Kite
Flyer
February/March 2002 Issue Route
66 Kite Club (R66KC)
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Kite Club Phoenix, AZ
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To Visit Our
Web Site Click Here!
Or go to: www.tmsquared.com/R66KC.htm
(Please note that R66KC is in capital letters.)
Table Of Contents
Please note that there are several Hot Links usually in blue and underlined for
your convenience. To access these simply click on them and they will take you there.
(It is recommended that all articles be read.)
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Hot Buttons |
Descriptions
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Quick Thoughts From
The Editor Look Out Spring! Here Comes National Kite Month! |
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Letter From The Director And/Or AKA News Notes From The Prez Note From The Regional Director |
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This Months Flying
Schedule 02/17/02 – Sunday – Riverview Park 03/02/02 – Saturday – Jim Jennings Park 03/16/02 – Saturday – Indian School Park
NEW PARK! 03/30/02 – Saturday – Plateau Park |
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What Happened On Last
Months Flys |
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Long Term Dates And
Plans\ |
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Other Items Of
Interest Gone With The Wind – Gone and
Back David Gomberg – A Really Great Guy New Kite Freaks Web Site Kites For Kids Cheap Al Habib Is Getting Married! |
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Flying Tips From The Fly’n Hawaiian Punch Turns |
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Fun Kite Stuff –
Comics – Setting Them Free |
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Cover My Ass Legal
Ease |
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Please Help
Yourselves |
Click
Here For The
Web Site Links
(Just Click On Them And Go!)
Editor’s Notes
"And
once you have tasted flight
you
will walk the Earth with your eyes
skyward,
for
there you have been and there you long to return...."
--
Leonardo DiVinci
Hey Kiters,
Well I am being
hard pressed to keep up the newsletter, but here it is. Perhaps more time will
break free in the future. In any event, we will be going back to monthly during
the good kiting season with so much going on.
We are coming
up on AKA’s National Kite Month soon, and of course, the best flying time of
the season. So we all want to get those kite repairs completed while the air is
cold and the wind is down, so we will be ready for the new season.
Lots of good
stuff in this news letter and lots of events to look forward too. Take a look at
the upcoming events, and the future events section. And I want to remind you
all about the upcoming Sister Club fly in San Diego in May. Boy do they have
GREAT WIND over there. And hopefully you will all be able to get your
reservations in now, so that we all can have a great time over there.
So keep your
spirits up and we will be looking forward to seeing you on the fields very
soon. Happy spring and....
Keep’em Fly’n
Gadget Man Manson
AKA News Or
Directors Editorial
From The AKA President
NATIONAL KITE MONTH: The NKM web
page has been completely revamped. We've got plans, teacher's resources,
history, events lists, links and lots of excitement.
Drop by
<www.NationalKiteMonth.org> and join the fun. And start planning and
registering your events now! We're aiming for 400 official activities in April
2002.
Also, if you have a personal
or club web page, consider adding the NKM link and logo. The new site has some
great artwork you can use.
***
OFFICIAL AKA CONVENTION
CLOTHING FOR SALE: If you missed
Billings, here is your chance to pick up an authentic Montana kite souvenir.
Sweatshirt: $25 (add $2 for XXL on all shirts)
Embroidered Denim Shirt $40
Cloisonne Pin: $6
Email the AKA store at
<store@AKA.kite.org> with your request, size, and credit card. We'll fix
you right up!!
***
WORLD SPORT KITE CHAMPIONSHIPS: This is not
another false alarm or wishful
thinking. The best sport kite teams will face off
this April in Berck
France for a "world cup style"
competition hosted by AJSKA, AKA and STACK.
After the disappointment of Malaysia, we've kept
this quiet until all
details were solid.
Teams UpGo and Legend were designated as our top
ranked teams based on
convention competition and conference rankings.
(Chicago Fire was unable to
accept the
invitation.)
The two AKA judges will be our international rules
committee delegates Mike
Gillard and Chuck Sigal.
Our hope is that the championship will grow to
include individuals, pairs
and quad fliers next year. But meanwhile, AKA's
best dual-line teams are
off to France.
Wish them good luck and smooth winds.
***
David Gomberg
AKA President
PS -- If you happen to take the kids out to see
Disney's new film, "Snow
Dogs",
those are *my* kites in the background on Miami
Beach... ;)
Join the American Kitefliers Association
<http://www.aka.kite.org>
Upcoming Flying Events
Note: All flying events will be from
12:00 noon through 4 or 5 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
02/17/02 – Sunday – Riverview Park: (See web site Kite Field Recommendations
for maps.) As per usual the fly times are from 12 noon to about 5pm in the
afternoon. Let’s try to do
dinner and drinks after.
Don’t forget to say HI to the
ArFF group that usually flys there.
Riverview Park (Southeast) This Park is located approximately one quarter
of a mile south of Highway 202 on Dobson Road. Take the 202 to the Dobson Road
turnoff and head south. The park is on the west side of the road.
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Rating: |
Good |
Restrooms: |
South Side |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
30 |
Drinking Fountains: |
South Side |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Medium |
Park Benches: |
No |
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Distance To Amenities: |
3 Miles |
Shade Available: |
Lots |
03/02/02 – Saturday – Jim Jennings Park: (See web site Kite Field Recommendations
for maps.) As per usual the fly times are from 12 noon to about 5pm in the afternoon.
Let’s try to do dinner and
drinks after.
Please note that this park is hard to find so please
bring the instructions with you!
Jim Jennings Park (North)
Was the “Original Hippie Park”, and can be located by going north on I-17 to
Bell Rd., west on Bell to 29th Ave., then south on 29th
to Grandview, and finally west again on Grandview for two blocks. OR North on
I-17 to the Bell Rd. exit. Then left on Bell Rd. to 29th Ave. which
is a light. Then left on 29th Ave. down to Grandview. (Be careful this
street can pass you by.) And the right on Grandview to the park.
(Note: This park may
have other activities so keep an eye out for us flying on either side of this
field.)
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Rating: |
Great |
Restrooms: |
None |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
30 |
Drinking Fountains: |
None |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Poor |
Park Benches: |
Yes |
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Distance To Amenities: |
1 Mile |
Shade Available: |
Lots |
03/16/02 – Saturday – Indian School
Park: (See web site Kite Field Recommendations
for maps.) As per usual the fly times are from 12 noon to about 5pm in the
afternoon. Let’s try to do
dinner and drinks after.
This is a new park for us, so lets all go exploring! We will meet at the parking lot at the south end of the park and find the best flying spot from there.
Indian School Park (Central
Phoenix) This park is
located between Central Avenue and 7th Street, just North of Indian
School Road. To get to the southern parking lot where we will be meeting, you have
to go to 3th Street and Indianschool, and then go north straight into the park.
As you enter, you turn to the right curve around to the parking areas next to
several fields.
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Rating: |
To Be Determined |
Restrooms: |
Yes |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
To Be Determined |
Drinking Fountains: |
Yes |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Great |
Park Benches: |
Yes |
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Distance To Amenities: |
1 Block |
Shade Available: |
Yes |
03/30/02 – Saturday – Plateau Park: (See web site Kite Field Recommendations
for maps.) As per usual the fly times are from 12 noon to about 5pm in the
afternoon. Let’s try to do
dinner and drinks after.
Plateau Park (Northeast) This park is located approximately 100 Yards
north of Union Hills on 16th Street. Take I-17 north to Union Hills,
and go east to 16th Street. Then go north on 16th Street
to Wescott and turn east. Parking can be found about 100 yards east of 16th
Street on Wescott. We fly at the northern most ball field.
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Rating: |
Fantastic |
Restrooms: |
Yes |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
30 |
Drinking Fountains: |
Yes |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Great |
Park Benches: |
No |
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Distance To Amenities: |
2 Miles |
Shade Available: |
Limited |
Note: By popular demand and the desire
to socialize after a fly with a meal and possibly drinks, the club flying
events will be moving, periodically,
to SATURDAYS!!! Stay tuned as to when
this will start. Park selection will be
alternated so that no single group of individuals will have to drive a long way
all of the time.
Special
Note: Lady
Hummingbird and the Gadget Man have purposely bought three indestructible Beetles for guests! Please do not hesitate to ask for them when you have a
guest attending our events.
Latest Fly Reports
Nothing Of Interest To Report.
(Unless you have something! If so please sent it to Gadget Man Manson at: r66kc@tmsquared.com
)
(Special Note: We need to find more
parks with an audience to introduce more non-fliers to the sport. Some
discussion at the last fly was made of parks that might fit the bill. Please
send in your recommendations ASAP so that we can start trying them out. R66KC@TMSquared.com.)
Future & Annual Events
03/17/2002 – Sunday - Tucson Kite Festival
Contact ArFF For Details at:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=arff&nav=start
03/31/2002 - Easter Assention Tradition
One of our members,
Juan, states that he has a tradition in the country that he is from, Guyana,
which is to fly kites during Easter, especially Easter Sunday. Actually, this
is the only time kites are flown in Guyana he states. The reason being that
sending a kite up into the skies is significant of Jesus's resurrection and
ascension to the Father. He keeps this tradition with his family and plans on
flying Easter Sunday. We may or may not plan a fly on Easter each year, mainly
because lots of us plan on being together with family on this special day, but
we will all be with Juan in spirit. If you remember this tradition from Guyana
on Easter, try to get a kite up and think of this tradition.
If anyone has or knows
about traditions such as this, please send them in so that we can share them
all with the rest of the club. And let’s all join Juan and Guyana in this
wonderful Easter Ascension tradition!
04/1-05/05/2002 – National Kite Month
Events Occurring All Over The Nation (And The World) For more information
goto:
As for local events, we will try to keep you posted! See Below!
04/13-14/2002 – Weekend – Anthem Days Annual Kite Festival
Details To Follow Later. Check with ArFF at:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=arff&nav=start
04/18/2002 – Sunday - Springerville Kite Festival
To Be Confirmed.
05/11/2002 –Third Annual Sister Club Fly In San Diego (This may be moved)
Come and tryout some really great winds with loads of fun for the whole
family. Sea World, Old Down, Seaport Village, Mission Bay, Mission beach, the
ocean, shopping, and a myriad of other things for the family to do. We will be
joining the SDKC, (http://www.sdkc.net) at their Mission Bay Park for a Sister
club fly on Saturday, with a night fly on the beach Saturday evening hosted by
R66KC. A Saturday evening barbecue will be promoted as well. We would like to
have everyone stay at the same hotel if possible for easier logistics. The
“Beach Cottages” hotel, (website: http://www.beachcottages.com), is on
Mission Boulevard (858) 483-7440 and right on the beach for everyone’s
enjoyment with lots of shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. The
rooms run from $75-$85/night for hotel rooms through $250/night for a
two-bedroom cottage. Jane and I have a
one-bedroom cottage that we all can congregate at, so my recommendation is the
cheaper rooms. Everyone should get his
or her reservations in early because this is a popular place. Hope to see you
all there!
09/20-22/2002 – September
San Diego Sister Club Fly in San Diego w/ the TMF Social Club Event
More information to follow when available. See the May event below for
lodging information.
10/05/2002
– Pacific Beach Festival – Major Event For The San Diego Kite Club
10/06/2002 – One Sky One World (OSOW) Annual kite event for world
piece. More to follow as information becomes
available.
10/18-20/02 – Hardyville Days/Art In The Sky Kite
Fly – BullHead City
- - - Ideas For New Events - - -
We need help with these so if you have any ideas
that will support this event, please let us know by dropping us a line at: r66kc@tmsquared.com
Sunshine
Acres Children’s Home/Orphanage Charity Event – We need help in
coming up with ideas for this charity.
I have raised $10,000/year for this Children’s home through the Harley
Owners Group (HOG), but do not have a clue as to how the R66KC can raise money
for these needy kids. Please send your ideas to r66kc@tmsquared.com Thanks.
Well you guessed it, I finally came up with an idea. With
all of the events that enjoy having us signal their events with a kite, would
could request donations to our charity on our behalf for our efforts! (yea like
right, what effort... ha ha). So keep this in mind and perhaps we can get more
big event planned, and some real monies for the Sunshine Acres Children’s Home.
We still need
ideas for this Charity Event!
Any thoughts
anyone?
- - - Next Year - - -
01/01/2003
Wednesday - New Years Day Fun Fly (For those of us that can function that is.)
Note: Any ideas for events, please
contact the Gadget Man at: R66KC@TMSquared.com.
Other News
Gone With
The Wind – Gone and Back
Good news about Gone With the Wind by the
way. Glad to see that the torch has
been passed on to new owners. It looks
like they will keep up the tradition of good service, great prices, and huge
selection that Dan has worked so hard to establish.
So take a look: http://www.gwtw-kites.com/
Chris The Schermanator Schermann
David Gomberg – A Really Great Guy And A Credit To Kiting
Thanks for your note, Thomas!
Please know that I was
not offended and that I'm a real fan of the 66 folks.
I'm also a great fan of Dans and am pleased that we're not losing what he
has brought to the community. But when I saw your note, I felt compelled to
write you back. We are losing lots of stores right now and they all need our
support. Part of the problem is that the physical storefronts are the ones that
attract more new fliers. But the regular fliers spend most of their money on
the internet. Price shopping is basic economics and I'm not saying there is
anything wrong with it. But we do need to support everyone as much as we can.
I'm delighted to hear you have an "open door policy" for commercial
information in the newsletter. You might include a note about that in an
upcoming issue and invite contributions. Or if you like, we have a list of
stores on our web page. Feel free to grab the names of all of them in and
around Arizona and send them a note.
I'm trying to be helpful and constructive. So I hope I have not offended
*you*. Keep up the good work out there!
David Gomberg
AKA President
And Kite Store Owner/Designer/And More!
PS -- If any of our "How To" information or travel reports are
of interest to your newsletter, feel free to grab them from our site. We have
tips on big kite flying, comparisons of various foil lifters, and photos of new
designs from Peter Lynn. All we ask is that you add a link back to the source.
Well check it out kiters, this guy really knows how to build a kite. And
the bigger the better. Take a look:
New Kite Freaks Web Site
This site covers all kite sports like: kite surfing, land board surfing, kite blading, kite snow skiing & snowboarding and loads more! Pretty Cool! So take a look:
www.kitefreaks.net
Kites For Kids Cheap
Carl send me a note that
he has been making kites for kids cheap and that they actually fly good. A very
important factor when you want to keep their enthusiasm up. After several
e-mails he sent me one all the way from Chicago. Here is one of his notes:
I sent the kites to
the Glendale address. I made and flew these
kites while I was briefly in Phoenix, about Dec. l5. This is an adaption of an adaption of a modified l960's science
kite, also used by the Nat'l Geo. World Explorer (modified). I've been making these kites with 3 to 9
year olds as a science project. They're
cheap and fly amazingly well, unless they get wet. You can adjust the dihedral using the straw length and fly in
varying wind speeds. This is a kite,
which is
able, repairable, doable, flyable, buyable, duplicateable and more. Thought you might want to have a kite
workshop with this kite imprinted with the Route 66 logo, address, and appeal
for donations, as you give them away.
The dollar store sells sewing kits with 20 small spools of thread for
$l.00. The kids can decorate the kites,
too.
I sent the kite because most kite workshops are using the sled kite with
the bridle of 72" plus, sometimes a hassle when the kids try to fly in a
tight situation, Like in an urban street, yard, etc. This flies in small eddies of wind, down and updrafts, and while
the kids run. (not you, the kids).
It'll fly to 600 ft. of thread.
Don't know when I'll be in Phoenix yet.
I'll mail ahead. My son lives
near 59th and Greenway in Glendale.
Look, up in the sky! It's a
bird-no it's a plane, no, its a piece of paper, a straw, and a construction
flagging tape tail, about 20 cents.
Carl – Chicago Skyliners
Al Habib Is
Getting Married!\
That’s right folks our very own
tent maker/kite maker/bag maker/ and fly’n fool is going to tie the knot with his
one and only Christina! Well as I have always said, and for good reason, if you
can find a woman that will put up with you, grab her with both hands! So
special congratulations from us all Jonathan, and may your skies be filled with
smiles!
Tips
and Tricks from our own club expert, Roman (The Fly’n Hawaiian) Trugillo.
The Smile Factor
I fly
for the smiles :)
The smiles I get when I pull off a double axle
with practically no wind....
The smiles I see on a kid when he sees a colorful
kite in the air....
The smiles that go around when meeting new kiters
for the first time....
The smiles that go around when you meet up with
long, lost kiters....
The smiles that are anticipating the next kite
you pull out of your bag....
The smiles that are brought to a special kiting
event....
Start racking up some frequent flyer smiles!!! Go
and fly a kite!!
Aloha Roman
The Leading Edge
(Anyone Want
To Provide Some Tips? Please Contact The Gadget Man With Your Ideas.)
Punch Turns
Aloha,
Kite Flyers! This month I would like to
talk about “punch turns”. If you ever
wonder how your local kite expert can carve out square and precise turns
without skipping a beat, this is the move you would use. It’s impressive because it not only exacts
the kite to do perfect corners but it also speeds through the turns faster then
a pull turn.
Punch
turns start out with a good wind at your back.
This is the perfect time to practice precision maneuvers. The hands are at neutral position. For those unsure of where the neutral
position is, it’s usually elbows down and bent at a 90-degree angle and
forearms forward. The position allows
you to give or take in slack. Place the
kite in launch position on the ground.
Launch the kite for a vertical path (straight up). The punch turn is then initiated when you
“punch” with the opposite hand you want the kite to turn. Confused?
To turn right, you must punch with your left hand. To turn left, you must punch with your right
hand. It is the exact opposite of the
pull turn.
Now
the kite makes the turn and the recovery portion of the turn needs to be
initiated. This is achieved by bringing
your hands back to neutral position.
But not so fast! Snap the
“turning” hand back about 80 percent of the way back to neutral and then ease
it in the rest of the way. This allows
the kite not to overcompensate in the turn.
All of this must happen within a fraction of a second!
With
the punch turn you can practice squares, hexagons, stair steps, and other
advanced precision kite figures. Try
mixing square turns with big loops and advanced stunts like axles or
half-axles. As you perfect the move it
will look like you’re the local kite expert!
Until
next time, I’ll see you on “The Leading Edge”!
Straighten
up and fly right!
The Flyin’ Hawaiian
Note:
Please feel free to give Roman holly hell the next time you see him. He has
reported that he will be spending the New Year celebration in Hawaii!!! And he
has indicated that he does not need a manservant to carry his bags for him,
(boo hoo).
Flick Flacks
And Other Fun Stuff!
Disclaimer
The Route 66 Kite Club (R66KC), the editors of the “Route 66 Kite Club - Kite Flyer” (currently Thomas Gadget Man Manson), the American Kitefliers Association (AKA), and any contributors to this editorial, make no claims concerning the accuracy of materials appearing in this publication. Any and all information relating to kiting, rumors or otherwise, will be published without efforts in authentication or verification of the source. Efforts will be made to screen out items of malicious intent, without any guarantee of the success of these efforts. Updates or clarifications of previously posted information or rumors, are requested, and will gladly be posted in the following edition.
Reminder: I will be publishing anything and
everything that comes my way that relates to kites. If you wish to communicate
with me, and DO NOT want something
used in the Kite Flyer, please indicate what part of your E-mail is private.
Otherwise, everything is fair game. Send me something, come on, I dare
you! In any event, I could really use the help so send your articles to: R66KC@TMSquared.com.
Copyright
NON-Restrictions
Reprints or redistribution of
this publication ARE permitted.
Notification of the editor is required, and the “by line” or “photo by”
required for all reprints. Default to: “Reprinted from Route 66 Kite Club-Kite
Flyer By Tom Gadget Man Manson” unless otherwise specified. So help yourself!