By Lee Toy
Vol. 5 No.3 – May. – June. 1982

FROM THE FOLKS WHO BROUGHT YOU “PERRIE” WATER…. _________________

The Atelier d’A had sent us a flyer announcing the “Aeolus Force 5” a celebration of wind and air movement, art and architecture and of course kites or CerfVolants as they are called in France.

The celeberation will have started April 25 and run until May 15,1982. So for you international jet setter types hop on the “Concord” and get thee to CAEN, France.

Enquiries to: Atelier d’A -10, rue Pasteur – 14300 CAEN, France. Phone: (31) 86-28-81

MIX IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD FLYERS

Mix Mcgraw is looking for a few good Rainbow stunt kite enthusists to start a “team” of precision kite flyers. The first meeting will be held in early July at the Marina Green. If you are interested in learning how to fly in tandem with a partner or just beginning but would like to become better, perhaps you should get in touch with Mix: Mix McGraw, 65 Ora Way Apt. C

San Francisco, CA, 94131

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

March was a busy time for all and unfortunately a bit rainy and cold much of the month.

We did have a reprive on March 21st and had some excellent weather for our VERNAL EQUINOX KITE FLY. Several new faces appeared and some new kites were aired.

It was a day for celebration and also a day of loss.

I had loaned several of my kites to some friends to fly since they had not brought any along. Everyone was enjoying the fresh breeze and the radiant sun that was playing hard to get lately. Then Paul came over to tell me that the kite his daughter had been flying had been lost, a gust of wind had taken it away and it couldn’t be caught, it was being carried off , out of sight. I was a little upset, I had just finished the kite a few weeks ago and had not even flown it myself but I also realized that there was nothing to be done, it was gone and that was that.    I thought that it was destiny that the kite escape and find it’s freedom in the wind.

It was later that evening that I had been informed that one of my room­mates was found dead at Point Reys. He had died about the same time the kite was lost, I like to think that Kirk had reached out while passing this life up and plucked the kite from the sky to take it with him beyond the stars.

Good-bye Kirk, may the gentle winds that were with you this day be with you always.

COME FLY A RAINCOAT

You read that one correctly, Non-editor Guy Adylett of the PMAF has got another contest up his sleeve. This time it’s flying raincoats, not In the rain, however. Now all you have to do…

*ANNOUNCEMENT*

KITE CLUB NEWSLETTER EDITORS, please copy: Piney Mountain Air Force challenges your members or readers to participate in a UNIVERSAL RAINCOAT-KITE CONTEST.

RULES

  • Each contestant shall design, construct, and fly a kite adapted from a standard com­mercial plastic raincoat (no poncho-Odako’s shall be accepted in the contest).
  • Total quantity of battens, spreaders, spars, and longerons shall not exceed four in number.
  • Each contestant shall verify the success of his or her design by mailing a sharp , glossy, reproducible black-and-white pho­tograph of the kite—in flight—to PMAF. Each eligible photograph shall clearly show the entire kite against a sky background; above the horizon.
  • PMAF reserves the right to keep and publish winning photographs. The other entries shall be returned to those competi­tors who include adequate return postage.
  • Winners (not more than two for each club or newsletter) shall each receive a six-page autographed HORNBEAM ROTOR 661 KITE
  • Winners shall be selected for originality , quality of photography, faithfulness of ex­cution (each shall be recognizable as a coat in flight), and quality of design.
  • Each contestant shall identify the name of the kiteletter in which this contest an­nouncement was seen.
  • Send all entries to: Piney Mountain Air Force, Box 7304, Charlottesville, VA 22906.

* *DEADLINE: January 1983* :*

GREAT THINGS FROM “GREAT WINDS”

Ken Conrad has informed us that narrow width double stick tape, the kind that Nishi recommends in the construction of his kites is available thru his kite shop “Great Winds” in Seattle, WA.

He sent samples of two widths: 3/16″ x 20 yards at $1.50 / roll and 3/8″ x 60 yards for $3.50 / roll. Don’t forget to add postage.

“Great Winds Kite Co.” is located at: 166 S. Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98104

AN OPEN LETTER FROM JACK VAN GILDER AKA PRESIDENT

Local Kite Group:

Enclosed is information of affiliat­ing a local kite club or group with the American Kitefliers Association. I urge you to read it over carefully and consider seriously joining us. As you can see, there are several very good reasons for doing this.

Information on the AKA NEWS should be expanded here. We are attempting to change the form of our newsletter to include more news about local clubs–what they are doing to have fun–things that would be impossible for a kiteflier to do alone.

We will give you all the help we can be the “expert resource” for kite club problems and a place where kite clubs can share ideas. Our manage­ment team will be able to help provide answere on incorporation and tax exempt status for clubs as well as advice on administrative problems.

We need you to send in your ideas and suggestions and to raise quest­ions that we had not thought of, suggestions which other clubs and groups can use. WE THINK THAT YOU NEED US.

Cordially, Jack Van ‘Gilder, AKA President

Along with this letter was an application form and information sheet on what the AKA could do for chapter groups. If anyone is interested in seeing a copy of these they will be available upon request either from Kite Flyer or directly from AKA.

KITES AND ARIZONA DO MIX_____________

George Peters kites and banners will be the objects on display at “The Hand and the Spirit Crafts Gallery” in Scottsdale, Arizona starting in July. If you are in this area you owe it to yourself  to check out this man’s kite works.

WHERE IS THIS KITEFLYER HEADED?

JOIN THE WHAT ????___________________

I.A.K.U. = INTER-GALACTIC ASSOCIATION OF KITEFLIERS OF THE UNIVERSE. Membership is free and there are

No meetings, No officers and No dues, but you should have flown a kite sometime on this planet. A nifty membership card is available for qualified applicants. Just send a self addressed stamped envelope along with your name or the names of family or friends you would like to have a card for. We can send up to 10 cards with each s.a.s.e. Send your requests to: Inter-galactic Association of Kitefliers of the Universe, c/o Mayor of the Green, George Ham, 649 Page St. Apt. 7

San Francisco, CA 94117 U.S.A. Planet Earth, Solar System Milky Way.

Comments from recent cardholders:

George Peters of Hawaii…Now that’s my idea of a great organization- no meetings and no dues! just kite­flying…The first outing should be kite flying on the moon using the solar winds that are there in abun­dance. Can’t fly on the dark side though! The best places are along the edges

Robert Galitzen of San Francisco.. As a card-carrying member of the I.K.A.U. I object to Venus; the heat’s too great right here on Earth. Next meeting I’ll suggest a moderate compromise, like, say,

Terra Del Fuego so George will have enough wind for the “Biggie”…

Ken Conrad of Seattle…Thanks for the I.K.A.U. card!…How about a Seattle Chapter using the Gas Works park as the “Take off pad”….

MARCH VISITORS______________________

Margaret Greger tried to sneak by when she thought we weren’t looking. After finishing her annual kite work­shop up at Chico State she drove down to visit her daughter Madel. Husband Greg and youngest son Evan were along on this trip. We had hoped she could have stayed a little longer but we are glad to have seen her even if for just a few hours.

Another visitor that we unfortunately didn’t connect with was Allen Williams of Portland, Oregon. Allen was in Alameda on March 7 and sent the following on a postcard: Sorry I did not make contact with you. Went to Marina today about 1pm. Rain + no wind= no action, maybe another time. Might be here later in the month on the way home. Had looked forward to a lot of good advice from you pros. Very best flying, Allen Williams.

READER’S PROFILE____________________

I have encouraged several of our new members to write a bit about them­selves to our fellow readers, here’s a letter from Tom Caldwell….1 am 67 years old and have recently retired as a municipal court judge of San Mateo County. Former hobbies: Build­ing and racing inboard hydroplanes, snow skiing. Present hobbies, amoung others: water skiing, maintaining and restoring three antique/classic auto­mobiles, some old radios (1913 thru 1938) and a few old phonographs, photography and now designing and building kites.

Tom made it out for our March 21 kite fly and flew an antique Three Stick Barndoor kite which flew like a dream. If this is any indication of the kites Tom builds, we’re in for some real beauties. Welcome aboard!

Leland Toy is about to embark upon a rambling clockwise journey around the United States. He’ll be leaving California in early July and should be somewhere on the East Coast in early Fall. If you are a kitemaker, artist, collector, manufacturer or just interested in talking kites he would love to contact you.

Please write before July 1982,

Leland Toy, 1044 Sanchez St., San Francisco, California, 94114 or call (415)647-7774.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE 1982

MAY 2 – “Because we like the weather better”

MAY 9 – FOOTHILL KITE FESTIVAL AUBURN,CA (see page 1)

JUNE 20 – FATHER’S DAY KITE FESTIVAL

This one’s a bigg-E.

AUGUST 15 – “If we’re still here.”

OCTOBER 3 -FAMILY DAY KITE FESTIVAL .
Another big one.

Kite Flyer’s flight pad is located at the San Francisco Marina Green. We are usually gathered near the monument at the mid-length of the Green. Contests and prizes for the Kite Festivals on June 20 and October 3 will be announced at a later date.

All other flys are informal and un­structured although surprises do happen Hope to see you on the Green in ’82.

By way of standard reference–KITE FLYER NEWS is available six times a year (weather permitting) at the minimal cost of a trip to Doggie Diner–$5.00 a year. Send all money, trading stamps or gold bars to 1883 Grand View Drive, Oakland, CA 94618.