Steve Wendt: Rogallo Hall of Fame Inductee

Steve Wendt, known affectionately as “Coach” to the many students and friends he mentored, dedicated nearly five decades to the advancement of hang gliding. Beginning his journey in 1975 with a glider he built from a kit and taught himself to fly, Steve quickly became a respected educator, not just in the skies but also in the classroom as a high school math teacher and athletic coach. His passion for flight and teaching converged at Kitty Hawk Kites, where he managed the hang gliding school from 1983 to 1986, playing a pivotal role in shaping its legacy. Later, he founded Blue Sky Flight Park in Virginia, turning hang gliding instruction into his full-time profession and solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s most trusted and effective teachers.

Steve’s instruction style was the perfect blend of patience, precision, and tough love—always emphasizing safety, skill, and respect for the air. He pioneered the widespread use of scooter tow systems for low-altitude training and perfected this method, leading over 100,000 successful tows without incident. Beyond instruction, he was a talented glider mechanic and craftsman, known for his ability to sew sails, build harnesses, and repair equipment with care and skill. Steve’s passing in early 2024 left a profound void in the hang gliding world, but his legacy lives on in the thousands of pilots he trained, inspired, and mentored. His life’s mission to teach the world to fly continues through every safe and joyful flight his students take.

.