The Fat Flat RokThe Fat Flat Rok (FFR) is not a traditional rokkaku.
Fat - A traditional rokkaku has as an aspect ratio less than 1 (i.e. it is taller than wide). The FFR has an even or slightly high aspect ratio, making it look ‘fat’.
Flat - A traditional rokkaku has backward bent cross spars. The FFR has straight cross spars. If a person doesn’t say “Well, how can that be?” you know this person is not a real kite maker.
Rok - Rokkaku just means ‘6 cornered’ after all.
The answer to the “flat?” question is the shape of the middle sail part: it has the shape of a bowtie, which creates an in-sail dihedral by the wind, enough to make the kite stable. However, the FFR is not suitable for rokkaku combats: the bridle can not be changed to make the kite steerable.
This brief description is not a plan for a specific kite; rather is it a description of the FFR concept, and it only shows how to cut the different panels. For reinforcements and pockets for spars as well as for reinforcements for bridle, building descriptions for a standard Rokkaku and a standard Sode Dako should be consulted.
The description include plans for FFRs in different sizes and with different aspect ratios. Two of the plans are provided by Ron Spaulding.
PDF - Fat Flat RokRevision 1: 2022-10-10
