Kite Festival, The Beach, Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales. Lloyd Kirton 02476 732083 Dave Montague-Smith 01562 66102 16-17 Hereford Kite Festival, Kingstone High School, Herefordshire [email protected] 01981 550326 17 Petworth Kite Festival, Petworth, West Sussex Brighton Kite Fliers 23-24 Tewkesbury Kite Festival, Tewkesbury School, Glos. Peter Whitaker 01452 728521

August 2005 6-7 Middle Wallop Buggy Event www.flexifoil.com/flexiwallop 7 Whitley Bay Kite Festival, The Links, Whitley Bay, Northumberland Malcolm Goodman 7 14th Royston Kite Festival, Therfield Heath, Royston [email protected] 13-14 Teston Bridge Kite Weekend, Maidstone, Kent Ron Dell 13-14 High Force Kite Festival, Middleton in Teesdale, Co Durham Malcolm Goodman 13-14 Coventry Kite Festival, Memorial Park, Coventry. Midlands Kite Fliers 21 Hunstanton Kite Festival, Smithdon School, Hunstanton, Norfolk Bryan Cantle Page 28 The Kiteflier, Issue Events List

August 2005 Continued

20-21 Northern Ireland Kite Festival, Port Stewart Strand, Co Londonderry Malcolm Goodman

20-21 Kites Over Capstone, Capstone Park, Kent [email protected] 27-29 Portsmouth International Kite Festival, Southsea Common, Southsea, The Kite Society Hampshire 29 1st Charlecote Country Park Kite Day, near Stratford upon Avon, War- MKF wickshire

September 2005 3-4 Bristol International Kite Festival, Ashton Court, Bristol Avril Baker 10-11 Headlands Kite Festival, The Headlands, Hartlepool, Teeside Malcolm Goodman 17-18 2nd Chester Kite Festival, in association with NKG, The Roodee Race Northern Kite Group Course, Chester 18 9th Rushcliffe Kite Festival, Rushcliffe Country Park, Mere Way, Lough- MKF borough Road, Ruddington, near Nottingham 25 Wakefield Kite Festival, Heath Common, Wakefield, West Yorkshire The Faceless Company

25 2nd Kedleston Hall Kite Day, Kedleston Road, Derby, Derbyshire MKF

October 2005 8-9 Bewl Water Kite Weekend, Lamberhurst, Kent [email protected]

Contact Address Telephone Email Kites Up Roy Broadley 01256 812487 [email protected] The Kite Society P.O. Box 2274, Gt Horkesley, Colchester CO6 [email protected] 01206 271489 4AY Martin Corrie 3 White Horse Road, East Bergholt, Colchester, [email protected] Essex CO7 6TU 01206 299560 Brighton Kite Fli- 11 The Sheepfold, Peacehaven, East Sussex [email protected] 01273 582309 ers BN10 8EG Joanna Mersey Bignor Park, Pulborough, Sussex RH20 1HG 01798 869214 Ron Dell 01438 712168 [email protected] Richard Nourse 85 Bells Orchard Lane, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 richard.nourse @ virgin.net 01929 554690 4HP Peter Whitaker 12 Littlefield, Quedgeley, Glos Gl2 6GZ 01452 728521 [email protected] Great Ouse Kite Jill Ferrer, 80 Welland Road, Peterborough, [email protected] Fliers Cambridgeshire 01733 563958 PE1 3SG Skybums 7 Sunnyfields, Bell Lane, Shrewsbury, Shrop- [email protected] shire SY2 5EW 01743 244677 http://www.kites4.co.uk Michael Lowe 44 Bellemoor Road, Shirley, Southampton, 023 8077 Hants SO15 7QU 0788 Bryan Cantle 21 Shepherds Close, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 4HP. Kiteability 45 Windsor Road, Welwyn, Herts, AL6 9JY [email protected] M.K.F. Mike Simons-Powell, 5 Wedon Close, West [email protected] 024 7669 Wood, Coventry 5343 CV4 8BH Dunstable Kites 01525 229773 [email protected] White Horse Kite P O Box 585, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 4YR 01793 824208 [email protected] Fliers Al Cosgrove [email protected] NKG Northern Kite Group [email protected] riv- Events and Marketing Section, Bedford Corn Andrew Pidgen 01234 344813 [email protected] Exchange, St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SL om 5 Lilymead Avenue, Wells Road, Totterdown, 0117 977 Avril Baker [email protected] Bristol BS4 2BY 2002 Bluebell House, Middleton in Teesdale, Co Malcolm Goodman 01833 640584 [email protected] Durham, DL12 0QG IMT! Promotions Des Poeling-Oer, Suite 363, 89 Commercial 07966 676991 [email protected] Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5RR The Journal of the Bearly Made It S~ydive Squad . Th e International Brother and Sisterhood of Parachuting rauna and the U. K. Ted Oevils . Guaranteed 100% wuss, risk assesor, happy clappy, outr~ach counssellor a nd other assorted tossers of that ilk free.Known to get up more than a few noses,but, who cares? Brussels lumps teddies with. is Teddy old fridges in waste ruling waving goodbye? If any of you Teds or furry wotsits out there are ever so slightly electric, then watch out, 'co s you are now classed as a fridge and must be recycl e d toot swee t. We kid you not. According to the latest directive iss­ ued by those s wivel eyed loonies at the Reichstag in Brussels, namely the Waste [lectrical and Electro­ nic Equipment directive ( WEEE ) which is aimed at stooping landfill 9eing swamped with household goods such as rridge s and TV', Also included are toys with electrical components li~e railways,racing car sets,tal~ing toy telephones a-n'd wait for it, Tal'

Apparentl y the pre school e du cational toy ma~ers are doing their nuts over thi s as the makers are expected to bear the cost of recycling and if the WEEE directive i s inte­ rpreted critical l y it could se the demise of quite a few toys including Teds . Rec y cling is a good idea, but beware, if you can sa-y "On Yer Bike" in serbo croat, you'd be t ter keep schtum or you 're for recycling and who ~nows a once proud gabby, parachuting haws yer farva could possibly return as a component part of a Dralon covered three piec e suite, and it would be a right bummer trying to fix a chute on that. Word has it that there is a new snow covered Alp up Chorley way, it aint, its a moun ­ tain of fridges, though wether or not theres any forlorn f§lk 2 t!ve feds marooned on the summit we dont know . All jokes aside, we cannot resist having a pop at them loony barst ­ ewards in La La land the capital of which is Brussels. On second thoughts, sod it, we are entitled to have a pop at them the amount of money them swine cost u s, but what is truly frightening is when you have an excursion into the thought processes of these idiots via their directives.

They totally redefine the word BARKING, perhaps we s h o u 1 d re f e r to t h e s e e u r on u t t e r s a s BE C0 NT RE E , ' c os is definitely two stops past BARKING. Re this WEEE, WEEE directive, by August, recycling cestres must be opened up so Joe Soap can get rid of his unwan ted electrical goods, sobs warned a car trip may not be to a Kite fest, if theres a fridge on the roof rack, watch out.

Ho, Hum time was when you went cyc ling all you nee­ ded was a bike, job sorted . Now they want y our guts for garters, literally. Re-cycling on the face of it is a very good i dea, and maybe them y uro loonies started out with the best of intentions, but they do say the road to hell with them good intentions, nowhere does it say paved with bits of Teddy Bears. 'Crazy' teddy bear irks mental health advocates

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company recently caused a bit of a bit of a storm in a teacup when they marketed a Bear in a stra­ itjacket, co mp lete with sectioning paperwork, entitled, "Crazy for You". The P.C . brigade in vermont promptly lost the plot some what, goi~g into paroxisms of breastbeating, not so much as t hey said about the "Crazy for You " slogan,but because the straitjacket and paperwork represents s u ch a painful image of men t al illness . Joe P ublic in vermont obviously thought otherwise as the Ted s were selling like h otcakes at $69 . 95 a pop . Hooray for good old Joe Public. They know that straitjackets were as much abo ut protecting some mentally ill people as protecting the pu­ blic , besidestffie P . C.brigade have nothing to be so smug aboutas the i r idea of controlling t h e mentally ill usually involves the use of vast a mounts of "Chemical Coshes" the stronger the better. Would there have been such an uproar if the Vermont Bear Co had cal l ed their straitjacket Bear "I '11 Escape for You" Harry Houdini Bea r . Probably not, but you never know. more than likely some usual sem i - proffessional rent a quote axe grindet would have crawled of t he woodwork and had their customary r•nt .... yawn ..... This echoes somewht the uproar that occurred over here a couple of years back when Bad Taste Bears marketed a Bear complete with meat and two veg akimbo. Some of the P.C. mob got very aeriated, dont they ever?, whilst those who thought it was a good thing simply voted with their dough and had a bloody good laugh which ~ears to be somethinc the P . C . mob are incapable of. ( if anyone reads this who swears blind they dont, and they get the 'ump . this is cobbled up by a short fat, ugly barstweard, whos mad, but kno ws it and dont really give a toss ) Big teddjes 'lure children to gambling'

Has the Nanny State gorn Raving Mad? you betcha after hearing that the government wants to reduce the size of Teddy Bears given as prizes in seaside arcad­ es to, wait for it, discourage children from a life­ time of gambling. You could'nt make it up.Under the proposed Gambl ­ ing bill which will allow Las Vegas style mega casin­ ~~ft&.~~~t, os to open in the U.K. with unlimited cash prizes for adults, Nanny has decided to cut the value of grab a Ted arcade games from£8 to£5 . Now we know that the state is completely out to lunch. We're not sure if Teds who wear a chute will be exempt or not, but it certainly seems as if Nanny dont like Teds . Here we go, the Department of culture, Media and Sport says that Nanny believes that Kids sho- uld be aable to play grab a Ted games, but we mu­ st discourage them from playing too much. Sodding hell what next, will the mingy old sods ~an Xmas? S TOP PRESS . .. . After being threatend with the cur­ se of the small furry o~jects, Nanny has relented good thing too ...... Teddy, a tiny friend for 1908 tsunami survivor

8y the loo~s of him this 8ear has had some of the st­ uffing literally ~necked out of him . h is wo ebego ne air does belie his significance for h e is perhaps one of the last links to an all but forgotten cataclysm, which day was as devastating as the Boxing Day Tsunami in the I n dian Ocean.

On December the 28th 1908 an earthquake and tsunami hit the straits of messina . the quake levelled the towns of Me ­ ssina andReggio di Calabria and the ensueing tsunami dev­ estated the eastern coast of Sicily killing upwards of 200,000 people . In those days of course commun ications were very primitive, unlike today where shocking vi - suals were in our faces in just a few minutes. Back in 1908 the survivors were literally on their own there wBs very little i n the way of rescue and re­ lief for their su ff~~ng. The little girl on the right was just a sev­ en month old baby in Reggio when the town was fl­ attened . her entire f amily was wiped out, but mir­ aculously she survived and wa s rescued by Russian sailors who named her reodor a after the Tsarina , Even stranger perhaps was the fact that the baby was eventually adopted by a Scottish Ooctor and his wi­ fe who brought her to the U.K. where·she was brought uo at Sway in Hampshire . Even in 1908 it was very unusual for an Italian baby to be adopted by a foreign couple, however was all for the best as had a haopy life here till she passed in the 1990 ' s, the Sear was given to reodora in 1910 and she treasured it for the rest of her life. The picture was taken in 1917 and t he Bear apoears to be in Scottish military uniform and of cour~e a kilt, what else? the current pie does show a somewhat different jacket and kilt,not surpris­ ing really as no doubt the W.W.1. togs probably fell apart.

The 9ear with an amazing provenance is shortly to come up for auction in Stockton on Tees and is estimated to fetch ab out a£! ,000, a uniq ue item for a serious Teddy Bear fan. THE FORGOTTEN TRAGEDY

The Straits of Messina Earthquake st ruck at OS.ZOam on 28th December 1908. most of the victims of both the quake and Tsunami were probably still asleep, and never really knew what hit them. but , then as now the true horror of the situa­ tion was the effect of a 45ft wall of water on Human life ov­ er a very large area. Those aftermath pictures of 8andar Aceh in particular said it all. Mankind is nothing against the force of Mother Nature ..•..••.. ONE ODeS WONDER ABO UT PRO PO SALS TO INTR­ ODUCE 24 HOUR THINK I NG. IS IT A ST£P TOO FAR? WHY 24-HOUR CAN T HE T RA NS IT I 0 N F" R0 M KNr:E JE RK T 0 RE A50 N BE ACCOMPLISHE:D WITH OUT UPSETTING THE: DELIC­ THINKING WILL ATE BALANCE OF" KITING TODAY? Must we indulge Kiters with the latest fac of 24 hour thinking,surely the prospect of all those Kiters wandering around the Kite festival BE A DISASTER site in the wee small hours all thinking away nineteen to tqe dozen, is an extremely depres ­ one. If the average Kiter was to get hooked on 24 hour thinki ­ ng it would surely put a severe crimp in the alcoholic bever­ ages industries fiscal plans and thats enough to cause a shud ­ der of earthshaking magnitude. To be honest, we parachuting fauna of a soft cuddly toy persuasion, strictly on humanitarian grounds of course, would rather that Kiter / Dropnik thinking time was strictly limited, otherwise we could be facing a nightmare ~cenario where Kiters or Dropniks have been thinking so much that they realise they should'nt be reading all the mindless drivel printed :11(,14:i':,..r.. in that scurrilous rag known as roman candle . Its no use you having a laugh, what would happen in th ­ at situation beggers belief. We are sure that vast numbe ­ rs of parachuting fauna will begin to plummet and you know that those furry sods dont give a toss as to how and where the land and before you know it we are up to our t:ONT. P 94 . . •• AREN'T WE MARVELLOUS? SOH£ WOULD SAY THATS ITS AGRAND OLD LIFE BEING A PARACHUT I NG FAUNA AND TO 9£ HONEST, WHO ARE WE TO ARGI.If: , LIK£ EYI!RYTHI'NG ELSf! IT HAS ITS UPS AN D ITS DOWNS AND SOMETIMES EVEN ITS SIOCWAYS. ON THE WHOLE THOUGH .. Mi n d you, there are times when feel that we are not appreciated, and le t s face it, unacustomed as we are to banging our own drum,blow­ ing ou r Bwn trumpet and not hiding our light under a bushel, we feel that i t s about time a big hand was given to parachuting fauna per se. We are that great we could almost be said to be a part of the soc ­ ial se r vices, the things that we do. for instance stress relief . Just how mu c h of this we generate is unknown but boy do we generate some bloody good laughs and they ' re good for you. Extracting the urine, wow thats r eally good as retention of too much of that bungs up blood pressure in those who hate our guts, As well as extraction we also generate lo vely profits for the drug comp­ anies whose hypertension products are prescribed more and more to those who swear that that they never re ad t_h.i:.s garbage , a consequence o f wh i c h is even higher b 1 o o d p res sure . We ' ve even been regularly known to cure brain fade and eyes glazing over syndrome Be hon e st, what Kite F"est has'nt been relieved of those symptems wh e a horde of moth eaten mangy parafauna has totally ruined a super farty spurt Ki te display, love the sound of gnashing teeth. Come on, admit it you love us, and besides , what anti para fauna Kiter in their right mind, is going to public, punching the lights out of a parachuting Teddy Bear.

One thing we could be said to be a bit remiss at is crediting those whose help we've had in knocking ou ~ this load of mindless drivel, so big hand to Julie White, Val Govig and the one and only Electric Arfa.

Next Issue .. . . P::1rRrh11~inn Torlrl u o~~~~ ·· --'-- " - Btll International Suffolk KITE FESTIVAL ay 2005

STACK UK National Champions hi"

EVOLVER World Champion ( 1 Display Team

UK and European Top Tea

Kite Traders- Kite Worunoo Model Rockets - UK Admission: Refreshments - En,An'!:llu Adults £6 Museum - Craft Fair Concessions: £3 U-12: free Information: : 01206 299560 Gates open 1 Oam - Spm Mobile: 07775 744377 Em ai I: [email protected] www .skfc.co.u k APR 1005 RRIGIITOR KITE nYERS A PR 1005

TtiE REWJ lETTER rOR TtiE RRIGtiTOR I(ITE rlYERJ T 11 E on E An D o nlY CAT 1 n T 11 E 11 A T talk to Robert and discovered that the lots of Shloer who were sponsoring Kite was a one off he had made to the event. bring on his tour of England and after The next time I was to see "The Cat the problems he had with copyright in the Hat" was at Dieppe where I talk he was not going to make another to Robert and jokingly said that if he one. Well the cat was staked to the did not want to take "The Cat in the ground to fly but had other ideas over Hat" home l would look after it for him. the festival weekend and wanted to Well Robert made me an offer I could go off to explore Portsmouth. As not refuse and "The Cat in the Hat" Robert went to get a coffee the wind came home with me. He almost had picked up and the cat ran off into the to go back to New Zealand after all nearby trees and got badly ripped. the negotiation, as the copyright So, although great to see flying , it owners were at first not willing to pass was short lived. the use over to the club, but after Imagine my surprise when at Bristol several e-mails back and forth Robert the following weekend "The Cat in the managed to get it transferred to the Hat" was all repaired and as good as Club and also permission to use the new, if not better. Thanks to Paul image in advertising the Club and its For those of you that know last year Chapman who had allowed Robert festival . Brighton Kite Flyers took ownership the use of this flat in Bristol and Thank you Robert for not only of a new cat, to be more exact a new sewing machine during the week. building the wonderful kite but all the "Cat in the Hat" made by a great kite "The Cat in the Hat" did not fly much work to enable us to fly it as well. maker Robert van Weers from New over the weekend well nothing did Simon Hennessey Zealand. really, as the wind went from very I, for one first saw the "Cat in the Hat" light to nothing at all and the flying at Portsmouth where I thought temperature soared and we all drank that although not the prettiest of kites, nothing to do with the kite itself, more that the "Cat in the Hat" is not the prettiest of cats after all, with his lanky legs, arms and body, who could look pretty. lt certainly had a lot of impact and you could hear the children running up to look at it shouting "look, look it's the "Cat in the Hat"". Being the runner at Portsmouth I soon got to APRil tO OS nPRil tO OS nPRil tO OS nPRil YIYIEftftl UIESTUIOOD Best laid plans of mice and men .. . that they thought that the kite was "empire" has now grown to incl ude In our quest to impress others with quite magnificent, not an unexpected wholly owned retail outlets in our latest kite designs we often forget response as I have yet to find anyone countries all over the world and that some of the oldest and probably who sees one of these kites for the should you wish to look at the latest the most impressive and beautiful kite first time who does not have a similar fashions and a potted history of this designs in the world have been with response. We discussed the flying famous fashion house you will do no us for hundreds of years. The requirements and put the kite, better that going to the following web Chinese "Dragons" for example have assembled and ready to fly on top of site been emulated and copied for years a small cupboard in the office as we and have "adapted" well to modem all had to get back to work http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk materials, there are many other Many of you reading this will know the traditional designs including name of Vivienne Westwood and for Vivienne Westwood, is herself, Butterflies and Birds and the following involved with fashion design and is about one such kite namely the management of the business on a quite sensational "Bali Ship" kite day to day basis and after we had Late last year I happened to be temporarily put the kite to bed she talking to Joe and Beata De Campos had cause to visit the digital studio at the Vivienne Westwood Studios in whereupon she caught her first sight London, this husband and wife of the Bali Ship - that was it, all over, partnership head up the "digital" no flying by Joe and Beata who were conversion team wh0 take hand told that this would make a super drawn originals, including fashion window dressing for one of the photographs and prepare them for London shops and that was that web and media use and ...like most The pictures show the kite in the very adults they "remembered,.. the kites first Vivienne Westwood shop in they flew as children but like most Worlds End and you will see from the people as they grew up they left their web site that this shop has lots of kite flying days behind. This turned history and associations going back out to be a good opportunity to to the days of Johnny Rotten and the reintroduce them to the pleasure of Sex Pistols - all we can hope is that flying kites and as a result on my next when the kite has finished its duties visit to the studios I took up one of my as a novel window dressing it will be own Bali Kites as a gift those that do not she is probably one returned to its owners who will Over coffee we managed to "string" of the most famous British fashion eventually be allowed to fly it as it was the kite up and the immediate designers of all time, indeed she may intended response from Joe and Beata was even be the most famous as her John Dimmock IIIIIITRRY KITES Since kites first took to the air, many rudder mechanism, he could steer countries have used them for a the kite through loops, dives, figure of variety of military purposes. During eights and recover from dives while World War 11 , Paul Garber, historian standing on the side of the ships. The emeritus at the Smithsonian kite could perform acrobatics and Institution, was commissioned by the dodge bullets very much like an U.S. Navy to teach aircraft gunners to enemy fighter plane. By painting identify enemy planes. He was sent planes on the kites this worked even out to the Navy stations and observed l:letter and would make the target that the targets used to teach the practice more realistic and increase ship-to-air gunnery were not realistic, the gunners skills. Thousands of the also when targets towed by kites were made and distributed to aeroplanes were not available, the ship and shore stations to train U.S. gunners were ordered to shoot at Navy and Army aircraft gunners. Most clouds. He soon decided he could were used and destroyed as the Navy develop a much better system using gunners got better. The target kites kites. He soon discovered that by are now collector's items as so few flying a kite with two lines and a survived the war years .. APRil 1005 APRil 1005 APRil 1005 APRil IIKr WORKSIIOP SIIOCK Image if you will, Boxing day evening machines. (as if we knew what we would not have made so many relaxing on the sofa watching an were doing). Ralf Maserski was mistakes which required unpicking. episode of Friends (one of Ria's setting up some sewing machines, But I think everyone agreed, that after Christmas presents, Friends Mad). time to have a look at Ralfs kites the Suisei, the most important tool Phone rings, who's that? Ria does not especially the BoxTower 3. Looking at was the unpicking tool. want to answer it, Friends more the black edging on this kite I was· We all met up later at the Blunsdon interesting." Ria it's bound to be for terrified, (thanks Marla another fine House Hotel for a drink, a superb you". Ria answers phone " dad it's for mess you've got me into) I can 't put carver dinner WELL DONE WHKF's. you". nearly fall off ~ofa "FOR ME?" an edge like that on a kite, that takes This was an opportunity to relax and Ria hands me the phone with that, a lot of experience, which I sadly lack. to talk to Ralf. He told us of a German you're so sad dad, expression. Eventually Dave Introduces everyone web site that stocks 25mm wide rip­ "Hello" Marla wishing me A Happy to Ralf and the workshop was under stop in all sorts of colours . Christmas. "Hello Marla Happy way, we chose our kite colours and http://WWN.metropolis_drachen.de Christmas". Niceties out of the way picked up our workshop manuals, this Sunday · morning after a good Marla asks why I'm not coming to the breakfast, back to School and nearly WHKF's Ralf Maserski workshop in everyone managed to finish their February. Alan and I had talked about kites by lunch time, I even managed the workshop, but decided that our to fly mine in the play ground. Another sewing skills (that's a laugh) would excellent WHKF's lunch and the raffle not be up to an intense as usual with the WHKF's raffle workshop.(sticking is OK but sewing everyones a winner. in a workshop!!!!! HEEELLP) Many hands made light work of the I explained this to Marla to which she clearing up and after saying our replied "Aian's coming, I've just farewells to everyone Alan and I spoken to him "(what happened to started our journey home. We both solidarity) now I'm on my own against was going to prove to be very useful, agreed that as usual WHKF's had put Marla, what do I do? "I 'll have to think well planned with pictures and very on another excellent workshop. (I 'm about it" . Marla replies "I 'll ring you simple instructions. Mine was well still going to sort Marla out when I see tomorrow" thumbed by the end of the workshop. her). We are both looking forward to Resigned myself to the fact that I'm Having sorted out our materials the the Robert § _rassington workshop in going to the workshop, thinking New first job was to put the black edging the autu,..,;r,_ Year, new challenge, be brave. on one of the kite panels. Thf? .next We made such good time on our On speaking to Alan we both decided step was a revelation, Ralf pointed us journey home that Alan suggested we that we needed some training ahead to the machines he had been setting fly our new kites on Epsom Downs, I of workshop, it's been about 5 years up when we arrived and we where didn't require much encouragement. since I used a sewing machine and I introduced to Suisiei, an incredible We paid for our enthusiasm though, would probably require a whole week attachment for double folding 25mm the wind cut right through us, but we to make a Ralf Maserski BoxTower 3, wide rip stop tape. Simply feed your saw our brand spanking new not 2 days. sail panel into the fold of rip stop tape BoxTower 3's flying. lt was decided that we ask Helen on the Suisei and sew. Professional What a wonderful time. Thanks to Howes of Raindrop Kites for some edges in minutes. Ralf Maserski for a well planned training in basic sewing machine, and Needless to say everyone was very workshop, WHKF's for the superb what a great day we had at her work- excited and I realised even I could organisation and to friends old and shop. Alan and I had to work hard ,but make this kite.(l could make it, new who made this a very with Helen's expert tutelage we both whether it looked professional we memorable weekend, and of course a went home with kites to be proud of. would see) Ralf said that all kite big Thank You to Marla for stirring me Thanks Helen, for all your help that shops in Germany sell the 25mm out of my winter slumber. 0 day, I know we all had to work wide ripstop tape, it comes in Keith Boxall very hard. colours too. lt's amazing hew quickly Februaryo As I suspected this workshop was a 0 12th came around. 6 am we're off to lot of hard work, but with guidance Swindon, we joked as to whether we from Ralf , the help from everyone would get lost in Swindon again, we else at the workshop and of course did. (3 times over the weekend) ~ the excellent WHKF lunch, I Arriving early at Penhill Primary managed to get my kite to the point n school, we said our hello's to WHKF's where I could finish on Sunday. and the other workshop participants, Maybe if I had referred to my manual picked our tables and set up our and treble checked what I was doing, 2UU~ DPHII !IUU~ APRil ~005 RP RI IROTIIER GRE I ll fhe 1st Sunday in February soon public, who said that they saw the ::ame around and for the first time so large inflatable and had to come and 'ar this year the weather was just have a closer look. Also flown was a ight for the fly-in. Almost every other pink octopus made by Alan Reynolds Neekend it had been raining, too cold with material that his good lady had )r far too windy, but not today. So off given him for Christmas and great it went to the Tye with the club kites. looked too. Although we all believe fhe Council have kindly put up some it's not an "it" but a "she" but you need Jreat new kite stakes and with the to see her to work out why. IVind in the direction it was, these We carried on flying for the best part IVere in a perfect position. For the of the day but as the sun set the >uggiers out there, the Farmer has temperature dropped and we packed ilso laid out a slalom course for you up and went home to a setting sun o avoid. OK, there not that kind, the over the sea. ;takes are there in the way of a fence hat is now all around the Tye and the Simon Hennessey )lalom course has been left not mly by the dogs but the farmers :attle as well now, at least these are >igger and you can see them, >ometimes!!!!! 1\/ell I was the first top arrive and so hought that I might as well put up >ne of the club kites and looked in the >ack of the trailer and having thought or a while about which one, out came he clubs newest inflatable "The Cat 1 the Hat", I was still on my own and ied the line to the supplied ground ;takes and walked across the field 3ying out the line. Attaching the pilot tnd main kite I launched it ,kywards, up it went but it muld not inflate fully. By '1is time Dave had turned tp and gave me a hand ) re-launch it and while tolding open the vents I potted that the zip was tndone, this closedO it 1flated quickly and up he 1ent. As the morning 1ore on more members Jmed up and also more APRil tOOS APRil tOOS APRil tO OS APRil BKr IIRYE REID lOOK IDEISITE Over the last few months a new look ago. Brighton Kite Flyers website has been set up. 1t still has all the old What I'm not really favourites , hot News for events, the sure of, you see ... weather, membership details and Is when 1 exactly Aerodyne. stopped flying my This time kite we have added the And my kite started festi v al flying me? information page, a few basic A few screen shots safty tips from the new look webslte and links pages for all those things kite related, to the main website. (if anybody would like a link crl:ted pease ~: linl