The MacClement-Bonny Hang Glider was built by Don MacClement in 1915, based on drawings in the spring 1915 issue of Scientific American. He was assisted by Billy Bonny, the village blacksmith in Collins Bay, the closest settlement to the family farm. Don was 10 years old!
Don learned to fly his hang glider, progressing gradually from short hops running down hill in a pasture to running off the roof of his family farm home to running off the higher roof of the barn.
Amazing to report, the glider survived all this. It was ultimately badly damaged by a wind gust during ground handling.
The story of this glider can be enjoyed in more detail at Free Flight Issue 76/5 page 12: https://www.wgc.mb.ca/static/freeflight/76_05.pdf
