Francis M. Rogallo

Never knew Francis Rogallo, but, am sure his spirit is now soaring !

I am 52 years old and, though I never met Francis Rogallo, he has had a profound influence on my adult life. I first saw a primitive hang glider in the pages of the National Geographic magazine back in the late 60's and have been involved in ultralight sports aviation ever since. Flying my first Rogallo wing on the English South Downs back in 73 was where it all began for me. Franics remains a hero of mine and I thank him for all that he, and his work, has mean't to my life over nearly three...

My son Luke and I met Mr. Rogallo at Kittyhawk Kites, when we made our annual Mother's Day journey to Nags Head to fly our stunt kites AND to celebrate Mr. Rogallo's birthdays. (They always made him a cake and invited the public to celebrate).
What a joy he was !
We bought a new stunt kite every year and he was always willing to autoraph them. I will treasure them and my memories of him forever.

The name Rogallo is synonomous with hang gliding. Francis Rogallo has an extended family of many tens of thousands of free-flight pilots worldwide who will mourn the passing of their "father". Saddened that he is no longer with us - but incredibly grateful that he was born.

I was just a Milford Road kid who sometimes was loaded into the Volkswagon bus, driven to the Lions bridge at the Mariners Museum, to fly a funny looking kite with the strings wrapped around metal OJ cans. Mr. Rogallo would come to each kid and tug on the strings, observe, note, tell us to bring them in and home to Milford we would go until next time. I still have my first kite (mylar with red tape and the OJ can) and fifty some years later enjoy going to the waters edge, at the Outer Banks,...

Sincere sympathy to your family during this time of loss.Is it not true that we all look forward to the day when God will wipe the tears from all.the faces,especially those tears caused by the death of a loved one, the words at Isaiah 25:8,tells us of that promise, which is soon to be a reality.May God continue to comfort your family in the days and weeks ahead,Respectfully.

The Rogallos, Draleys, and we (Voglewedes) became friends when we lived across the street from each other in our little four room homes on Lamington Rd in Hampton. Then two of us moved to Lasalle Ave and the Draleys moved a block over on East Ave. It was on LaSalle Ave that Rog started working (in their house) with his kite with a very large fan. I made the tails for the kites. The Rogallos were good friends and I think of them often.

Gert and Rog, Gene and Ida, and Tom are...

I was fortunate to know the Rogallos when they lived on Milford Rd. in Newport News. I remember playing endlessly with Franny along with Walker and Blair during long summer nights. I also remember watching Mr. Rogallo throw a balled-up piece of cloth with a toy soldier attached to it into the air, and miracously watch it glide down to the ground. It was just a toy to us, and we had no idea we were in the presence of genius. My condolences to the family and in loving memory to just the...

Bob and Sallie & family,
Sorry to hear of your loss. Bob, your dad was an inspiration and an aeronautical super star for all of us who worked for NASA.