Before NASA 1912-1958Many More Claims

Rogallo claimed that the evolution of “art, sport, and technology of kites in America” was thanks to his Flexikites (all commercial failures).

Rogallo claimed to be the inventor of the modern hang glider when none of his patented inventions looked remotely close to a modern hang glider, and when he sat on the plans and instructions John Dickenson sent him in 1964.

Rogallo claimed to be the father of hang gliding when his first flight happened in 1974, ten years after he had received Dickenson’s plans and instructions.

Today we see some people and institutions claiming that the modern paragliders and kitesurfing wings are part of Rogallo’s legacy. There seems to be no limit, they require and offer no evidence, just baseless assertions. Why not? If aircraft with flapping wings existed, or a car taking off thanks to flexible wings, they would call them Rogallos.

In further chapters, we will examine these claims and prove their fallacy.