The Founding Members
The Sky Gypsy founders are an even dozen
collection of ragged individuals, derelicts, social
malcontents, dropouts and marginal outlaws. Most of
us dwell on the fringes of modern culture. One or
two of us might even be orbiting Pluto. |
 |
 |
What brings us together is a love of kite-plane aerotrekking. Outside of this interest, we seem to have nothing
in common.
Neil
Bungard is the original Sky Gypsy, but he wasn't
aware of it until we pointed it out to him. That he still
lives, is one of the western world's wonders, and a
glaring error in the laws of probability.
John
Kemmeries, who invented the powered kite wing,
could have been the original, since he has most of the qualifications
and was trekking way before any of us, but he is too sane.
He really doesn't want to be a Sky Gypsy, but we have
adopted him in spite of his protests.
Rich
Michaels - ex-cop, commercial pilot, tile
layer and contractor is our voice of reason, and he is therefore
largely ignored.
Jim
and
Ivan,
who lost their last names in a card game, are our problem
children. We treat them kindly but don't tell them anything
important.
John
and Jen, who didn't lose their last names but
have never divulged them, are the two derelicts. We don't
have a clue about them.
Ismael
Moreno and
Helen
Boyer are the miracle workers. None of this would
exist without them. They work non-stop, 15 hours a day, seven
days a week.
Julie,
Kate
and
Rhonda are the lovely ladies that keep
John K., Neil and Rich, respectively, out of jail. This comprises
the dozen of us. We collect in Rodeo, New Mexico, when the
urge strikes us. When it doesn't, we're in La Cholla, Arizona.
 |
|
On the fringe is a Polish apparition,
named Pov, who flies in to visit
from time to time in an aging Cessna with all of the
instruments and most of the non-essential moving parts
ripped out, heavily re-enforced with duct tape. Occasionally,
leather-clad bikers, who claim to be his disciples,
show up looking for him. He could be the evil twin
of Neil. |
He truly belongs to us, but he has little interest in open
air flying, and kite wings are too slow for him. It's heartbreaking.
As a side note - We are an absolutely alcohol and drug free club. No alcohol or drugs are allowed on any of our facilities, at any time, under any circumstances.
