Chapter 5At NASA 1964-1972

Sections

1. Show the introduction: The Rogallo/Dickenson Letters

   Between September 28, 1964, and January 1, 1970, Francis Rogallo and John Dickenson exchanged eleven letters. Rogallo started the correspondence after receiving clips of The Daily Examiner article about the first flights of Dickenson’s glider in Grafton, NSW, Australia. (doc-06)

   Section 5.1The Rogallo/Dickenson Letters
2. Show the introduction: Research Switches to Parasails

   In the previous chapter, we saw how the steerable gliding parachute idea is an old one, as shown by patents dated as far back as 1924. In the 1960s, at NASA, these gliding parachutes had many names: all-flexible parawings, tension structure parawings, single keel parawings, twin keel parawings, limp paragliders, para-foils, sail-wings, and parasails. When we had the choice, we called them parasails.

   Section 5.2Research Switches to Parasails
3. Show the introduction: Rogallo’s Contribution — The Patents

   To understand Rogallo’s contribution to aircraft design, we examined his patents. During the 1965–1970 period, his last days at NASA. There were four patents.

   Section 5.3Rogallo’s Contribution — The Patents
4. Show the introduction: Rogallo’s Contribution — The Publications

   To understand Rogallo’s contribution to NASA projects, we looked for Rogallo’s publications.

   Section 5.4Rogallo’s Contribution — The Publications
5. Show the introduction: Rogallo in NASA Publications

   In his 1972 presentation, Flexible Wings for Transportation, Rogallo referenced 102 documents related to paragliders, parawings, and parasails. They are from NASA, the Department of Defense, and contractors, covering 1960–1971. (rre-09)

   Section 5.5Rogallo in NASA Publications
6. Show the introduction: 1970 — Rogallo Leaves NASA

   Francis M. Rogallo stated in an undated letter to the Low & Slow newsletter, published in late 1971, that he had left NASA in 1970.

   Section 5.61970 — Rogallo Leaves NASA
7. Show the introduction: 1972 — Lies and Illusions

   Two years after he left NASA, Francis M. Rogallo, Delvin R. Croom, and William C. Sleeman co-authored a presentation given at the International Congress of Transportation Conferences, May 31 to June 2, 1972, in Washington, DC: Flexible Wings for Transportation. It states that Rogallo is “the senior author of this paper”. (rre-09)

   Section 5.71972 — Lies and Illusions
8. Show the introduction: A Story of Failures

   We divided Rogallo’s professional career at NASA into two chapters. We see his exchange of letters with John Dickenson as a significant point. We don’t doubt that Rogallo was passionate when trying to realise his dreams, but he wasn’t the one to find the Key to the Kingdom.

   Section 5.8A Story of Failures