![]() He based these designs on a flexible wing that Francis Rogallo evaluated while working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Bennett's first gliders were kites for water skiers, such as the Model 162. The Model 162 could safely support a pilot weighing only 59 kg (130 lb), while the Model 210 could accommodate a pilot weighing up to 113 kg (250 lb).Īustralian Bill Bennett helped promote hang gliding in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ![]() Gliders with longer keel tubes also had leading edge tubes of greater span and larger wing areas that could lift heavier pilots. Each was identified by the overall length of the glider in inches, measured at the keel tube. The difficulties the agency experienced trying to recover the Mercury capsules (see NASM collection), and the near tragedy that followed Gus Grissom's splashdown in July 1961, no doubt encouraged NASA to investigate alternative capsule recovery systems.īennett produced ten different models of towed ski kite gliders based on the Rogallo flexible wing. The space agency hoped to develop a recovery system for Gemini and Apollo capsules (see NASM collection) that allowed astronauts to steer the capsule to a landing as an alternative to unguided parachutes. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.Īustralian Bill Bennett helped promote hang gliding in the late 1960s and early 1970s. You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer CCO - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0) This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). ![]() IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. CCO - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0) This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions).
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