THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 18, 1995 TAG: 9512180036
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Francis and Gertrude Rogallo, whose invention of the flexible wing opened the world of flight to the common man, were honored Sunday as part of the annual commemoration of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight here 92 years ago.
The Rogallos, who at one time lived in Hampton but now reside in Southern Shores, were inducted into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
A crowd of about 200 weathered high winds and chilly weather for the ceremony, which took place just yards away from the windswept North Carolina hill where the world learned it could fly.
The Rogallo flexible wing was born in the basement of the couple's Hampton home. As an engineer for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the precursor to NASA, Rogallo envisioned the flexible wing. The first prototype was sewn from Gertrude Rogallo's kitchen curtains, and in 1948, after 10 years of research, the flexible wing was a reality.
The invention revolutionized recreational flight and opened the door to hang gliding, ultralight flight and paragliding, sports now popular around the world.
``The Rogallos' goal was to make flight accessible and affordable to all,'' said Vic Powell, president of the Rogallo Foundation. ``The materials that were used have been around forever. But the Rogallos' genius combined the materials in a way that allowed the common man to fly.''
Others praised the couple for giving the world an appreciation for the fun of flight. G.W. Meadows, director of the U.S. Hang Gliding Association, spoke of the Rogallos' impact on recreational flight.
``Nothing has changed my life the way the Rogallos have,'' Meadows said. ``There are people who live in their vans so that they can be near their favorite hang gliding hill. (The Rogallos) are my heroes.''
A portrait of the Rogallos was unveiled, and will hang in the Garber First Flight Shrine.
The couple join aviation giants such as Chuck Yeager and Neil Armstrong in the shrine's ring of honor.
Sunday's activities also included the unveiling of the refurbished replica of the first Wright aircraft. The restoration, undertaken by the American Institute for Aeronautica and Astronautics, was done on a replica built by the AIAA in 1963.
The weekend-long observance of the Wrights' achievement concluded with a black tie dinner Sunday night.
Sunday's activities were curtailed because of the partial government shutdown. Organizers averted having to move the celebration from the Wright Memorial grounds after the Department of the Interior granted a delay in closing the national park. Had the ceremonies been moved, it would have marked the first time in 68 years that the observance was held away from the historic hill. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by DREW C. WILSON, The Virginian-Pilot
Francis Rogallo, above, addresses a crowd gathered at the Wright
Brothers National Memorial Sunday to honor him and his wife,
Gertrude, seated to right. They invented the flexible wing,
precursor of the hang glider, one of which was flown over the
monument during the ceremony.
Color photo of hang glider flying over the memorial
by CNB