SKYAAK: skyaak and I Believe CD Single

A couple of days ago I was speaking with my friend Kathy Baker, founder of www.allinteractivesolutions.com from Melbourne, Australia via Skype when the phone rang.

It was my partner Gene Angers calling. He was bubbling over with excitement as he announced that the MP3 download of our CD Single 'I Believe' had started to generate sales. This was a breakthrough moment that I was pretty excited to share with Kathy. All you have to do is click on the ITunes link above to download the song...it's only a buck, so everybody can afford it.

This positive, affirming message will be a welcome addition to your IPod play-list. Give it a whirl.

FYI, we are in the process of setting this thing up so that it can become a fund-raising mechanism for certain projects... more details to follow as things firm up.

What follows is another example of a Press Release ( published in the 'East Central Connection' on August 4, 2006. ECC has a circulation of about 100,000.) that was delivered to about 100,000 households last summer here in central Saskatchewan. In the days following this mini-triumph, we logged about 800 unique visitors to www.skyaak.com. I was very happy with the positive reception and this tells me that we have a story here with LEGS. I am totally confident that we can carry on creating steadily increasing momentum around this story and more important, I am sure that we can ratchet up the exposure to larger circulation newspapers and magazines. As previously mentioned, this process of 'growing' the popularity of the story must include the creation of a stunning Press Kit.

Skyaak- Canada's Answer to the Frisbee.

Written by Ilara Stefaniuk-Gaudet.

Skyaak is a unique new "Ring-Wing" flying toy invention. It was created by Manitou Beach artist/designer Michael Gaudet, who originally committed the idea to paper in 1987. The concept lay dormant for many years until Gaudet had the opportunity to concentrate on research and development within the past few years. As a full-time professional artist who specializes in large-scale historic murals, the artist has been able to set aside a modest R&D fund.

After he wrote the words to the poem "I Believe" in November 2005, seven ‘Angel Investors’ presented themselves to commit financial and moral support to the Skyaak project. The poem has since been produced as a CD Single that may be viewed at www.theahaexperience.com

Gaudet says, " ‘I Believe’ encourages faith in one’s pet ideas and is a call for action versus procrastination."

The Angel Investors have since propelled the project ahead with unstoppable momentum.

Over a period of only about two years, Gaudet was able to advance the working prototype from two cut-out margarine containers affixed to a drinking straw to laser-cut lexan plastic components in the case of the 14" version ‘Mykro-Skyaak’. The full-scale, athletic-quality Skyaak Model 3 boasts components manufactured with a computer-assisted router by Laser Impressions in Saskatoon. The 26" Model 3 is a fascinating new kind of ‘throw and catch’ glider that consists of two conical-shaped wings on an inner tubular shaft. The unlikely-looking flying toy exhibits exciting aerodynamic properties. A sturdy foam hand-grip near the center of the shaft provides a way for the device to be thrown and then caught in mid-air between partners.

The Skyaak project has enjoyed and benefited from some very high-profile support both nationally and internationally. The following people have taken the Skyaak project under their wing: Dr. Marc Garneau, former astronaut and president of the Canada Space Agency, communicated with the inventor over a couple of years and personally referred the project to the attention of Dr. David Simpson, head of the Institute for Aerospace Research at the National Research Council of Canada. Dr. Simpson wrote the inventor a very informative and encouraging letter of guidance and support. Zenon Dragan, president of the Saskatoon-based world-famous flying toy company DraganFly Innovations Inc. has been mentor to the project since its inception and has provided invaluable insights into prototype development and marketing. Minneapolis-based William Gurstelle, best-selling author of "Adventures from the Technology Underground" has built and flown both models and calls Skyaak "Incredibly cool!" and suggests that Skyaak is "Canada’s answer to the Frisbee". Patrizio Bronzi, Italian aircraft model-maker and designer, has expressed an interest in the Skyaak design and has written a technical paper in support of the project along with analytical diagrams that explore the aerodynamic properties of the unique ring-wing design. Dan Tyroler, Long Island, NY-based electronics engineer and inventor, is the founder of the popular inventor’s service www.Patents4Sale.com.

Mr. Tyroler has recently announced the creation of a new online inventor’s boutique called www.NewDaVincis.com The Skyaak product line has been invited to be included in the exclusive roster of new, innovative inventions on this site.

On June 30th, Gaudet and four fellow Skyaak-ers met up at the football field at Winston High School in Watrous where they were joined by RCMP Constable Brent Vandesype. Cst. Vandesype executed a radar speed check and announced that Gaudet had reached an air-speed of 43 km/hr and soon after 'locked in' the 'target' Skyaak thrown by Wayne Reiffersheid of Watrous at 41 km/hr. This event generated a lot of excitement and afterwards, Gaudet said," I was thrilled and honored that the RCMP threw their moral support behind the Skyaak project in this way. It means a lot to me."

Participants in the official Skyaak ‘air-speed trials’ in Watrous on June 30th, 2006 (left to right): RCMP Cst. Brent Vandesype, Michael Gaudet, Gene Angers, Blake Cooke, Dylan Cooke, Wayne Reifferscheid. Wayne’s air-speed of 41 KPH was locked in on the RCMP radar, while Michael’s duly noted 43 KPH remains the number to beat.

Skyaak was also featured at the National Horseshoe Championships at The Resort Village of Manitou Beach on Tuesday July 25th and Thursday July 27th. To find out more about this fascinating invention, please visit www.skyaak.com and www.skyaak.blogspot.com .