Francis Rogallo

Francis Melvin Rogallo was born on January 27, 1912, in Sanger, California, and passed away on September 1, 2009. He was an American aeronautical engineer and inventor known for creating the Rogallo wing, also called the “flexible wing.” This important design helped lead to the development of modern hang gliders and paragliders.

Rogallo, working together with his wife, held many patents. These included designs for wing controls, airfoils, and special shapes for flexible wing vehicles. His work made a big impact on how we think about flying and gliding today.

Career

Francis Rogallo studied aeronautical engineering at Stanford University and began working for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1936. In 1948, he and his wife, Gertrude Rogallo, invented a special kind of kite they called the "flexible wing." They wanted to create an aircraft that was simple and affordable for everyone. This wing could carry small weights and was used as both a kite and a small glider.

When Sputnik was launched in 1957, interest in space grew quickly. Rogallo worked with NASA to test his flexible wing for space missions. NASA used the design for experiments up to very high speeds and altitudes. Over time, the idea of the flexible wing inspired many designers to create new types of gliders and kites for people to enjoy. Today, many people learn to fly hang gliders based on Rogallo's original design.