Francis Rogallo, born in Sanger, California, on January 26, 1912, developed an early fascination with flight after seeing a biplane as a child, excelled in math and science, built an air-powered car in high school, studied aeronautics at Stanford University, and graduated in 1935 from its first Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics program. He joined NACA in Hampton, Virginia, in 1936, where he planned and supervised aerodynamic research and airplane development and eventually directed low-speed wind tunnel research at Langley. At home, Francis and Gertrude Rogallo developed the flexible wing, testing early successful prototypes made from Gertrude's kitchen curtains in a homemade wind tunnel on their sun porch; inspired by birds and flying squirrels, the invention led to the Flexikite, its first commercial use. After receiving the patent, Rogallo spent ten years trying to convince NACA of the flexible wing's many applications at a time when fixed wings dominated aircraft design. He held 25 patents, and when Dr. Wernher von Braun became director of NACA, renamed NASA to include space, he recognized the Rogallo Wing's potential. The Rogallos gave the patent to the U.S. government so the invention could serve the greater public good. In the 1960s, extensive research was conducted on the Rogallo Wing, including prototypes with inflated leading edges, engine-powered aircraft that foreshadowed today's ultralights, and aircraft towed by helicopter. Francis and Gertrude Rogallo were recognized internationally and by NASA for their contributions to sport aviation, and Francis Rogallo came to be regarded as one of the fathers of hang gliding. Millions of people have enjoyed flight through the flexible wing, and its development helped give rise to delta kites, stunt kites, hang gliding, kiteboarding, sport parachuting, and paragliding. Francis Rogallo was honored by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for outstanding achievement in aerospace technology, inducted into the NC Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, learned to fly a hang glider at age 62, and took his last flight on his 80th birthday.