Thanks to Bernhard Dingwerth for this group of images.

This was the very first time that a large group of fliers attempted to fly together in the grid format.

20th Anniversary of Revolution Kites.

The fliers were not standing shoulder to shoulder.

Post flight photo of happy fliers.

The idea of the grid formation was formulated based on an observed configuration of fliers at Scheveningen in 1993. Fifteen years later the idea was realised at Portsmouth Kite Festival. It is now fifteen years since that event so it seemed appropriate to put together some notes and images relating to the event. Felix Mottram 12th November 2022.

The Kiteflier, Issue 117 October 2008
A ‘Mega’ Portsmouth—Hugh Blowers
"Just occasionally in the kite world, we are in the privileged situation of seeing something quite magical, unique, or a first that stirs the imagination. I can think of the world record ‘Flexi’ stack at LeTouguet, being amazed by the ‘Ronnie Weave’, watching Airkraft perform ‘Valkyrie’ for the first time, the World Cup with Tsunami, Airkraft and Crazy Diamonds taking team flying to a new level, the Peter Lynn ‘Megabite’ and the first flight of the ‘flag’. If you were lucky enough to be at the Portsmouth Festival on Saturday would have been witness to such an historic and memorable moment with the first truly choreographed Rev ‘Mega Team’."

"With this year being the 20th anniversary of the Rev, the time was right, enough flyers with the level of skill required were available, Gill and Jon Bloom were able to gather them all together and Steve and Felix had worked out the logistics. Late on Saturday 23rd August, 42 Revolution kites comprising Crazy Drivers, FLIC, Flying Squad, I Quad, The Decorators and Too Much Fun, took to the sky to hover in their allotted space on the imaginary grid. With Steve Hoath bellowing the moves through a loudhailer, the flyers presented the huge crowd to a spectacular display of absolute kite control. After a series of complex manoeuvres, 22 Revs moved out to create a rectangular frame, while the remaining 20 created the figure 20 in the centre, quite amazing, as anyone who has ever tried to fly a Rev will agree."

Corey Jensen was on the field weilding the megaphone...

I think that this image is from Saturday 23rd August.

Another image from Saturday 23rd August.

This last image is a particular favourite as the dispersal of the kites is chaotic in parts but also quite even...

Simon Dann's image (actually from Helen Ribchester) showing Corey Jensen 'applying' the loud hailer to help Stephen Hoath is particularly instructive!