About Us

Our Mission

In 1948, Francis and Gertrude Rogallo enjoyed the first successful flight of their flexible wing, a revolutionary aero concept that was constructed from Gertrude’s kitchen curtains and developed from research conducted in their in-house, homemade wind tunnel. This remarkable invention was a wing with no rigid members that creates an airfoil shape when flying and generates lift similar to a rigid airfoil. This incredible invention led to hang gliders, paragliders, kites, stunt kites, and revolutionized parachutes. Based on the Rogallo invention, millions of people around the world have been introduced to the pleasures, adventures, and challenges of aviation.

The Rogallo Foundation was created in 1992 and its mission is to honor the Rogallo’s; preserve their priceless records, artifacts, and research; interpret their incredible story; and protect this legacy of free flight for millions of people in all the Nations of the world.

Collections

Francis and Gertrude Rogallo have saved and stored a large number of items that were used in various experimental developments of the flexible wing concept. Following the invention and patenting of the wing, the Federal government expressed interest in the concept. Rogallo was involved in a number of government projects in which the flexible wing served as the basis for experiments in powered and unpowered aircraft, landing cargo and vehicles, and returning spacecraft to earth. A wealth of artifacts accumulated over the years of personal and governmental experiments could, if catalogued and readily available for study, serve historians, experimenters, engineers, and enthusiasts. The Rogallo flexible wing has had an enormous influence on low speed aviation. What further breakthroughs await humanity in this realm of flight resulting from the evaluation and study of these artifacts? The Rogallo Foundation, through its membership and gift programs, can help you express your interest in preserving, protecting, cataloguing, and researching these priceless artifacts.

 

John Harris

President

Sandra Allen

Treasurer

Bruce Weaver

Secretary

GW Meadows

Vice President

Susie Walters

Board Member

Billy Vaughn

Historian