Before NASA 1912-1958William M. Allison Invented the "Flexible Kite"
Because they had linked their second patent to their first, when the Rogallos conceded “priority of invention of the subject matter”, they recognised that Allison was “the original and true inventor” of the flexible kite, or flexible wing, or flexible wing concept (Rogallo will use these terms interchangeably).
This is a fact that the Rogallos hid carefully for the rest of their lives. From April 7, 1955, and on, when Francis Rogallo claimed that he was the inventor of the flexible wing concept, he was lying. And when he let others state that he was the inventor of the flexible wing concept, and when he failed to correct them, he was lying by omission.
It is worth highlighting that while the kites that the Rogallos patented were never shown and came to nothing, Allison’s kite inspired the branch of kiting called Sled kites, which is said to account for about one third of all kites flown today.