Peter Lynn ARCHIVE
1946; Born 23 December to Robert Frederick Lynn (Bob) and Bertha Elizabeth Lynn (Gourdie).
Kite flying and making from a young age supported by mother (especially with flour and water paste).
Very keen kiteflier while at primary school during August school holidays (the kite flying season).
1958 Made large diamond kite, 7'6" to crossbar flown on winch and line from family Kon Tiki fishing raft.
1968 Graduated BEmech(hons) from Canterbury University.
1973 Made a kite based on aerodynamic theories for first child (Kirrilee) -didn't fly.
1973 Began trying to understand single kite stability, sold first kite (exp. Polystyrene, aeroplane style).
1973 Started kite business, initially selling small, framed, fabric kites, later the ubiquitous Octopus (1976).
1974 First original kite style, the Peter Lynn Triangular (PLT) Box kite
1978 Inaugural American Kiteflier's Assoc Convention in Ocean City Maryland, 2nd prize most pull, (PLT Box).
1984 Centipede ram air inflated show kites, 15 cell (14m long) and 25 cell (22m long) versions.
1987 Began developing power kites for traction- large delta form initially for water skiing and kite sailing.
1988 Ray style ram air inflated show kites- the first one for the 1988 Dieppe Kite Festival.
1990 Built the first kite buggy- converted from a three-ski kite boat.
1990 27m ram air single line Octopus kite
1990 "Peel" two-line ram air traction kite.
1990 Awarded New Zealand commemorative medal by QE2 for services to New Zealand.
1990 New Zealand Kitefliers Association Life Membership
1991 "Buggy Boats"- conversion for water use of kite buggies
1992 Ice buggy conversions for kite buggies
1993 Fugu 6m diameter show kite ground device- originally developed to use fabric scraps.
1994 Super ripstop kite construction system that enabled the making of very large ram air kites.
1994 Trilobite ram air kite- first to use the super ripstop system.
1994 Jalbert award for kite innovation
1995 635 sq.m (lifting area) ram air inflated Megabite- later to be awarded the Guinness record for largest kite.
1996 Development of specialised 4 cell Pilot kites to enable greater density of show kites at events
1997 Mega Ray, 635 sq.m lifting area ram air inflated Ray style mega kite
1997 C Quad hybrid single skin, flexible frame traction kite
1998(?) Gecko large ram air show kites.
1999 Arc: bridle-less ram air inflated traction kite
2002 Flag style ram air inflated show kites.
2004 900 sq.m Mega Kuwait flag kite, awarded Guinness World's Largest Kite in 2005
2004 Kite powered KiteSled with steering by ski bending for snow journeying.
2010 American Kitefliers Association "Kiteflier of the Year"
2011 "Pear" Mega Ray kite 1150 sq.m
2015 "1Skin" single skin single line pilot kites
2016 Single line single skin Serpent kites- 30m and 60m.
2017 "Hope" Mega Flag kite, 1150 sq.m.
2022 Single line single skin Ray style kites in 5sq.m,10sq.m and 20sq.m sizes
2023 Single line kite stability- 50 years and not much progress.
