Flight School - Indiana June 2001

I want to thank Jim and Christine for their wonderful hospitality this past weekend. I love these Flight Schools because I get to meet and stay with so many cool people. So thanks to Jim, Christine, Tom, Karen (you too Kevin) and the rest of the gang from Flight School from the bottom of my heart. Thanks for allowing me into your lives for a weekend. I had a great time thanks to you!

You all told me your learned something, so I really appreciate the time you took to show up, listen, practice and learn. Also, thanks for taking me to the beach for fun flying!

You will all be a part of the new video as most of my Flight School classes are now. Thanks for being my cameraman Jim, don't worry, it is like flying - it just takes practice and time. At least we now have some good back spin footage. THANKS

Jim arranged many students, we had more, but lost a couple. Still, 12 is a very good number and we were able to finish in one day.

I learn new things almost everyday and I know I must continue to watch, learn, and practice.

Although I could Back Spin the Gemini, Jam, S-4 and Area 51, I could not Back Spin (rotating Fade) my Dynamite.

By the way, the rumor at Wildwood was, I did not compete in the trick shoot out because I could not backspin. The real reason is because I did not want to get beat by someone flying a tent.

More on trick shoot outs later......

Anyway, With a lot of practice, watching different methods like Ron Phipps uses with it, I was able to finally learn how to back spin the Dynamite. As with most of us, trying most tricks, I was trying too hard and once I clamed down my movements, I was able to back spin from both the Pancake to Fade and Half Axel to Fade methods. And that was without moving the outside standoffs or adding a active bridle.

Ron......

With the S-4 (Mullin Kites), all you have to do is to start the initial move and then hold it and it continues to rotate, but it rotates very slow and not tight.

With the Dynamite, you do the same thing yet it spins so fast and the nose is the center of the spin, I never saw a kite rotate in the back spin like that You can get many rotations with only two or three pulls! My first day I was able to get as many as 18 rotations with hardly any effort, and I imagine with practice, as many as 40 and more should not be that far away.

So a kite I thought could not back spin turns out to be one of the better back spinners, and back spinning one inch from the ground didn't seem to be a problem. Learning that back spin with my kite came from watching one of my students, and then adapting some of his methods.

So you see, there is always something to learn and if you ever get to the point when you think your skill level is too good to learn something from someone else, well, just maybe your ego is higher than your actual skill level. Don't let your ego or others telling you that you are too good for Flight School keep you from learning more. Flight School accommodates all skill levels.

The next Flight School takes place in Newport RI.

Last year I had only had 2 students at Newport. That's right, only two. Most competitors will not take Flight School because they are afraid of what others might think. Well, now that these two students are excelling and moving up fast in the ranks in competition, (they say its from Flight School) maybe more of you will join this year, at least the ones that have lost to this couple anyway.....

I hope to see you in the class.

After RI, I only have one class left and that's in England and thanks to my Agent there, its just about completely filled up. I would really like to add a class in Germany either right before or right after England this year. or possibly in September.

Its easy to be a Flight School Agent, just ask any of the agents so far this year, Dave from Gulfport Flight School, Jim from Indiana Flight School, Erv Cosby, Jim Barber and Andy Sias from Washington Flight School, Rick Kligman from Kligs Kites Flight School and Brian Champie from the bay area sport Kite League Flight school. Again, thanks so much everyone, I hope to make your event an annual one!

I have had a few requests for Flight School in Ohio, Houston Texas and Canada. Anyone else interested? Time is running short.

Hope to fly with all of you soon!
Sincerely
Dodd Gross
Master Instructor

From: Ron Phipps (rpkite@earthlink.net)
Subject: Re: Indiana Flight School Results/backspin
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Date: 2001-06-26 21:53:39 PST

I strongly recommend Dodd's Flight School to anyone. He really knows how to teach. He is a wealth of knowledge with a lot of patience. I learned a lot more than I though I would. I can hardly wait till next year!!!

Dodd, I've redone the active bridle so the kite pancakes easily now. That was a brain teaser. Now I have to practice the backspin with the outer standoffs in the "stock" position. Thank you again.

From: Kevin Greene (khgreene@aerosmith-intl.com)
Subject: Re: Indiana Flight School Results/backspin
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Date: 2001-06-28 10:40:07 PST

Hi Dodd
I just wanted to say David and I had a great time on Sat. It was well worth the 2 hour drive. I saw David on Tuesday doing 540s like he's been doing them for years. As for myself, I'm giving more time to learning more precision and control. Also to Jim and Christine - A great big thanks for putting it all together. You guys did a great job. Hope to see you next month.

Anyone that gets a chance to attend Flight School take it. Dodd is a great teacher that knows how to teach.
Just growing old not up.
Kevin

rom: anonymous@ikite.com (anonymous@ikite.com)
Subject: Re: Indiana Flight School Results/backspin
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Date: 2001-06-29 13:00:19 PST

Just want to thank you Dodd for sharing your knowledge and expertise during flight school. Your patience and love of
kite flying is a wonderful virtue. Thanks Jim and Christine for a great time, it was the best.

Tom and Karen