Kite Flyer

 

February/March 2002 Issue

Route 66 Kite Club (R66KC)

 

Kite Club

Phoenix, AZ

 

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.)

 

Hot Buttons

Descriptions

Editors Note

Quick Thoughts From The Editor

Look Out Spring! Here Comes National Kite Month!

AKA News Or Director’s Editorial

Letter From The Director And/Or AKA News

Notes From The Prez

Note From The Regional Director

Upcoming Flying Events

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

Latest Fly Reports

What Happened On Last Months Flys

Future & Annual Events

Long Term Dates And Plans\

Other News

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!

The Leading Edge

Flying Tips From The Fly’n Hawaiian

Punch Turns

Flick Flacks

Fun Kite Stuff – Comics – Setting Them Free

Disclaimer

Cover My Ass Legal Ease

Copyright NON-Restrictions

Please Help Yourselves

 

 

Click Here For The

Calendar Of Events


 

 

 

Web Site Links

(Just Click On Them And Go!)

Charter

Membership Requirements

Past News Letters

Photos Of Events

Signature Lines To Remember

Kite Field Recommendations

Kite Stores

Kite Basics And Safety

 

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

thomas.m.manson@boeing.com

 

 

 

 

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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>

 

 

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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.

Rating:

Good

Restrooms:

South Side

Kiters That Can Fly:

30

Drinking Fountains:

South Side

Non-Kiter Visibility:

Medium

Park Benches:

No

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.)

 

Rating:

Great

Restrooms:

None

Kiters That Can Fly:

30

Drinking Fountains:

None

Non-Kiter Visibility:

Poor

Park Benches:

Yes

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. 

Rating:

To Be Determined

Restrooms:

Yes

Kiters That Can Fly:

To Be Determined

Drinking Fountains:

Yes

Non-Kiter Visibility:

Great

Park Benches:

Yes

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.

Rating:

Fantastic

Restrooms:

Yes

Kiters That Can Fly:

30

Drinking Fountains:

Yes

Non-Kiter Visibility:

Great

Park Benches:

No

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.

 

 

 

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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.)

 

 

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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:

http://www.aka.kite.org

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.

 

 

10/18-20/02Hardyville 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.

 

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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:

http://www.gombergkites.com/

 

 

 

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!

 

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The Leading Edge

 

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).

 

 

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Flick Flacks

And Other Fun Stuff!

 

 

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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.

 

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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!

 

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