545 replies to this topic

[Kitelife]

Aye, we'll have lots of 4x4 practices beforehand to get the newer folks ready on Mon/Tue/Wed...

Trick is, we can afford to take our licks during those practices, you'll get it all out your system during that time.

By Thu/Fri/Sat, you'll be an old pro.

==

When we did it in Portsmouth and Bristol (2008), we had no practice and still managed to get grids of 47 and 54 up in the air successfully...

And bear in mind, perhaps a dozen of the folks who participated in those grids were as new as you are, or newer.

[Kitelife]

Just checking again... Anyone here TENTATIVELY planning to come to WSIKF who isn't on the list (first post) yet?

[bartman]

Regarding the pre-flight meeting.

Better to have 100 people at this meeting or have "squad" leaders attend then break off in their own groups?

Perhaps the top pilot in each column is the squad leader, they go to the pre-flight meeting then meet and relate to the other nine people in his/her column.

Makes for easier conversation and questions with just 10 people in a huddle instead of 100.

Just a thought based on years of dealing with big groups of people working towards a common goal.

Bart

[Felix Mottram]

Regarding the pre-flight meeting.

Better to have 100 people at this meeting or have "squad" leaders attend then break off in their own groups?

Perhaps the top pilot in each column is the squad leader, they go to the pre-flight meeting then meet and relate to the other nine people in his/her column.

Makes for easier conversation and questions with just 10 people in a huddle instead of 100.

Just a thought based on years of dealing with big groups of people working towards a common goal.

Bart

If 10 people sit on the sand in a line, one behind another, it will be possible, I think, for someone addressing them from in front to make themselves heard. (Surf <white noise> can make it a bit difficult for us oldies, of course) If there are ten lines, side by side, we may be ready to 'walk' (and 'talk') the routines. I think that 'everyone' should attend the pre-flight meeting, in part, to avoid '<that country over there> whispers' from causing confusion.

Great to see that the 8 x 8 is in place.

Felix

[Kitelife]

Aye, we've at least got the 8x8 already.

And yes, I'd agree, generally grouping the 10's into 10 groups standing or sitting together will be sufficient...

I'm a barker, communicating won't be an issue, and we have a bullhorn if it comes down to it.

What I'll do is basically run off a roll call from my list on Thursday morning, handing out the colored wristbands, sorting out teams.

Sample of wristband, showing both sides:



The main goal for me is to get each of the groups to familiarize themselves with their column-mates so they know who to look for in the big group and where they belong.

My guess, we'll probably do a drill that morning, working out the basics of how to get into formation... Bodies only, no kites.

[Kitelife]

I've just added this to the first post as well, more info about how arranging 100 kites and fliers might work in one scenario.

==

Set up on the ground w/ wind running down the beach...

Chances are, we literally won't be able to fit 100 kites wingtip to wingtip onto the beach (unless we have a straight ocean wind), so here is how the 10x10 Grid might look from above, while "at rest" on the ground:



In theory, this is how the LAUNCHING process might work...

When we mobilize, the upwind pilots (1-5) in the center two color columns (blue and black) will launch into position high in the window and move forward if wind allows... Perhaps 30 seconds afterward, the downwind pilots (6-10) in the same columns will launch into position low in the window and walk backward to meet with the top of their column in the middle of the field.

Having established the center two columns, we'd then add to each side, two columns at a time...

Teal/Yellow
Green/Orange
Purple/Red
Grey/Brown

Once we get the process down, we should be able to launch the next pair of columns while the previous two are still positioning...

I'd like to see each column up in under a minute, and I think it's very possible once we work out the process and are moving together.

[Kitelife]

Up to 69 confirmed now, just 31 to go and we've got 100.

[Felix Mottram]

<snip>

I'd like to see each column up in under a minute, and I think it's very possible once we work out the process and are moving together.

Seems to me that time spent sitting on the ground getting to know who will be in close proximity will be time well spent.

I'm wondering if it might be possible set up the kites in a close formed grid on the ground?

With a little 'planning' it may be possible to go for a simultaneous launch <grins>

Felix

[Felix Mottram]

Up to 69 confirmed now, just 31 to go and we've got 100.

Cor Blimey... 'Soixante Neuf' already, whatever next <grins>

Felix

[Felix Mottram]

Up to 69 confirmed now, just 31 to go and we've got 100.

JB,

I'm wondering if we should be encouraging 'names' from Rev flying history to turn up. I'm sure you know who I mean...

I do not know current circumstances so would not want to cite examples <grins>

Felix

[Kitelife]

I've already spoken with Scott Aughenbaugh, there's a slight chance he might show up...

Send me a PM, I might have a line on contacts and circumstances, if you can throw me some names.

[Mr. Robin McCracken]

Full week, Skill level only 1 or 2, I need to acquire a rev, have flown others revs, but want to polish my skills for this! Any help to get a Rev kite and what I should buy would be appreciated. ROBIN

[Watty]

Full week, Skill level only 1 or 2, I need to acquire a rev, have flown others revs, but want to polish my skills for this! Any help to get a Rev kite and what I should buy would be appreciated. ROBIN

Ideally, you would want both a full vent and a full sail rev 1.5 or B-Series. You would also want one set of race rods or 2 wrap, one set of 3 wrap, and one set of 4 wrap. Having these things will allow you to participate in any set of wind conditions. At Long Beach, you never know what you will get. One day the wind could be dead, and the next you could see me rolling down the beach.

If you are unable to get two kites, I would recommend either a full sail or a mid-vent with the same assortment of rods. I figure it would be easier to fly a full sail in heavy wind than it would be to fly a full vent in light wind. However, flying a kite above it's recommended wind range does pose a risk of damage to the rods or the sail.

[Kitelife]

There will be a required amount of skill in order to participate in the big mega attempt(s)...

Relatively stable hovers facing 8 directions on the clock (12, 1:30, 3, 4:30, 6, etc), controlled speed forward and reverse flight in various directions, etc.

However! That's what Mon/Tue/Wed are for, anyone can come down to the Rev field for some very friendly and helpful support, our goal is to enable if possible, not to exclude.

With some of the best Rev fliers in the world attending, there will be no shortage of instruction, the brass ring is there for anyone who wants it.

On average, at the iQuad clinics, we've been able to take *most* folks from absolute novice to beginning team flier within 10-30 hours of flight time.

[Kitelife]

Just posting some more visual aids here...



The image above shows how we might start layering balls ("center four kites, face out to form a ball").

Outside of that, you'll see the next square of kites which would be "next ring of kites, face out to form a ball".

Outside of that, another square of kites, "next ring of kites, face out to form a ball".

Etc, etc.

Using this approach, we end up with five rings, one inside another...

==

Outer ring is one, inner ring is 5, slow burst in order... One... Two... Three... Four... Five.

Back to balls in reverse... Five... Four... Three... Two... One.

==

Back in the ball positions, another move, probably the most difficult...

Inner ring turn to place their left wingtip toward the center (looks like a pinwheel).



Next ring out, turn to put your right wingtip toward the center.

Next ring out, turn to put your left wingtip toward the center.

Next ring out, turn to put your right wingtip toward the center.

Outside ring, turn to put your left wingtip toward the center.

(this puts the rings facing alternating directions

Now, fly forward slowly, around your circle.

All kites turn to face the other way...

Now, fly forward slowly, back to your original positions.

==

The trick to this whole thing is moderating speed, flying slowly... And to keep visual tabs on the shape YOU are a part of, like which ring in the scenario above.

If you get in the wrong place or bump into someone else, the only thing that cause catastrophe is if someone loses their hover and takes off too quickly, hover and work it out.

==

Own your hover, and remember more or less, where your "home" spot is in the grid...

The leader may call out "BACK TO GRID", and everyone should move at moderate speed back to their original "home" positions.

It never ceases to amaze me how reliably people respond when they hear "BACK TO GRID", it sorts itself out very quickly.

==

Remember, I will be working to put the most experienced pilots in the middle of the whole thing and along the bottom, with the less experienced pilots more high and outside in the grid... The info and images above should give you an idea of some of the hover and flight skills that we'll all want to practice before the event and on Mon/Tue/Wed before the largest mega fly attempts.

[Felix Mottram]

Just posting some more visual aids here...

<snip>

Very eloquently put if I may say so...

Just thinking aloud here I wonder if everyone will be prepared to take part in daily pre-flight ground based briefings. Is there anyone here who objects to spending a small amount of time in preparation?

Felix

[Kitelife]

Some additional visuals...

[Felix Mottram]

Some additional visuals...

<snip>

64, 81 or 100 will happen now, without a doubt.

I look forward to seeing the results <grins>

Felix

[Kitelife]

Just thinking aloud here I wonder if everyone will be prepared to take part in daily pre-flight ground based briefings. Is there anyone here who objects to spending a small amount of time in preparation?

To clarify, I believe what Felix is referring to here is essentially some marching band style exercises, just to get a feel for what we'll be doing in the sky.

Definitely for the body work, but potentially with our bodies acting as the kites as well, just so we can see it happen.

It wouldn't be excessive time-wise, just enough to build a little familiarity...

So to hit home again, who is amiable (or opposed) to doing these types of drills?

[Kitelife]

While it's on my mind, when we distribute column/row assignments at the pre-flight meetings, it will be MOST crucial that you remember two basic variables:

Column #
Row #

When you receive your assignment, in addition to familiarizing yourself with column-mates, you'll want to remember your column and row numbers.

For example, I will likely be in column 5, row 1, so all of these calls would be relevant to me...

==

"Odd number rows face left, even number rows face right... ... ... ... Now."

==

"Odd number columns reverse down, even number columns rise... ... ... ... Now."
"Odd number columns rise, even number columns reverse down... ... ... ... Now."

==

All calls will be done with a very patient cadence, allowing time for each flier to mentally process the data...

Even if a kite turns to face the wrong way, there will be time to adjust, and all fliers are encouraged to do so slowly, patiently.

The ONLY real dangers again, are doing anything too quickly (i.e. fear and panic), and flying too fast.