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"Stormy" Weathers Victory Star
| Warren Obert "Stormy" Weathers Dec. 22, 1921-April 7, 2003 |
This is a kite I got at an A.O.K. spaghetti feed and raffle, at WSIKF '98. I didn't make many friends by winning this, but have met
plenty by flying it. I didn't know Stormy when I got this kite, but learned of him when people went out of their way to find out who
was flying it. Lots of people know Stormy's kites. And lots of people came over to see if he was the one flying this.
plenty by flying it. I didn't know Stormy when I got this kite, but learned of him when people went out of their way to find out who
was flying it. Lots of people know Stormy's kites. And lots of people came over to see if he was the one flying this.
"Stormy" was known for having a kite in his
bag that would fly when there was no wind for
anyone else. He's made attempts at the world
altitude record, with a larger version of this
kite. I met him one year at the W.S.I.K.F.
and asked him some things about it.
bag that would fly when there was no wind for
anyone else. He's made attempts at the world
altitude record, with a larger version of this
kite. I met him one year at the W.S.I.K.F.
and asked him some things about it.
He wasn't nearly as mean as he looked,
and he told me plenty. Mostly I remember
asking him if I should be flying it. He sort of
gave me a funny look and asked if I'd fly an
original Eddy kite. I think he could tell I was
still pretty green to the kiting community, and
was putting me on. I used to take it to all
the festivals and kite flys I went to, just in
case there was no real wind around, but not
any more. To me, it IS like having an
original Eddy.
and he told me plenty. Mostly I remember
asking him if I should be flying it. He sort of
gave me a funny look and asked if I'd fly an
original Eddy kite. I think he could tell I was
still pretty green to the kiting community, and
was putting me on. I used to take it to all
the festivals and kite flys I went to, just in
case there was no real wind around, but not
any more. To me, it IS like having an
original Eddy.
It's actually some sort of sled kite, cross-bred with a high-aspect diamond, or maybe just a winged sled kite. Either way, I've
had about 750' of line out with it, when there was virtually no wind on the ground.
had about 750' of line out with it, when there was virtually no wind on the ground.
"Stormy" made this kite out of his usual
high-tech materials: plastic bags, plastic
straws, masking tape, dowels and the
"handyman's secret weapon", duct tape.
high-tech materials: plastic bags, plastic
straws, masking tape, dowels and the
"handyman's secret weapon", duct tape.
I'm pretty sure he told me he heat welded the
different colors of plastic together, with a
soldering iron arrangement, but I'm not
picking it apart to find out.
different colors of plastic together, with a
soldering iron arrangement, but I'm not
picking it apart to find out.
Here's the label, with the particulars, and
Stormy's seal of approval. Note the beach sand
in the masking tape that holds the straw to the
sail.
Stormy's seal of approval. Note the beach sand
in the masking tape that holds the straw to the
sail.
I really like this kite!