Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1993 08:44:35 -1000 From: Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) Message-Id: Organization: Equinox Networks Subject: Air Force World - NZ On Sunday, 3 October 1993, kiting history was made. For the first time ever the RNZAF gave permission for a Kite Day at Wigram Air Base. Admission and flying was free. Global Sky Kite Store provided: Kites to try, buy and fly. Kite Building Workshop for $3 to cover materials and construction. Demonstrations and flying diplays of a range of kite types and sizes. The organisation of the event. A public address system, and occasional music. The Air Force provided: Free access to the Air Base. Free Admission & Car Parking at the Air Force Museum car park. Normal admission to the RNZAF Air Force Museum. Display Areas for the display of : The "History of Kites". Latest Designs from Global Sky Kite Shop. Facilities for the Kite Making Workshop. ********************* The official timing of the event was from noon to 4 pm. Flying line length was restricted to 60 metres (198 feet). The morning was very discouraging with a cold grey high cloud overcast and not a breath of wind. At 1pm it was so calm that nothing would stay airborne. The only movement was an aircraft landing on the runway. Throughout the day small aircraft landed and took off from the airstrip which was naturally, out-of-bounds to the Kitefliers. It was a surprise to find that Kites and Aircraft were able to get along with each other at a military Air Base. Having dumped our little collection of kites and spare parts I went off with my lightest Indian Paper/Bamboo fighter (435 x 385 mm) and near the perimeter of the flying field I managed to find a faint whisper of unsteady wind and got the little kite airborne, stabilised with a short tail :-) :-) I claimed that I was the first to get a kite into the air but my wife said "Bzzzzzzzt". She had seen someone get a Stunter going for a short spell, earlier. I said that 2-liners didn't qualify :-) Soon a number of kites began to rise into the air. To my surprise someone began flying an Indian Fighter, the first I had ever seen locally. Flying on a short line with some fancy high speed fingerwork he put on a lively demonstration. Enquiries revealed that it was an Indian Fighter made by Fighter Kites Australia (Peter Lloyd) and very similar in size and style to a George Peter's Indian. 27.5" x 23" (W x L); ripstop sail; fibreglass cross spar and dowel spine ( George Peter's Indian has a laminated spine ). The pilot had just returned from Australia with a box of 5 of these kites so he sold me one for NZ$ 28 ( US$ 14 ). Now at last I have a robust Nylon/Fibreglass Fighter to work with. I tried it out but it was so lively I was in danger of striking other folks with it so I decided to get some private practice first. My wife then decided on the first flight of her birthday present, a 4 foot "Seagull" Rokkaku in Royal Blue & Turquoise. The recommended bowing of top and bottom spars did not seem to allow the kite to climb and fly so we used the "fighter setting" with no bow in the top spar and not much at the bottom either....and away it went and did not want to come down. There were two other 6 foot Rokkakus flying. Peter Lynn's associate, Peter McConnachie, was flying "Tako Tako" ( The Octopus ) and "The Geko" - both Peter Lynn creations. Alongside was a pair of Martin Lester's "Legs". There was a nice colourful 3 kite stack (train) of Peter Powells with the long tubular tails. The makers and owners asked me to have a turn at flying the stack. I was rather apprehensive as I had never flown a stack before but it performed easily and the pull was surprisingly moderate. It was nice to be asked, I think they had been watching me fly my favourite Arrowhead Stunter for about half an hour non-stop and wanted to see how I would handle the Peter Powells. Late in the day 3 Peels & Buggies did their stuff to the south of the flying area. I was not close enough to judge the action. Des Pitfield was flying a nice 3 metre Black & Green Cody War Kite he had made, and later, he flew the 2-line Stunter of the Day - an Australian "West Coast Angel", a very slim swept wing Delta which was really outstanding. The Angel is made by "Hold-the-Line" (Neil Taylor) of Perth and every kite is registered for each owner. It retails at NZ$ 480 ( US$ 240 ). I think I will watch and admire the Angels for a while yet :-) The Skynasaur Razorwing 60 was impressive and so was the larger Skynasaur 92. ( I understand the numbers represent wingspan in inches ). Most beautiful kite of the day was Yvonne de Mille's large "Just an 8 Point Star", a mosaic of glowing colours. How did it get its name ?? Well when Yvonne was making the kite someone walked into the workshop, saw the design sketch Yvonne was working from and remarked - " Oh ! it's just an 8-point star" !!! Her kite won the President's Choice prize at the recent Annual Kite Festival at Bondai Beach, Sydney, Australia. Towards the end of the day the Organisers announced that next Sunday, 10 October 1993, is the 8th Annual "One Sky, One World, International Kite Fly for Peace". This will take place at Hagley Park in the City Centre. More flying opportunities !! Colin Douthwaite New Zealand 6 Oct 1993 Email address: colin_douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =