Date:	Thu, 30 Dec 1993 07:48:27 -1000
From:	sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki)
Message-Id: <1993Dec30.174827.6841@das.harvard.edu>
Organization: Harvard University OIT/NSD
Subject: Don Tabor


I don't know what his official titles is, but Don Tabor runs Top of
the Line. Before starting up Top of the Line, Don ran Action Kites.

The Hawaiian Team kite and the Spinoff were his early big successes.
For a time, the only kite being flown by teams was the Team kite and
almost everyone had a Spinoff in their kite bag. I still have my
Spinoff (it's been reframed). It is faded and stretched out, but I
still occasionally fly it.

Things that I see as innovative were whiskers/standoffs, battens,
bungee cord and nocks and the 3 point adjustable bridle.

I think that the thing that Don Tabor really deserves credit for is
his promotion of stunt kite flying, especially team flying. He
traveled extensively in the USA. The Top of the Line Flight Squadron
(Ron Reich, Eric Streed, and Don Tabor) really defined team kite
flying.

Alas, things change. It used to be that almost all of the winners in
East Coast competitions (before the Eastern League) flew Top of the
Line kites. These days I rarely see a TotL kite in the air...
-- 
Marty Sasaki            Harvard University           Sasaki Kite Fabrications
sasaki@noc.harvard.edu  Network Services Division    26 Green Street
617-496-4320            10 Ware Street               Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
                        Cambridge, MA 02138-4002     phone/fax: 617-522-8546

-- 
Marty Sasaki            Harvard University           Sasaki Kite Fabrications
sasaki@noc.harvard.edu  Network Services Division    26 Green Street
617-496-4320            10 Ware Street               Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
                        Cambridge, MA 02138-4002     phone/fax: 617-522-8546


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