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Super short notice (this saturday) but if your in the Metro Detroit area this is going on in Southfield, MI http://www.destinati...ges%2Fnews.aspx Oakland County Parks and Recreation hosts Kites Over Catalpa on July 16 from noon – 4 p.m. at Catalpa Oaks County Park. At the free kite festival, the Michigan-based and internationally known Windjammers Stunt Kite Team will dazzle crowds with their dual-line flying routine. After the performance, Windjammers will be available to help guests fly kites and answer questions. “The Windjammers were a hit last year, and we are excited they are returning this year to Catalpa Oaks,” Recreation Program Supervisor Laurie Stasiak said. “Kite flying is a great outdoor activity for all ages. This event offers adults and children a unique opportunity to see a live show and learn a new recreational hobby.” The festival includes kite crafts, games, activities and food vendors. Attendees can bring a kite or purchase a kite kit from Great Turtle Toy of Clarkston at the event. Assistance with assembling and decorating kites will be provided. Catalpa Oaks County Park is located at 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield. For more information, visit DestinationOakland.com or find us on Facebook.

Yes I figured it out in the field literally a min before flying it lol, there were 3 very thin spars not mentioned or really shown in the instructions, at first i thought the 2 even ones went to the head and into the nose (made sense), but I realized quick once I put them into the nose they were way over bent, so a bit more looking I realized in the tail there were two sew pockets that go from the outside to the inner spine, thats where the two equal ones go, then the longer thin one gets a bend and goes into the head. Once I did that man it all came together, wish I had a bit more wind that day but hey gotta work with what we have right? Surprisingly this big kite fits back down into its 46 inch bag with no problem and goes together pretty quick once you know where things go that is hehe. Bill

Well by the time my wife got home and we ate and got the kids in the car I didn't even get to the park till almost 8:15pm but I still really wanted to fly this thing a bit, the winds had died down later in the day (bummer) but there was just enough to get this up and into the air for about 20 mins, snapped a few pics and some quick video of it, the thing flies like a dream and looks amazing in person and in flight... http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=612385670 or http://www.facebook....150241192165671 if those links don't work (I couldn't figure out how to embed it here) check it out on youtube at http://www.youtube.c...h?v=xyvuXtCN8CU VERY happy camper though, big thanks to George Peters for making one heck of a COOL kite and for Into the wind for finally getting some in stock (been waiting a while for this one)... Bill

seems the new hudson weather tonight "should" be decent 9-11 mph winds 75 sunny, so i think ill go try the atchison park tonight once wife is home, can't quite see flying it with the kids/baby with me without her help on the kids part. Bill

Pete, thinking about trying to fly it tonight probably over at james atchison memorial park, or novi sports park on 8 mile, that is if there is enough wind.... I was wondering do the metro parks and or state parks allow kites? Kensington Metro Park or Island Lake, Mayberry etc?

Spent some time tonight examining the kite with wife, we both determined the ONLY place that last thin spar makes sense is at the tip of the two tail pieces, in fact there is a small thin sewen boot area on both sides, just seemed too short (not holding the fabric tauntly) but wife said ok look at it from the front side, you'd want that play in it to give it a 3d sorta full look, realized shes right and does seem to give a more stable look to the kite so think I have the mystery rod figured out Planned on trying to fly it tonight but wife got held up at work, I'd even go by myself with the kids but trying to deal with a 2 yr old and a big kite probably not smart so ill wait till wife can come with us, will certainly be taking pics of it on the ground and in the air it is one beautiful huge kite! Bill

Got a reply from intothewind with a brief instruction sheet (didn't see that in my box or kite case), helpful in identifying 2 of the smaller spars that go along the side of the eyes into the nose area, yet I still have one last thin slightly longer one isn't shown or mentioned, might be a spare who knows..., kinda think its tim to finally try this puppy out tonight... Bill

Just saw weather.com says we have 11-13 mph winds today, hummmm

UPS just left the Aloha Skybird has landed on my porch! Opened it up (very nice shipping/packaging from intothewind btw), and spread it out in my livingroom, seems simple enough assembly wise got it together in less than 5 mins just checking it all out as I went along but there were 3 very thin spars I honestly haven't quite figured out where they go!!!!!! Wrote to intothewind figure they will let me know, looked thru the case and box etc no real "setup" instructions, altho like I mentioned it went together super easy except those 3 thin ones that I haven't quite figured out where they go... Bill

Glad to even HAVE a local kite shop, so very happy to help support them and our areas economy, just going in and "seeing" stuff in person is really fun too! Very helpful folks there as well, that makes all the difference... Bill

Today I got a box from into the wind had all the things I ordered except the skybird, so I have my hoop, line, swivels, tails, a small kite for my youngest daughter, now to just get the skybird!!!!!!! Bill

Took the Delta into the store I got it from and they swapped me out with a new one, very minor sewing/fabric flaw on one side was causing this (I thought it might have been me even), super nice folks tho there at Kites and Fun Thins in Plymouth, got me going in less than 5 mins. Bill

Tom, yes the rod has caps on each end, I looked really closely at the pockets it goes into and it doesn't "appear" to go thru (crossing the wing rods) maybe a slightly different design hummm

Bought my 10 yr old a new 7.5 feet Box Delta, Rainbow Ray super simple setup, one cross rod, pull the two side rods that slide down into position on the wings attach the line and fly! Well the wind was 5-10 mph and was just enough to get it up yet each time it just went to the right and fell slowly, just not quite enough air but also noticed something weird before we even got it up that might be the reason it was pulling right. The back cross rod doesn't sit in the sewed in pockets quite right (for lack of proper terms), one side sits solid and the side wing rod sits true and the other side seems to sit funky and the wing rod sorta folds forward (took pics to try and help explain), figured that might be why it was pulling to the right too... I know we didn't have quite enough wind but since this is my first larger delta is that "normal" the way the rod sits in there like that? I can manually adjust that weird side to sit even like the other BUT the moment the kite goes up that side wing rod flips forward again, never seems to happen on the other side, even tried flipping the rod around same issue on same side, doesn't seem like its too long or fits too tightly either... Thanks for any help, know my daughter was bummed when we couldn't get it flying true in the sky, even tried with 2 6 foot tails on it but again not quite enough wind, thought the tails might help steady it but still no go just went partially up then to the right and slowly fell each time. Bill

Finally back in town from a 5 day out of state festival doing bodyart, weather did not co-operate so we barely came out ahead (frustrating), sat down to sift thru over 300 emails and once that was done I went to intothewind.com and ordered up my 16 foot skybird with some accessories.. Still showing as out of stock on the website (they had said they would have them in mid june) but still put the order in hoping they arrive soon here... Got a 9 inch hoop, 500 feet of 300lb dacron line, a 300lb swivel sampo, a few tails for other kites and maybe for my skybird will experiment, and last but not least, a fun kids tie dye sled kite for my littlest one too Hoping this all comes soon tho can't wait to get it out there and fly it! Will also try to grab some pics and or video of it since I couldn't find much on the skybird when i googled around... Bill

I do kids tattoos ( Big Daddy Body Art ) and webdesign when I am no being Mr mom to my 2 girls, so that week/weekend from wed thru sun I will in Bourbonnais IL for their Friendship Festival updating their festival website daily and doing the kids tattoos during the day or I would be there absolutely!!!! Was kinda bummed when I said hey on this night I am gonna go check out some kite stuff and she quickly reminded me we won't even be here I guess if the knot on the end of the kite is big enough and if the larks head knot is done securely and put into place fully and given a good snug tug it would probably hold up great just looked a bit scarey to me i guess (not what I expected to hold a big kite in place). Would a swivel at that end reduce the winding issues (allowing me to not have to pay as close of attention to the winding out and in) or are there disadvantages to using a swivel on a single line kite? Bill

YOU GUYS ROCK! Thanks so much for all this info, yeah I am right off 8 mile and pontiac trail (south lyon side but northville address), so new hudson is right here in my backyard, I did go to that kite fest they had a few weeks ago that was a lot of fun but 20 mins into it I got a call and had to leave UGHH!.. I didn't realize there was a technique to putting on and sending/bringing back in the line either, gotta learn a few of these knots, saw a video on youtube that was showing a lark knot i think to connect the main line and the kite um that just didn't look "secure" to me, or at least if i did it I have a feeling I would be running after a big kite blowing away soon after... Will for sure get myself some good gloves, that was something not on the list but rather know NOW than the day I try to take it out for the first time... Also somewhat new to this area still, is the park the same one they did the kite fest at recently James F. Atchison Memorial Park, ughh wife just filled me in we will be out of town that weekend (DANG), but will for sure try to meet up and learn a bit before I "attempt" to put this all together and fly it for the first time... Bill

Hi everyone, since I was a kid i loved flying kites, well at 43 I am still just a kid only older and bigger now, I really want to get back into flying kites but never had anything beyond the basic dept store delta types. The kite I am looking to buy is the SKYBIRD probably get it from into the wind, this is a big kite 16 feet wide 8 foot tall, but being a larger guy myself 6'6" and 375lb I shouldn't have trouble holding it down I looked around on many sites and the one that just keeps standing out to me is that skybird (aloha) intothewind said they should have more within a week or two so I am considering just ordering one up but had a few basic questions. First off on line, I have seen kevlar, poly braided, Dacron (dacron is what into the wind sells), and wondered what do i really want or need? They recommend 300lb dacron line thru their website for the skybird, but just dunno the differences or pros and cons of the various types of line. Second, winder/holders, the 9 inch hoop is what I was thinking, I have large hands and that slrs 10 winder looked cool just afraid my hand wont fit into it, curious what others who fly larger kites like this have tried and or would recommend with this skybird in mind. I would probably just go with 500 feet of line @ their recommended minimum of 300lb. Connections, sounds dumb but how do you connect your line to say a hoop? I was thinking a lasso knot then a swivel then wind up the line on the hoop, then another swivel to connect the main line to the skybird? Saw two types of swivels on their site they have a 300lb sampo for about $6.50 or a 450lb coastock for .90 cents, seems odd to me are the sampos really that much more quality or something? I DON'T want to lose this kite so steer me in the right direction on the best connection (was guessing swivels). Lastly tails, this is a large kite and was thinking a tail off the center would be fun, is their a rule of kite size vs tail size? If its 16 feet wide, should I go at least 25 feet for a center tail? Will the tail make it more stable in flight or just be more decoration? Thanks guys and gals for any input on all this, wife is gonna kill me when she sees the visa but I have wanted a big kite for a LONG time and that skybird just seems to be the one that keeps calling my name so very soon I want to just take the leap and SOAR, but being so new to it all need some advice... Bill