First Electric All Terrain Vehicle Kite Show Tests

As you may know we are now working on productions related to wind farm, wind energy companies and wind turbine manufacturers. To keep up with our tradition of "guaranteeing a show" with or without wind, on water or land, indoors or outdoors, daytime or nighttime.....I have gone back to our roots when we started towing kites with vehicles. Back in the late 80's Pete Foy and I first put a seat on the back of an ATV (all terrain vehicle) and started towing our kites when there was no wind. This eventually led to our first professional show inside the Olympic Stadium in Montreal for a Expos Baseball game which led to moving to Orlando to work for Disney managing the Epcot Kite Department for the yet to be outdone Surprise In The Skies lagoon spectacular in 1991. That show lasted only one year but almost 20 years later I am still here and still flying kites.

In my quest to produce shows at wind farm facilities I realized that we would most likely not have a body of water to perform our most known method of towing - using watercraft. We started using watercraft because or major clients (Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, Hard Rock Park, etc) had only lagoons where the space to fly kites existed inside a theme park - thus - watercraft.

So, it's back to our roots with the four wheel ATV only now we have just tested the land tow vehicle of the future for towing kites on land - the Electric All Terrain Vehicle (EATV). I found this great company in New York that was excited enough about what we do to loan us one of their prototype vehicles to do our testing with. Thanks to Matt Christopher and Electric Vehicle Systems, Inc. of Ellicottville, NY we now have a quiet "green" vehicle to fly our kites when there is no wind. This model is called the E-Force and its powerful 72 Volt electric motor supplies "instant" power. We were amazed at the instant speed and torque this vehicle produces. We had no problem approaching 30 mph with a driver and a pilot while towing a very powerful train of our diamond show kites. (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME ! OUR PILOTS AND DRIVERS HAVE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF EXPERIENCE AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDED FOR TWO PERSONS).

So, these are some photos of our first field tests and you will see a video posted very soon. The seat arrangement build by Bob Bono who is flying the diamond train kites, is a prototype for testing only. The great kite designer dean jordan of Jordan Air Kites is driving Brant Shiveley who pilots our 17' wingspan show delta (designed by kite designer Bob Bono). If you have any questions please give us a call.

I would also like to thank Malcolm Jones owner of the best hang gliding port I know of, the Wallaby Ranch for always letting us fly on his wonderful runways.