Joining a megateam

A megateam, often called a mega-fly in the United States, brings many pilots together around one leader, shared calls and a precise use of space. It is not the best setting in which to discover team-flying basics. Start with the Jst-4-Fn basic maneuvers, then become familiar with the vocabulary used by the group.

On QuadKites.org, we mostly use megateam for the international practice and Mega-Fly when referring to the historical North American vocabulary or Mike Kory’s manual. This page gathers the references specific to large teams, especially grid flying.

In a megateam, every pilot needs to give much of their attention to the leader, their position and the neighboring kites. Before launch:

• identify your place in the formation, both on the pilot line and on the kite side, as well as your immediate neighbors;
• ask which calls the group already knows and whether any special figures or conventions will be used;
• ask for an explanation when the grid or a transition is unclear;
• follow the announced pace and avoid improvising to recover from a mistake.

The group may use the Jst-4-Fn basics and then add vocabulary from the North American maneuvers. What matters is that every pilot gives the next call the same meaning.

In a grid, each kite occupies one cell within a larger formation. The wind window is no longer considered for a single pilot: it is shared between several lines, rows and groups.

Thierry Deschamps introduces this organization on his French-language KiteJust4Fun blog:

• Introduction to grid flying
• Wind windows during a megateam
• Animation of a 4 × 5 grid flight

On May 16, 2026, on Brouwersdam beach in the Netherlands, 118 quad-line kites flew together: this is the current documented world record for a quad-line megateam. A local report announced the record after the 10th International Quadline Meeting in Brouwersdam.

Grid flying is one of the usual formats for a megateam. What becomes rare is going beyond roughly 20 to 25 kites: at that scale, organization, readability and spacing change significantly. These two videos show an extreme case, with a megateam of about 90 pilots: the first version is uncut, with the briefing and live instructions; the second is a shorter version, without briefing, where the maneuvers are easier to observe.

These resources show several figures used in large grids:

• File or band
• Bob
• Ball or patatoid
• Car

The Mega-Fly manual by Mike Kory is also a historical reference for international vocabulary and formations.

When watching a video, do not only follow the overall shape. Also observe:

• the delay between the call and the movement;
• how rows maintain their spacing;
• the transitions between formations;
• how the group slows down or settles before a difficult sequence.

In a very large team, the leader’s voice must remain understandable to everyone. Some groups use PMR radios to relay calls: using radios in a megateam.

For a participant’s perspective, also read What to expect in a mega fly on KiteLife.

Last updated Jul 28, 2026