Recently Pam Shanahan and I, (Simon Chisnall) attended the Gujarat kite festival from the 10th to the 14th of January 2010. I think it is well worth it for any kite flyer.

The festival is to celebrate the Indian festival of Uttaraayan – the end of a long winter and the arrival of the sun.

AHMEDABAD

This festival is one of the most interesting festivals I have ever been lucky to attend. The festival started with a parade of international kite flyers (32 countries) around the flying field with 7500 kids performing in the centre.

The flying conditions where very difficult. With very light winds and no tie off points for the larger kites, but with plenty of fast learning helpers, made flying still possible (just).

SURAT

After a 6 hour drive we arrived for the festival in Surat. The next day on the 13th January the wind was way more challenging. There were a lot of large buildings surrounding the kite field and shifting winds. That turned out to be the least of my worries.

After getting a pilot and the Sun & Moon up, I looked around to see a group of Indian Fighter Kites zeroing in on my pilot. As we rushed to get the kites down I looked up to see the fighter kites 1 by 1 slowly floating away.

We soon realized we had 3 guys at the start of the flying area with fighter kites working as our line of defense. It made for some exciting flying, but they could not stop them all.

After flying we headed back to Amhedabad. For me what was the highlight of the trip was participating in the Indian Kite Fighting off the roof tops. Where ever you looked there were people on the roof tops, with music playing and lots of cheering coming from all around. It is something you have to see to really appreciate.

To top it off that night there were large fireworks and Chinese lanterns going up all over the city.

A fantastic Festival for any kite flier.

Simon Chisnall

Ps.cheek out our facebook page for some photos.http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2378&id=100000746770977

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I Blame the Chinese (At least it’s a change from blaming America).

Specifically: at 105 Alford Forest Rd, Ashburton New Zealand between the hours of 12noon and 12.30pm on Wednesday the 15th of October 2008, Tan Xi Bo and Wang Xiaping did fail to prevent one blue ultra light 8m Pilot kite from becoming irretrievably treed.

The facts are simple, and can’t be disputed (because I didn’t give them an opportunity).  During the morning I’d launched the said kite and tied it off.  Mr’s Tan and Wang, visiting from China, were flying some other kites in the same area (beside the kite factory) during this period.  At 12 noon I went away for lunch, while they stayed and flew for a while longer.  Shortly after I departed, the kite I’d left flying became irretrievably entangled in a tree.  Clearly it was their fault – and they were late for lunch as well.

The tree kept a bit

(more…)

Filed under: General, Peter Lynn Newsletter by Peter
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How NOT to get invited back to Kite Festivals.

‘orrible weather here; our coldest October since 1943 and November’s even freezinger.  It’s 8 degrees today and this is summertime and we’re on the same latitude as the south of France.  Our warming seems to have been  stolen-  probably it’s a global conspiracy.  I suspect Copenhagen- they’re warmer now than we are- and seem set to heat up even more in the next few weeks.

But it’s a relaxing time of the year here- for me anyway.   I haven’t stepped onto an aeroplane now for six weeks and hope not to for another six.  (more…)

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The PL Kite Economy.

I’ve now been back in New Zealand for nearly four weeks, intending not to travel away again until after Xmas.

Three months uninterrupted workshop time!: Winch systems for UKS, the next Stirling engine prototype (unfinished business) , a speed record attempt buggy for NABX next year, working on the AP ‘foil (more unfinished business), developing a new Pilot kite,  and playing with a few old engines of course.  Plus some pleasant evenings with good friends and a bottle or three, and time for family.  Whee!

Townsville, Coolum and Noumea (2 to 4 Oct), Shenzhen and Xiamen (China, 24 Oct to 3 Nov) were a threat to this stay at home intent but others covered for me. There were 6 people from here away at overseas events one weekend, and I wasn’t- this has to be a record.

So, yes, there are more kite festivals than ever (more…)

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Rip-Offs.

A Chinese Allegory:

Long ago in a land far away there lived a very poor couple.  They had nothing except a one roomed shack to live in and a raised platform for sleeping on.  One evening the husband was awoken by an intruder.  There’s a thief in our house he thought, but as there was nothing to steal, he kept quiet so as not to disturb his wife or risk  confrontation.  And when the would-be thief laid his quilted coat on the floor ready to receive any valuables and moved around the room searching, he reached down and silently pulled the thief’s coat into the bed. The thief wasn’t quiet enough though, and the wife awoke saying loudly; “husband husband there’s a thief in the room”. The husband responded immediately with “wife of mine we have nothing to steal so there’s no thief in here, to which the intruder responded ; “then who stole my coat ?” (more…)

Filed under: Peter Lynn Newsletter by Peter
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