Gary & Maggie Engvall, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA

Gary & Maggie Engvall have been flying and building "serious" kites (if there can be such a thing) since 1985. They currently own 3 Peter Lynn Show kites, an 88 foot Octopus, a 45 foot Trilobite, and a Manta Ray that is 35 feet wide and 100 feet long.

Gary is a 3-time President of the Kites Over New England kite club (organized in 1980).

Gary was the Editor of the KONE newsletter "Flypaper" for 5 years, 50 issues.

Gary was the Editor of the ConnectiKITER Kite Club Newsletter for 4 years.

Gary & Maggie were Organizers of Boston Area Stunt Kite Championship, from 1990 to 1997

Kitemaking workshops:

Presented the first kitemaking workshop for KONE (Kites Over New England) kite club.

Presented the first 2 kitemaking workshops (Squareflake, and Delta) for ConnectiKITERS kite club.

Presented the first 4 kitemaking workshops for NYKE (New York Kite Enthusiasts)

Presented the Spikey Ball and Circoflex workshops for the ConnectiKITERS kite club in 1998

An invited Presenter at the Fort Worden Kitemakers Conference in Port Townsend, WA 1999.

Presented seminars at the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) National Convention 1999.

Presented kitemaking workshops for kite clubs in Florida, Virginia, and Indiana.

Designed the club banner and led the workshop for KONE (Kites Over New England) kite club.

Designed the club banner and led the workshop for ConnectiKITERS kite club.

Co-designed the club banner and led the workshop for NYKE (New York Kite Enthusiasts)

Kite sewing Workshop projects led by Gary: Rokkaku, Delta, Parafoil, SquareFlake/SnowFlake, Soccer Ball/Spike Ball, Arch, Kite Bags, Circoflex, Pillow Sock, Banners, 8' Johannesen Bol, Transition Tail, 1 Meter & 1.5 Meter Double ParaSled, Roller, F-Stop.

Gary has been a judge for Comprehensives (Best Home Made Kite) at 3 National Kite Conventions.

Smithsonian:

Flight Judge at the Smithsonian Institution Kite Festival since 1991.

Won the Smithsonian Rokkaku Battle in 1994.

Won the Smithsonian Rokkaku Battle in 1998.

Have been active since 1990 in the Eastern League Stunt Kite Association which runs a series of competitive events in which competitors accumulate points to qualify to compete in the Nationals (AKA Convention). Gary has considerable experience as a Field Director, Maggie is a Judge, Head Judge, Chief Judge, Meet Coordinator and Scorekeeper

Gary is known for building stable Rokkaku (kites) and for assembling & flying large stacks of kites (including 100 Trlbys). Usually found under a stack of 28 Dyna Kites. He is also known for making complicated repairs to large (around 100 feet) Peter Lynn inflatable kites. Peter Lynn kites retail new for $4,000.

Gary maintains an informational kite website, including kite plans and a calendar of kite events at:

http://members.cox.net/gengvall/

Gary & Maggie are invited guests at Kite Festivals all over the eastern part of the USA and Canada. In real life, Maggie is a retired Teacher of Elementary Music. Gary makes and repairs kites, and leads kite making workshops for kids, kite clubs, and kite making retreats.