This is a Plan page for my version of the John Freeman designed Goin' and Comin' kite. John's design is based on Francis Rogallo's Corner Kite. The best way to explain a Corner Kite is to say it is a Box Kite turned inside out. Wait, what?

BOX KITE

This is the Russ Mozier version of the Brooxes' Box kite by Brooks Leffler. Brooks' design used trash bags, and the dimensions of the kite and the frame were determined by the trash bag.

Russ Mozier's version uses plastic table cloths from the Dollar Store. One table cloth gives enough material for 4 kites.

The reason for the picture is to show that a Box Kite is squares of material (each side of each cell is a square) sewn together to form a box cell. Most of the Box Kites we see are two-cell versions like the one in the picture. But single-cell Box Kites, called Cube Kites, are also made.

The take-away: A Box Kite is squares of material with the sticks on the inside, pushing out. The material of the kite is kept tight because of compression. Remember that word, compression.

What if we were to reverse the whole situation? What if we took squares of material, put them in the inside, and the sticks on the outside?

Corner Kite

This is to show that a Corner Kite is two squares, sewn together on their diagonal.

Corner Kite

Two squares, sewn together on the diagonal, and the sticks are on the outside. That means the material is under tension, instead of compression. This called 'tensegrity' construction.

Corner Kite

Of course it flys! If it does not fly, it is not a kite. NOTE: There is no bridle, just a Tether Point. The Tab for the flying string is sewn 1/3 down any edge. Any Facet Kite, any size, no matter how many cells. 1/3 down any edge and it flys.

Now let's look at a Rogallo Corner kite on the left. Source of the pic is the Kite Plans Base. Notice that the kites is two of the Corner Kites above joined end-to-end on a common spine. Notice the truss strings on the outside to prevent the kite from twisting.