History of Kite Flying
Chris has been involved with flying delta tow kites, hang gliders and microlights or weightshift aircraft (trikes) since 1972.
During his career of 38 years in sport aviation - Chris has accumulated some fourteen thousand flying hours, flying most of Australia, New Zealand, Africa and throughout Europe.
With a passion to share his flying skills, Chris has launched hundreds of successful first solo students... into the magical world of delta flexwing flight.
As a recognised European microlight specialist, Chris has substantial experience and knowledge of flexwing microlight aircraft manufacturing, quality control procedures, design certification, aircraft maintenance and flight training.
Establishing AIR CREATION in Australia
Chris has established AIR CREATION in Australia in the unique pioneering township of Alice Springs of the Northern Territory ~ Central Australia. The only town in Australia.. that is nearest to every coastal beach and every major city. Central Australia is the magical Outback - a natural adventure paradise... red sand, blue sky, great people and heaps of G Airspace. Fly the Outback with Chris; Air Creation in Australia.
Let's take a journey into the past. The history of flexwing delta kite flying and the pioneer pilots of that time contributed to the development of the current flexwing aircraft, and the amazing technology you can now fly in Australia... the AIR CREATION - a.r.v. Tanarg 912 ~ iXess. The safest microlight in the world.
The Early Days of Kite Flying...
The early days of kite flying commenced in the sixties with several remarkable individuals that made their footprint on the delta flexwing of today. Several pioneers from around the globe in the sixties were designing and/or building the basic delta tow kite concept... many years before the evolution of hang gliding and the new age microlights.
These pioneering aviators created the foundation in the history of controlled manned flight ... with basically no rules or regulations.. CASA was just developing as well!!! ... Just raw imagination, shear determination and a desire to fly!
Fortunately as a child my father taught me to fly kites..at the age of twelve.! This is my story..
In Australia we have several pioneers to our credit - the most significant pioneer being Mr John Dickenson from Grafton. NSW. Australia - see John flying the Dickenson Mark III kite @ right yellow kite photo - courtesy of Rod Fuller photographer 1965.
John is the true designer inventor of the 'Modern Weightshift Controlled Delta Kite' concept for free manned controllable flight. Across the globe in the USA, Francis Rogallo was employed by NASA to design a kite wing for space research projects in 1968 based upon the Dickenson Wing concept. You can learn so much more if you go to our Links page.
Expanding the kiting sport of the 70's was Bill Moyes from Sydney, another pioneer who conquered many challenges in taking the delta kite to extreme places and altitudes in its primitive form. Other Aussie kite pioneers were, Rod Fuller, Mike Burns, Bill McLachlan who established 'Marina Tropicana' - a water ski garden on the Hawksbury River, with ski-planes & flat kites flying displays for visitors and Chris MacDonald of Newcastle flying bamboo framed kites.
Note: If you have any early kite flying pics or stories you would like included in this page please email me for consideration..rare are the kite fliers of the 70's.. the memories are the greatest components of our sport!
Around the globe.. during the late 60's and into the 70's.. there were many other delta kite pilots including, Bill Bennett, Steve Cohen and many others worthy of recognition for their contribution to the development of the delta flexwing aircraft.
Manned kiting basically developed as a natural extension of water skiing with the 'flat kite'.. which could not be steered or released from the tow rope. The flat kite was simply towed behind the boat and the altitude was controlled by the speed of the ski boat. Pilots were suspended by a simple harness and would perform acrobatic tricks above the water at a speed of 30 knots. These kites were made from sail cloth and steel pipe.
The delta tow kite wing over the flat kite was more able to be steered and could be released from the rope. With a primitive glide angle of 1:1 or 45 degrees.. you could glide a kite onto the water, or as time progressed land on land. The tow kites were flown in competitions which consisted of many dangerous tricks, like slalom course, climb & descend in 60 seconds and how many '360 degree turns off a 1000ft rope'...and land on a target.
The ski-plane delta kite was an extension of the 'sit-in-a-swing' - tow kite, which had a simple trike shaped frame suspended under the kite and fitted with three surf boards. The ski plane tow line release was attached to the centre of mass (at front of frame) similar to the Donald Hewitt hang gliding tow system - which improved tow line safety for the pilot. So basically, the ski-plane really was the first form of trike concept - towed by a ski boat.
The Australian Water Ski Association maintained the sport and the only qualification required to fly a tow kite was that you must be able to bare foot water ski...no age limits, no real requirements for boat drivers - all very simple, low cost, amazingly safe and family orientated! It was fun - our family would kite fly most weekends.
In 2010 ...
.....all delta flexwing microlight pilots enjoy the freedom to fly in safety - as a direct result of the risks and challenges taken by these remarkable pilots.
A very special acknowledgement to my parents - Eric & Denise Brandon, for their intuition, guidance and continued support in giving their son a most rewarding career in delta flexwing flight. Thank you for your love, support and carefulness.
A slice of the past... is to honor with respect ~ the pioneer pilots, both men and women who have contributed greatly to the growth, development and evolution of the delta flexwing industry of today..!!