TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2011

• From the Editors
• Correspondence
• Contributors
• Waiting on History SCOTT SKINNER
• Kite Altitude World Record Attempts BOB MOORE
• Christmas with Peter Lynn CHARLIE WATSON
• Kite Buggy Adventure HARRY AND CHARLIE THUILLIER

EDITORS

Scott Skinner
Ali Fujino
Katie Davis

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Scott Skinner
Martin Lester
Joe Hadzicki
Stuart Allen
Dave Lang
Jose Sainz
Ali Fujino

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMERITUS

Bonnie Wright
Wayne Wilson
Keith Yoshida

Drachen Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge about kites worldwide.

WWW.DRACHEN.ORG

FROM THE EDITORS

This is an interesting issue of Discourse because most of the issue came to us from Australia and New Zealand. Two articles take us deep into the kite-buggy world and have something familiar in common: passion. Follow Charlie Watson as he spends two weeks with old friends – some people, some kites! – following his buggy passion. Then follow the Thuillier brothers as they go far- afield and buggy the Brazilian coast.

Passion drives the activities of Australian Bob Moore as he chronicles his adventures flying kites to very high altitudes in the Australian outback. Bob talks of successes and failures, breakthroughs and setbacks, during his high- flight efforts since 2003. He talks of the current technologies used to make the efforts possible as well as costs – in time and mental health – to pursue such a goal.

Finally, I talk of going to the mat and spending some serious money on two historical kite artifacts. Too valuable to the kite community to let escape, these two, original Eddy kites have now been documented and are presented to the kite community here for the first time.

Scott Skinner Board President

Drachen Foundation

Discourse is published on the Drachen Foundation website several times a year and can be downloaded free at www.drachen.org (under “Browse” > “Articles”).

CORRESPONDENCE

[Discourse:] a magazine on notable kite stuff, the equivalent of Rolling Stone magazine but for kites.

CRAIG HANSEN
New Zealand

I’m very glad to hear that the article was well-received. Perhaps towards the end of next year I’ll have more to tell! Hope so! Here in Bariloche, I’m pretty much the only steady regular passionate kite-flyer, but people do show interest, and the workshops are proving popular.

Our city is getting over the effects of the volcano Puyehue eruption (100km away) which covered the whole area with ashes. That disrupted life here quite drastically at the beginning, but now things are getting back to normal, fortunately. Kiting was out of the question for several months, but it’s OK now, if the wind is not bringing the plume, which persists, and can be irritating for one’s eyes… but we’ve already got used to it! (We use goggles and surgical masks on those days.)

DIANA ROSS
Argentina

So glad to see that The Department of Tethered Aviation was covered, I am also glad to see that we have a real kiting publication in the USA again!

TY BILLINGS
USA

Thoroughly enjoyed the last issue of Discourse. Fantastic job!

ALEX STUPARICH
Canada

It feels good to see my text in the latest Discourse (and to feel that my ideas found some echo).

DIETER DEHN
Germany

Although it is not necessary that you send a gift to me, since to be published [by] Drachen is an honor enough, it would be wonderful to receive it! I found the article organization and the picture distribution excellent. I also enjoyed the rest of the articles a lot.

MARIA ELENA GARCÍA AUTINO
Argentina

I am grateful to you for publishing my article in Discourse: from the end of the line, September 2011. Pleasure is mine to contribute it. I am more than happy as it came out right on the happy occasion of Dasain Festival, which is a kite-flying season in Nepal. Thanks a million!

NIRMAN MAN TULADHAR
Nepal

Wonderful story about KAP!

HANS SOYKA
Germany

It’s Drachen that deserve the thanks and it’s me that should be sending presents – you all do such a great job for kiteflying.

PETER LYNN
New Zealand