Come to Long Beach for what is likely to the biggest Rev party ever held, and an attempt to break the existing Rev mega fly world record (currently 64 kites) with 100 pilots or more in attendance during the Washington State International Kite Festival (www.kitefestival.com) in Long Beach, WA USA.
NOTE: Actual record attempts are scheduled Thu/Fri/Sat, but those new to GRID format are advised to come a couple days early to learn and practice... One hundred kites in formation is NO JOKE, this isn't something a novice/intermediate pilot will just be able to show up and participate in at the last minute - there will be learning, practice and "try out" opportunities for folks who aren't sure... Really, we're keen on helping anyone get into this, it doesn't take much - but showing up early will help ensure your readiness. 
Scheduled Record Attempts:
Thu - 1pm to 2:30pm
(+30 min before for set up, same for tear down)
Fri - 1pm to 2:30pm
(+30 min before for set up, same for tear down)
Sat - noon to 1:30pm
(+30 min before for set up, same for tear down)
Field B is dedicated to Rev fliers all week, except for Thursday as the World Kite Museum will be using the field until noon for a themed kite fly - we'll start setting up around the edges and be ready to roll onto the field at noon, preparing for our initial 1pm record/practice attempt... We'll make a run at it even if we don't have 100, still a fun chance to practice, and the old record is only 64 so maybe we can break it twice in one week! 
================================
Supporting our efforts in various ways:
Revolution Kites - celebrating 25 years in 2013!
http://www.revkites.com/
Kitelife Magazine - kiting info online!
http://www.kitelife.com/
http://www.learnkites.com/
The Kite Shoppe - your source for Rev stuff!
http://www.thekiteshoppe.com/
World Kite Museum - kite history and fun!
http://www.worldkitemuseum.com/
================================
We're looking to coordinate the world's largest ever Rev Mega Fly with 100 pilots, 100 kites, 400 individual strings to make a grand total 48,000 feet (over 9 miles) of kite line and 500 spars.
There is a system, and it works!
Conceived by Felix Mottram and his UK teammates (The Decorators), grid format allows large group of Rev fliers to work in tighter formation, with generally simpler turns than typical team flying.
Videos from 2010 WSIKF (64 kite record)
Video from Berck sur Mer, 2013 (30 kites in grid)
A good look through these videos (2008 record of 47 kites) will give you an idea of how far things can go, if we work, learn and have fun at this together...
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=BGygKnDj0eg
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=vMOXesdyJFA
And just to warp your mind a little more...
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=1qbCgPJ8LN4
The key is to pick one kite in the video and watch what they actually do in terms of individual skills, don't let get lost in the big picture... It looks amazing because EVERYONE is doing simple things together, as a group, under solid leadership.
With 100 kites (now 10x10) going into the new record, things will be MUCH tighter and we'll need to work on closer body spacing and VERY clean 180 turns to make it all work properly.
================================
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
First and foremost, we're kitefliers looking to have a good time and do something really cool as a group... All in, through and around that, will be some of the best camaraderie and skill exchange you'll ever experience.
As long as you're aware of your surroundings and keen to keep your feet out of lines, we WELCOME anyone with an interest in Revs... Come on over, make some friends, take a lesson with just about any one of the master pilots in attendance and even try your hand at a little basic team flying!
================================
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
For those serious about getting involved, I recommend arriving no later than Wednesday night but Monday or Tuesday is best if you can make it - the festival is 7 days long... Thu/Fri/Sat are usually the days for our record attempts.
The actual job each pilot will be doing isn't so difficult, mostly composed of:
- Solid speed control (slow/med/fast)
- Stable hovers (less than one meter of wiggle room)
- Clean 180 turns (up/down) without losing control
- Flying straight lines up/down/right/left
- Flying diagonal lines in most directions
- Slow reverse ability right/left/down and most diagonal
================================
AIRPORT
The nearest major airport is PDX (Portland, OR USA) at about 2:20 distance from Long Beach... SEA (Seattle, WA USA) is not too bad either at about 2:45 away from Long Beach.
HOTEL
Depending on where you're coming from, you might try some of the usual online booking places like (www.hotels.com, www.orbitz.com, etc) but a lot of the Long Beach hotels are not in those systems... They're nice, privately owned lodging that can be browsed more effectively here:
http://www.funbeach.com/
** or **
http://goo.gl/maps/XWECZ
(WSIKF is held between Bolstad Ave and Syd Snyder Dr)
================================
Stay tuned to this page for more discussion, and feel free to add some of your own!
==
For more information, take a look at the event in the Kitelife calendar...
https://kitelife.com...trong-at-wsikf/
Or, visit our event page on Facebook!
https://www.facebook...14867438580073/
I just sent a PM to Tonet with the news!!
