Rokkaround


Rokkaround photography
This steerable "4-liner" is simply a circle, the minimal shape at its best, drawn with a single pencil stroke, the perfect symetry. This drawing was resting in my ideas file for the last three to four years and all my attemps failed with the conception of the frame, too complicated, too heavy, too much bridling, too much of evething ! But, a year and a half ago, I experimented with the flight of a fighter Tokiwa Rokkaku made by Chief Philippe GALLOT, using two and four lines. Finally, recently I meditated upon the honorable rising sun maxim "The true Rokkaku fits into a perfect circle". Therefore, it was clear to me that the circle should have a Rokkaku frame.
Let's comment on the following sketch:
- Dimensions : AO = 150 cm, AD = CD = DE = KL = LM = LO = 30 cm, GH = HI = 76 cm (because of the dihedral reduces the apparent width), DH = HL = 45 cm ;
- Framing : AO = carbon tubing Ø6,2 mm strong, BF = JN = fiberglass tubing Ø6 mm, GH = HI = plain carbon rod Ø3 mm, AI = IO = OG = GA = plain fiberglass rod Ø3 mm;
- Connectors : D = L = cross Ø6x6,2 mm, G = I = Ø3 not closed, A = O = dihedral Ø3 at about 165° ;
- Rubber tensioners for A, B, F, G, I, J, N, O ;
- Dihedral bridles : BF and JN for a dihedral of about 10 cm ;
- Flying line attachments : C, E, K, M ;
- A strong sleeve all around to insert the circular rod A-F-I-N-O-J-G-B-A.
The flight of the Rokkaround is extremely stable, in fact, too stable and slow. The steering is far from the revolution steering to turn, one must boldy move the handles. What amazing about the kite, when you make it spin on itself, the shape doesn't turn around, only the graphism does.