The man, the Wing, the TruthFrancis M. Rogallo

The chapters

1. Show the introduction: Foreword

   After 20 years of research by Graeme Henderson, Stéphane Malbos, Ken de Russy and others, we propose a more factual and authentic history of hang gliding (and paragliding).

   Chapter 1Foreword
2. Show the introduction: Clarifications

   Clarification: the act or process of clarifying, i.e. making something less confusing or easier to understand.

   Chapter 2Clarifications
3. Show the introduction: Before NASA 1912-1958

   From Rogallo's childhood obsession with flying objects and kite, to his appointement at NACA Langley and what he accomplished during the years 1936-1958. And a look at what was NACA.

   Chapter 3Before NASA 1912-1958
4. Show the introduction: At NASA 1958-1964

   July 1958 - NACA is disbanded to become the National Aeronautic and space-agency (NASA). Francis M. Rogallo becomes a NASA employee as head of the 7-by-10-foot Tunnels Branch.

   August 1964 - The NASA Paraglider Development Program is discontinued as part of the Gemini space program.

   To write the story of the Paraglider Development Program, we relied on these publications:

   - Barton C. Hacker and James M. Grimwood: On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini (doc-07)

   - Richard Hallion: On the Frontier (doc-08)

   - Robert G. Ferguson: NASA’s First A – Aeronautics from 1958 to 2008 (doc-16)

   - Amy Shira Teitel: The Paraglider: How NASA Tried and Failed to Land Without Parachutes. (doc-17)

   Chapter 4At NASA 1958-1964
5. Show the introduction: At NASA 1964-1972

   September 1964 - Francis M. Rogallo writes his first letter to John Dickenson, showing his interest “in getting as much information about (your glider) as you could conveniently send”.

   June 1972 - Rogallo’s last presentation for NASA, Flexible Wings for Transportation, is published.

   Chapter 5At NASA 1964-1972
6. Show the introduction: Building the Myth

   Rogallo was the first builder of his myth. In his post-NASA years, with the explosion of hang gliding as a sport, he always claimed that the modern hang glider was his legacy. In later years, he added the modern ram-air multi-cell parachutes and paragliders to it.

   The myth was first told and promoted in the USA. The rest of the world followed blindly.

   Chapter 6Building the Myth
7. Show the introduction: Deconstructing the Rogallo Myth

   A sum-up of the previous chapters. These 44,000+ words of argumentation and some 700 pages of supporting documents are our contribution to a more factual and authentic history of hang gliding and paragliding. We believe that, in the long term, the truth will prevail. We hope that, if you were bamboozled by the Rogallo myth, as we once were, these pages helped you reclaim your power from the charlatans.

   Chapter 7Deconstructing the Rogallo Myth
8. Show the introduction: Afterword

   The bulk of this book has been looking at the trees, these pages are looking at the forest. One view does not negate the other, for they are just different ways of looking at the same truth.

   Chapter 8Afterword
9. Show the introduction: Acknowledgments and Recognition

   Without the help of many people, this new look at hang gliding and paragliding history would never have been completed. We thank them all.

   Chapter 9Acknowledgments and Recognition
10. Show the introduction: Documents

    We compiled some 700 pages of documentation to support our argumentation.

    Chapter 10Documents