Preview | Wingman: The Francis Rogallo Story
Preview: 8/18/2025 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
The story of the engineer whose aerial invention led to sports like hang gliding and paragliding.
Sports like hang gliding and paragliding can trace their origins to engineer Francis Rogallo, the creative mind behind the “flexible wing.” Learn about his journey, from his California roots and time at NASA to his retirement in the Outer Banks, where he was often found hang gliding on the famous sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
PBS North Carolina Presents is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Preview | Wingman: The Francis Rogallo Story
Preview: 8/18/2025 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Sports like hang gliding and paragliding can trace their origins to engineer Francis Rogallo, the creative mind behind the “flexible wing.” Learn about his journey, from his California roots and time at NASA to his retirement in the Outer Banks, where he was often found hang gliding on the famous sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[dramatic music] >> Francis was a very visionary person.
>> Regala's invention is a completely flexible lifting surface.
He invented the flexible wing concept that evolved into hang gliding and paragliding and all those other wings.
>> This is a man who brought so much joy to so many people.
[dramatic music]
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PBS North Carolina Presents is a local public television program presented by PBS NC