Seems enough interest here for a PPRuNe kite fly-in.
I have a range of old beasties up to a 10ft span Cody, (a big boxkite with winglets) and a few modern stunters and deltas.
There is still something a bit magical about the Cody with its bamboo struts, black terylene fabric and miles of string holding it all together. It was made by an old friend of mine who flew it in a train of Codys which was powerful enough to lift a harness with him strapped in it!!
He jacked up the front of his old banger car, took off one of the front wheels, bolted on a large rope-holding drum and used the car engine as an amazing winch which an assistant operated to haul down the train of kites.
Go to the site below for a pic of the original Cody
http://home.snafu.de/thomiru/cody_eng.htm
[ 17 July 2001: Message edited by: Stan Sted ]