Here we take a closer look at 14 notable Top Of The Line kites of The Soarin Collection...
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A kite is simply a tethered wing, and with each different design and giving it an identity, they form a personality all their own. That personality only comes to life in flight with a pilot.
With the exception of the three New Old Stock kites, all of the kites in the The Soarin Collection are enjoyed by being flown! Each of the kites on this "Hall of Frame" page hold a story of their own, most with individuals associated with the Flight Squadron and some with myself.
Hall of Frame
Soarin's
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Spin-Off 12 Panel
This was the first dual line kite I ever flew. It belonged to my eldest brother and was given to me in 10/1992. Being flown countless times, it is still in great original condition.
With the focus of TOTL kites in The Soarin Collection being "quality", this is the only kite in the collection with a damaged sail, a small 1/8" tear on the left yellow panel originally repaired by my brother with yellow fabric tape. I recently updated the repair with clear repair tape.
One great memory flying it was at my usual spot, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, FL. After launching it, I decided to walk towards the lake to fly over the water, and you guessed it, I crashed. One too many wingtips to the water.
It has a 1st generation "Santa Monica" tag and predates wiskers (standoffs).
Hawaiian Team Deluxe Chevron
Purchased at RC Hobbies in Tamarac, Florida in early 1993. I turned 30 at the time and it was good that I was still young as this was the kite that dragged me across the field. I weighed 185 lbs. and remember wearing work boots and it still didn't help. I flew in much higher winds then.
RC Hobbies was one of those great "complete" hobby stores. They had nearly 25 kites hanging from the ceiling, many being TOTL's. This one just stood out. Loved the colors. Still flies great. 100% original with Glaspar K75/J65 printed tubes and a 3rd generation "St. Charles Pl." tag dated 12/92.
RC Hobbies - Tamarac, Florida
I used to live at this store (once an Eckerd Drug Store) as I once collected 1:18 scale die-cast cars, 1:400 scale die-cast 747's and still am a railfan (HO scale). By the time this photo was taken, all the big wing kites were long gone. On my last visit a few years ago before they closed for good, I was browsing the few remaining kites on the ceiling and sure enough there was a 4' TOTL Snap in red, well barely red. I would have bought it but most of the spine seam was torn. It still had it's original hang tag with $44.00 on it.
1991 Custom Spin-Off
Pam Kirk's ballet competition kite. Dubbed the "Star Trek Spin-Off" , Pam flew this kite to the song "Ilia's Theme" from Star Trek: The Motion Picture in ballet competition.
A kite that flies as good as it looks...stunning. Framed in Easton 4-49 Aluminum/Carbon tubes and fitted with wiskers.
A "Kitty B." sewn sail with her initial on the tag.
Personally inscribed by Pam on the sail.
1991 Custom Hawaiian Team Chevron
This kite was part of a group of 12 kites made specifically for the Flight Squadron and their participation in the 2nd World Cup Sport Kite Championships held at Ashton Park, Bristol, England on Sept. 14/15, 1991.
Of the 12 kites, 4 were a blue/white chevron pattern made for Ron Reich, of which 2 pairs were made with different frame options (allowing 1 from each set as a backup) . For Pam Kirk, Don Tabor and Eric Streed, the remaining 8 were made with the red/white chevron pattern of which 2 sets of 4 were made in different frame options (allowing 1 from each set as a backup).
This kite was 1 of the 4 Ultra Light framed. It was flown by Don Tabor. It has "DON" printed on the tag. Though it made the trip and was flown in practice, it was not flown in competition.
No tuning needed when I received it, it is one of the best performing Hawaiians I've ever flown.
The kite was sewn by "Kitty B.".
Personally inscribed and signed by Pam Kirk & Mike Dennis.
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1990 Hawaiian Team Chevron Flag
The Hawaiian Team Chevron Flag or more commonly called the Team Flag, was the kite model the Flight Squadron used for the ballet routine that would become the standard to which all other teams would be compared..."The Battle Hymn of the Republic". The Flight Squadron took first place at the World Cup Games at Seaside, Oregon on Oct. 7, 1990.
This kite is part of the competition team set flown by the Flight Squadron in 1990.
Another "Top Performing Hawaiian".
Framed in Advantage 4 wrap tubes.
Personally inscribed and signed by Pam Kirk & Mike Dennis.
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*See this kite in action on the video page!
Photo on right - Riverside Park, Vero Beach, FL (Peter Marini IV Photography)
Maui Chevron
The Maui or by its original name, the 3/4 Hawaiian, is one of those designs that holds its shape well and maintains a tight sail. This particular sail was originally sewn incorrectly and sometime later taken apart and sewn properly by Pam Kirk. Framed in Easton 3-30 Aluminum/Carbon tubes and an Easton 4-49 spine by Mike Dennis. Like all of Mike's builds, it is rock solid but this one is special.
The first Maui I ever flew, I couldn't stop flying it. Its custom colors look great in the sky too.
But all of that isn't even the best part, the personal inscription by Pam is what makes this one extra special.
I call it the "My Friend Maui".
1992 Custom North Shore Radical
The North Sore Radical is no doubt the most popular model in the TOTL lineup.
This kite was part of the competition team set flown by the Flight Squadron during the 1992 season including the invite to Odawara, Japan for the 3rd World Cup Championships. It flies so well I could fly it all day, and sometimes I do. It can fly in winds of 3 mph or less and in higher winds I like to attach a 100' RWB tube tail.
Framed in Easton 3-30 Aluminum/Carbon tubes.
Personally inscribed and signed by Pam Kirk & Mike Dennis.
The Flight Squadron 1992 Season Record:
1st Place Finishes - 13
2nd Place Finishes - 2
3rd Place Finishes - 1
Photo on lower right - Riverside Park, Vero Beach, FL (Peter Marini IV Photography)
Custom 3/4 Sunset Spin-Off
A set of four 3/4 Sunset Spin-Off's were made as gift's to the Flight Squadron team members. To personalize the gift, each kite was made in different colors. This kite was made for Pam Kirk.
Framed in Glasforms C-30 tubes.
Sewn by "Kitty B.".
Personally inscribed and signed by Pam.
1992 Custom North Shore Windrule
The idea for this kite was conceived by Don Tabor in the summer of 1992. Its purpose is to let the pilot fly in very light wind conditions. Especially during competition when faced with a do or die situation. This was achieved by increasing the size of the tried and true North Shore Radical. A kite with a 10’ wingspan was built using custom Advantage tubes and the lightest materials available. After testing two pre-production team sets, four kites each were built. These were for the two factory teams competing in the third World Cup Championships held in Odawara, Japan. One of these sets was for the Flight Squadron, the other was for team Top Of The Line. All four of these kites were completely made by Mike Dennis who also made the prototype. This kite is from the Flight Squadron set.
Personally inscribed by Mike.
Custom Hand Painted Hawaiian Team
The story of the hand painted TOTL kites...
A group of Top Of The Line sails were purposely hand painted in Asia, each with a type of wildlife. For example, some had fish, some birds. In Sept. of 2016, this sail was framed and completed by Mike Dennis as a TOTL masterpiece. A completely red sail Hawaiian Team Basic with hand painted dragons....ooooh. So other kites, beware!
Unless preserving a kite in its original (NOS) condition, "I proclaim, the kites must be flown!"...but wait, this kite is a work of art, right? It would be easy to hang this one on a wall but I had to fly it, and it flies great. Performance wise, I put it in the top 3 Hawaiian Team kites in the collection. Its sail is a Basic model (4 panels). Compared to the Chevron model with 16 panels, this kite has less panels and stitching so the sail is more vulnerable to stretch. Therefore this kite sees limited air time and only on light wind days.
Framed in Easton 3-30 Aluminum/Carbon tubes.
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Custom Sizzle
I love this kite. It was Don Tabor's personal kite. He once flew it while sitting on a park bench. The only other kite it resembles in flight is the Windrule. It is an ultra light framed in Easton Aluminum/Carbon/Extreme tubes. With moderate-strong pull in higher winds, this kite does not stall when the wind calms. It continues flying with smooth straight tracking, pulling off pinpoint maneuvers in 2-4 mph light breezes. The TOTL Sizzle should be in every stunt kite pilots bag.
The sail is Icarex Polyester PC31.
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*See this kite in action on the video page!
Limited Edition North Shore Radical
This one's a no brainer.
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The only Numbered Limited Edition kite TOTL produced.
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Double stripe NSR - stronger sail, improved performance.
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The proven flight capabilities of the NSR.
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A blast to fly!
​This one had be in the collection!
I fly it with a 100' Rainbow Transition tail.
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Framed in Easton 4-49 Aluminum/Carbon tubes.
Signed by Don Tabor.
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*See this kite in action on the video page!
1989-1990 Custom Maui
This Maui was part of the competition team set flown by the Flight Squadron in 1989 and 1990.
Two sets were made, each in a different frame option, with each members kite having a different center color.
This kite was flown by Pam Kirk.
An excellent performer and when I fly it, I fly it for "Pam".
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Framed in Advantage 4 wrap tubes.
A "Kitty B." sewn sail.
Personally inscribed and signed by Pam.
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*See this kite in action on the video page!
Custom North Shore Kona
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The North Shore Kona, basically an NSR without the stripe panels.
This kite, called by some as the "White NSR", the Custom White Kona was created by Pat Tabor. A small unknown number of sails exist with this example being the only one Pat applied silver reflective tape along the seams on the front of the kite, as this was her personal kite. Also unique, sparkly silver shock cords (bungees).
Now known as the "Bling NSR".
Signed on the sail by Don Tabor on 11/27/16.
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