The Ultimate Kite Flying Experience

Marvin Nauman, Gig Harbour, Washington, USA        January 9, 2000

I started flying a big box kite in the late 50's, then got back into kiting in 1990 when I was invited to video tape 3 kite festivals. Our kite videos are now sought after World wide and as an artist we are honored. A few kiters have actually seen me fly, and a few have even made me some very special custom kites. You see, the only way I get to fly at the festivals is when someone hands me their lines as I would always miss something when I would set up my own kite. So I learned a long time ago that you can't fly and shoot a professional kite video at the same time.

But when I did get to fly I flew everything that I could get my hands on, and I mean everything! If I didn't own one I would borrow... Johnny handed me one of his prized fighter kites and then was shocked to learn after 3 minutes of non crashes that I had never flown one before..... Heck I had been taping and watching fighters for countless festivals. Anyway, I've always been game to try things. One thing that I've always felt limited when flying a kite is the wind envelope. It's never big enough for me. I've always wanted to fly where ever I wanted North, East , South or West.

Well....... My oldest daughter and wife gave me a birthday present. Early one morning we went to fly. Upon arriving at the field there was no wind but I didn't let that stop me, I came to fly and fly I was. So I climbed on board a plane and climbed to 12,000 feet, and promptly proceeded to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft. I free fell for 7,000' (it seemed like a good idea at the time) and opened the chute (kite) at 5,000' boy was I relieved, now I was in heaven. I had this nice big beautiful kite and total freedom to go where ever I wanted... OK, pull on the right line and how about a 360 to the right, now a few parallel figure 8's, OK, lets check out the small lake, a 180 for a view of MT Rainier, another 180 the Ocean, some nice circles right and check out the farm houses, let's see what kind of turns that this thing can do... Hey there's some birds flying under me... wow.... I'll follow them..., getting low, better head for the field, wow... neat flying above the trees just like a bird.... the ground sure coming up fast now, guess I'll pull both handles and slow for the landing...... Hey Jumpmaster... I want to go again and this time open at 10,000'.

I have also carried my love of controlling a piece of cloth to the open ocean where I have sailed 4,400 sq. ft of canvas on the 170-ton tall ship "Lady Washington". There's something special about handling up to twelve sails and having the ship go where you want it to.... in one piece.