Personnel Flying

Outline

I originally wanted to research 'Walking with Dinsosaurs'.[1] The concept of the show comes from the BBC television series and features fifteen life sized, realistic dinosaurs. Stage Technologies automated a huge flying prehistoric bird controlled with big tow winches from an Acrobat control desk. I was quite interested in trying to receate this and thought it would be very interesting. However, as the show is so huge, it only takes place in arenas, it would be too big for the Ath. Although the concept could be adapted and done to a smaller scale, I thought it would be more beneficial to research something I could perhaps work with one day. I then decided to research flying people on stage. Unfortunately, I have yet to see a performance that uses flying, but I did find some good examples on the internet that caught my interest. I want to achieve a complex flying effect, with more than one person flying and not just flying up and down. I would like to do something similar to the 'Wizard of Oz' flying effect or 'The Matrix' effect which can be found on the 'zfxflying' website. [2]

Fyling Methods

'Pendulum' Flying

This style of flying is usually associated with Panto and performances such as 'Peter Pan' and has even made it into Kung Fu movies. It is a mechanical purchase device rigged in the grid. It is operated by hauling a line that in turn winds a windlass that takes up the lifting wire rope. For this method to work correctly, there must be a pulley mounted on the grid. It is mounted between two points: the take off point and the desired landing position. The offstage operator can control the amount of pendulum swing by lifting and lowering the flyer.

'Tracking Trolley'

This type of flying uses a tracking trolley with a winch or purchase system rigged to it and is used for sustained flight sequences, often with two people flying together. It is also used in ellaborate flying ballets. A purchase system is rigged on the end of a wire rope that passes over a trolley and down to the flyer. The trolley can be tracked across stage much like a scenery carrier on a tab track tp provide the movement of the flyer and the winch provides the lift and lower. Using a number of tracks together can produce convincing flying effects, especially when there are several flyers moving in opposite directions.

The flyer is attached by either a single flywire or by two wires, one at each hip. This is known as a somersault rig and allows the flyer to control his centre of gravity by moving his head or feet so that horizintal flight and somersaults are possible.

Graceful transitions from walking to stepping into the air is possible with careful practice. Lighting and scenery are also used to compliment the effect.