28 replies to this topic

[Kitelife]

Here it is folks, draft 1 of what we hope will become an international playbook and manual for team flying!

Credits go to Mike Kory for the motivation, organization and manifestation for this resource... Proofing and support given by yours truly and iQuad.

ATTACHMENT REMOVED - NEW VERSION HERE

Bear in mind that this is the first of it's kind as far as we know... Please, feel encouraged to keep an ongoing discussion going in this section of the Rev forum, post any ideas or suggestions here and they will be considered!

I will say, it's easiest for all if each topic or major suggestion is placed in it's own thread.

Edited by Barresi, 24 April 2007 - 07:20 PM.
Revision made, see version 1.1

[Mike]

Though of course I hope this manual is useful for teams, and I expect team fliers to be main contributors, my reasons for starting this manual weren't for formal Rev teams. I live about 150 miles from the nearest quad fliers so I'm not on a team.

Part of what makes Rev flying so cool is that Rev fliers can stand shoulder to shoulder while flying. They can spend hours laughing and dodging each other's kites. The ability to stop on a dime and fly in reverse makes this possible and is one of the things that distinguish Revs from duals.

This time of year, I'm at a festival almost every weekend and I run into quad-heads at the festivals. Many are fliers I've met before, some are new friends.
It's great fun to form impromptu teams with the fliers and we have a blast. To enable all Rev fliers to do this, I came up with the idea of this manual.

If all Rev fliers know a basic set of figures and use the same terminology, anytime two or more fliers meet, they can be a team. The only other requirement is for each flier to have the same length lines. I chose 120' because it seems to be commonly used and works well in teams of two to 16 (that's as big a group as I've flown in so far).

I'm looking forward to more contributions to the manual: corrections to my diagrams, some specific 2-person moves might be nice, additional team figures, maybe some good "follow" moves that work well, and discussion of what's already in the manual.

Post ideas here in the forum, and when we come to some sort of agreement, I'll add new information to the manual.

You don't have to be on a team to enjoy the team flying experience. Acquire a set of 120' lines. Print this manual and stick it in your kite bag. When you meet another Rev flier at a park, beach, or festival, you are ready to have the time of your life and make new friends. Enjoy!

[Kitelife]

Well said Mike, I couldn't have done it any better.

[RevWizard]

Here it is folks, draft 1 of what we hope will become an international playbook and manual for team flying!

Credits go to Mike Kory for the motivation, organization and manifestation for this resource... Proofing and support given by yours truly and iQuad.

[attachment=111:Revoluti...gures_v1.pdf]
Bear in mind that this is the first of it's kind as far as we know... Please, feel encouraged to keep an ongoing discussion going in this section of the Rev forum, post any ideas or suggestions here and they will be considered!

I will say, it's easiest for all if each topic or major suggestion is placed in it's own thread.

Excellent John and Mike!
History: The basis of the "Benefit" was developed by Felix Mottram of The Decorators at Scheveningen, Holland in June, 1996. He came up with the movement at the breakfast table with the Decorators. I had joined them for breakfast as I was invited to fly with them the whole day. The team members that day were: Felix Mottram, Mark Eustace, Andy Preston and myself.
The movement was called initially "The Felix" and was flown for the first time that day with Andy as team leader.

[Kitelife]

Great history John, thanks!

[Wayne Fu]

Dang boy! You've been busy haven't you? Great work!

[Kitelife]

Main credit is due to Kory for the legwork and organization... I just fly a lot.

So Wayne, now you'll be all boned up on moves for when iQuad descends on Berkeley!

[Quad KiT]

Awesome information!

[Kitelife]

Wow, 46 downloads of the manual already... You'd think some people want to fly team!

[StringDriver]

Part of what makes Rev flying so cool is that Rev fliers can stand shoulder to shoulder while flying. They can spend hours laughing and dodging each other's kites. The ability to stop on a dime and fly in reverse makes this possible and is one of the things that distinguish Revs from duals.

Mike, I have to agree as a total newbie quad flyer. It was great fun to flounder (I was doing the floundering) around with you, Ken, Fool, and Ben at Airwaves. Standing in a line, even though I was struggling to do the basics, flying in some "formation" as it were, was a REAL KICK!
Now, to practice, practice, practice!

String

[Kitelife]

We've identified one thing that will need correction in the manual... Page 8, Pinwheel.

Generally, unless I'm flying with only top pilots, I won't send anyone flying upwards in reverse.

Both the "yes" and "no" diagrams have one leg of the pinwheel doing this.

The move is still correct, but for learning's sake, we'll be correcting it shortly.

For the manual, if you take the "no" diagram and simply switch ALL kites 180 degrees, it will now be correct...

So, those kites swinging up are flying forward, and those swinging down are flying in reverse (with gravity on their side).

[monkey]

So, those kites swinging up are flying forward, and those swinging down are flying in reverse (with gravity on their side).

Heh, I remain convinced that particular move should have a more specific name. Spin?

[Kitelife]

Pinwheel is the international standard, used by teams in Europe... Too late to change it now.

[Kitebug]

Sweet Guys, this is awsome info, just did a quick pass, will go back and read through.

if Iquad comes to Berkeley Kite Festival, maybe AirZone can jump in

Very cool thanks

Cisco

[Kitelife]

Great to see you here Cisco, COUNT on flying with iQuad at Berkeley... We'll be storming the hill!

Make sure Aaron gets a copy of the manual, eh?

I know Wayne already has his.

[Kitebug]

Will do.

[Frodos Majik]

Yes, Hats off to Mike for throwing the manual together. We were out in Oswego, IL. this past weekend with a few other IKE members getting our feet wet with the team flying. Had groups of people stopping by to watch us trying out the moves all day long. What a BLAST!!!!

Looking forward to doing move team flying with others at other fests thought out the summer!!

StringDriver it was a blast flying shoulder to shoulder with you out in Airwaves and looking forward to hooking up with you again out in G.H. Michigan in less then a month!!

[Stephen Hoath]

Heh, I remain convinced that particular move should have a more specific name. Spin?

Dave we avoided the word spin as this implies some degree of speed in the figure. Keep coming up with the ideas though. The names of moves are harder to come up with than the moves!

[monkey]

Dave we avoided the word spin as this implies some degree of speed in the figure. Keep coming up with the ideas though. The names of moves are harder to come up with than the moves!

But, to clear up some confusion on my part, is what's shown in the manual (with 3 of the 6 moving in reverse) still classed as a pinwheel move? I'd felt (perhaps wrongly!) that a pinwheel always had half the kites facing 180 degrees apart from the other half, with all moving forward.

[Mike]

That's a good idea for a move too. It would be easier for fliers who are uncomfortable with reverse flying. Doing a 'pinwheel' that way would allow more beginners to join in the group/team flies. I'd like to see more moves like that.

It's like two teams of three doing a radar, one team going clockwise, one team going counter-clockwise.

It needs a name though....