Guide to the Vernon L. Rogallo Papers,
1948-1992
Guide prepared by Mikael Wester
NASA Ames History Office
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 207-1
Moffett Field, California 94035
Phone: (650) 604-1032
Email: ARC-DL-history@mail.nasa.gov
URL: http://history.arc.nasa.gov
©2014
NASA Ames Research Center. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Vernon L. Rogallo Papers,
1948-1992
NASA Ames History Office
NASA Ames Research Center
Contact Information:
- NASA Ames History Office
- NASA Ames Research Center
- Mail Stop 207-1
- Moffett Field, CA 94035
- Phone: (650) 604-1032
- Email: ARC-DL-history@mail.nasa.gov
- URL: http://history.arc.nasa.gov
- Collection processed by:
- Mikael Wester
- Date Completed:
- September 2014
- Encoded by:
- Laura Langford
- Date encoded:
- November 2014
Descriptive Summary
Title: Vernon L. Rogallo Papers
Date (inclusive): 1948-1992
Collection Number: PP14.02
Creator:
Rogallo, Vernon L.
Extent:
Number of containers: 7
Volume: 5 cubic feet
Repository:
Ames Research Center,
Ames History Office
Moffett Field, California 94035
Abstract: The Vernon L. Rogallo Papers feature technical publications, memoirs, albums, photographs, and artifacts related to Rogallo's
employment as an engineer for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Ames Aeronautical Laboratory and the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center, as well as his family's aerobatic kite flying team
"The Rockets," which was a vehicle to publicize the Flexikite. The Flexikite, which was based on Vernon's brother Francis's
own design and aptly named the "Rogallo Wing," was marketed and distributed on the West Coast by Vernon.
Language:
English
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright does not apply to United States government records. For non-government
material, researcher must contact the original creator.
Preferred Citation
NASA Ames History Office, NASA Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, California. PP14.02, Vernon L. Rogallo Papers, 1948-1992,
[Container number]: [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].
Abbreviated Citation
NASA ARC. PP14.02, [Container number]: [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].
Administrative Information
Separated Material
Various NASA publications such as educational material on aeronautics and the Space Age, fact sheets on various NASA space
programs, photographic prints featuring Gemini and Apollo crew, pre launch and space walks, as well as duplicate NASA Technical
Note reports were separated and transferred to the NASA Ames Research Center Technical Library and History Office Archives
Reference Collection (AFS1070.8A). A sample of the red nylon parachute material used to make the uniforms was retained.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Phoebe J. Flynn on March 5, 2014.
Biographical History
Vernon L. Rogallo graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1942 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In
October, shortly after graduating, Rogallo was employed by Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, California where he was in charge
of range studies for the Spruce Goose until June 1944. In April 1948 Rogallo joined the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory of the
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) at Moffett Field, California. He was employed at Ames for nearly 21 years.
From 1948 to 1958 he worked as an aeronautical research scientist and project engineer in the 40 x 80-foot wind tunnel where
his research led to numerous published technical papers, and paved the way for some of his later inventions, such as a propeller
blade loading control. After the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the absorption
of NACA in 1958, Rogallo, started working in the instrumentation division. It was there he developed instruments for biomedical,
aeronautical, and space research applications until his retirement in September 1969. Rogallo is best known for his work during
this period, specifically his adaptation of a Momentum Transducer into a Ballistocardiograph, a device that still endures
today for its medical application as an instrument to measure ballistic forces on the heart. While working on the Ballistocardiograph,
Rogallo earned the nickname "egg man" of Ames due to his use of the highly sensitive instrument to measure the heartbeat of
avian embryos. At least six of Rogallo's inventions at Ames were awarded patents including: Propeller Blade Loading Control
(1964), Null-Type Vacuum Microbalance (1965), Thermo-Protective Device for Balances (1965), Force Transducer (1967), Apparatus
and Methods for Measuring Energy of Light Beams and Ion Beams (1968), and the Ballistocardiograph (1969).
Vernon's brother, Francis, also a mechanical and aeronautical engineer employed by NACA and NASA, worked out of Langley Field
in Virginia. Francis was responsible for a wing design commonly referred to as the "Rogallo Wing" which had applications for
both aviation and recreation. Francis's design was originally conceived as a possible landing system for the Gemini space
capsule. Francis and his wife Gertrude designed an aluminized Mylar kite they called the "Flexikite" which became the forerunner
of today's hang gliders and paragliders. Vernon was so excited about the new kite's possibilities that he became the West
Coast distributor and started a family aerobatic kite flying team called "The Rockets." The Rockets consisted of Vernon, his
wife June, his three daughters Phoebe, Diana, and Mary, and even the family dog Chalky. Donning matching team uniforms that
June made from red nylon parachute material and armed with a suitcase filled with kites, the Rogallo's would present kite-flying
demonstrations around the Bay Area as onlookers watched in awe.
During his retirement Rogallo pursued research into unconventional aircraft designs such as the forward swept wing, as well
as the use of unducted fans on modern aircraft. Due to the rampant theft of bicycles in the Bay Area, Rogallo also invented
a u-style bicycle lock in 1970, one of the first of its kind. Vernon Rogallo passed away in McMinnville, Oregon in 2005.
Indexing Terms
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Corporate Name
Ames Research Center
United States. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Personal Name
Rogallo, Vernon L.
Rogallo, Francis M. (Francis Melvin), 1912-2009
Subjects
Bioinstrumentation
Ballistocardiography
Flexible wings
Flexikite
Propellers--Research
Stunt Kites
Geographic Names
Moffett Field (Calif.)
Scope and Content
The Vernon L. Rogallo Papers span from 1948 to 1991 with the bulk of material being from 1951-1970. The collection contains:
research publications, articles, an Ames retirement album, snapshots, photographs, negatives, a VHS videocassette, memorabilia,
and artifacts such as an aluminum propeller used in wind tunnel tests, and numerous examples of the various kites based on
the Rogallo wing design. The collection is arranged in two series. The first focuses on Rogallo's contributions to engineering
and his time at NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. The second focuses
on the implementation of the "Rogallo wing" design (designed by Vernon's brother Francis) as a hobby stunt kite, and Vernon's
family aerobatic kite flying team "The Rockets." The bulk of the material includes a newspaper article as well as the numerous
press photographs and corresponding negatives taken for the article. Also included are memoirs about the Rogallo family including
Francis.
Arrangement of the Vernon L. Rogallo Papers
The Vernon L. Rogallo Papers were received in no discernible original order, so an arrangement was imposed. The records are
arranged in two series. The contents of Series I are grouped by Rogallo's research and inventions, followed by photographs
and memorabilia. Each group is then arranged chronologically. The contents of Series II are grouped by format.
The papers are arranged into two series:
- Series I, Engineering Papers, 1948-1992
- Series II, The Rockets: The Rogallo Wing and Flexikites, 1954-1991
Series I
Engineering Papers
1948-1992
Physical Description: 18 folders.
Scope and Content Note
This series reflects Vernon Rogallo's employment as an Aeronautical Research Scientist and Project Engineer at Ames from April
1948 to September 1969 as well as his post retirement inventions and research. Included are Rogallo's publications on propeller
and upwash research, as well as numerous articles and technical notes related to Rogallo's momentum transducer and ballistocardiograph,
the invention that earned him the nickname "egg man of Ames" due to his research measuring the heartbeats of avian embryos.
This series includes an aluminum propeller used as a wind tunnel model, and six letters patent for inventions designed at
Ames. Also included are: Rogallo's NASA retirement album, NACA staff photographs, snapshots taken at Ames in 1991, various
memorabilia from Ames including NACA and NASA lapel pins, a patch, a decal, and records documenting his post-retirement research
into unconventional aircraft wing shapes such as the W-wing and the use of unducted fan applications in modern aircraft. Also
included is a design for a bicycle u-style lock.
Series II
The Rockets: The Rogallo Wing and Flexikites
1954-1991
Physical Description: 13 folders.
Scope and Content Note
The second series focuses on the use of Vernon's brother Francis Rogallo's "Rogallo Wing" design as an aluminized Mylar hobby
stunt kite marketed as the "Flexikite." Vernon embraced the Flexikite and took on its distribution in the West Coast. Vernon
and wife (June), their three children (Phoebe, Diana, and Mary), as well as the family dog (Chalky) took to promoting the
Flexikite by starting a family aerobatic kite flying team called "The Rockets" complete with matching uniforms. The models
of Flexikites represented come in two types: hexagonal with a four-line harness and no tail, referred to as the "skittish
racehorse" (Jet and Rocket) and the diamond with a six line harness with a tail, referred to as the "steady workhorse" (Comet
and Shooting Star). This series contains examples of each, as well as the suitcase that was used to house and transport the
kites. Also included in this series: memoirs, articles, a scrapbook, various photographs and their original negatives, an
example of the red nylon parachute material used to make The Rockets' uniforms, and other examples of the Rogallo wing including
a toy Mercury space capsule.
Series I: Engineering Papers, 1948-1992
Box 1, Folder 1
Propeller and Upwash Research Publications (1 of 2)
1951-1953
Box 1, Folder 2
Propeller and Upwash Research Publications (2 of 2)
1951-1953
Box 1, Folder 3
Aluminum Propeller -- Wind Tunnel Model
Box 1, Folder 4
Momentum Transducer and the Ballistocardiograph (1 of 3)
1963-1965
Box 1, Folder 5
Momentum Transducer and the Ballistocardiograph (2 of 3)
1965-1969
Box 1, Folder 6
Momentum Transducer and the Ballistocardiograph (3 of 3)
undated
Box 1, Folder 7
Piezoelectric Transducers and Some Unique Applications Invented by Vernon L. Rogallo, June 15, 1964. International News Conference,
Washington D.C., April 9, 1964. (VHS Videocassette)
Box 1, Folder 8
Six Letters Patent
1965-1969
Box 2, Folder 2
Significance of Research on Propeller-Plane Flow Fields, Originals and Copies
1989
Box 2, Folder 3
The Propeller as a Propulsion Device
1989
Box 2, Folder 4
W-Wing Proposal: Correspondence and Background Research
Box 2, Folder 6
NACA Staff Photographs
1948-1952
Box 2, Folder 7
NASA Ames Research Center Retirement Album
1969
Box 2, Folder 8
Loose Scrapbook Pages
1951-1991
Box 2, Folder 9
NASA Ames Research Center Snapshots
January 16, 1991
Box 2, Folder 10
NASA Ames Research Center Memorabilia
Series II: The Rockets: The Rogallo Wing and Flexikites, 1954-1991
Box 2, Folder 11
Vernon Rogallo Family Flexikites (Memoirs and Articles)
Box 2, Folder 13
"Peninsula Living" featuring the Rogallo Family
March 5, 1960
Box 2, Folder 14
NASA Publications Featuring Francis and His Rogallo Wing
Box 2, Folder 15
The Vernon Rogallo Family Aerobatic Kite Flying Team (The Rockets) Photo Negatives
Box 2, Folder 18
Photograph, 8 x 10 on Oversized Board
Box 2, Folder 20
Mounted Poster of Aircraft with Rogallo Wing, Oversized
Box 2, Folder 21
Kite Carrying Case with Kites and Accessories
Box 2, Folder 22
Red Nylon Parachute Material used for The Rockets' Costumes
Box 2, Folder 23
Toy Mercury Space Capsule with Para-Glider (Based on Rogallo Wing)
