Bruce writes:

He was a true hang gliding pioneer whose many contributions helped shape our sport. He was responsible for many "firsts" in hang gliding while he was working for Delta Wing and Progressive Aircraft from 1974-1985. After spending many years with Adams Aircraft and Cessna Aircraft Company, Richard refocused his attention on hang gliding and spent the past 3 years working on glider innovations that would help bring more people into our sport. His passion and tireless persuite of innovation was inspirational. He will be greatly missed.

Below is the the bio used when he was inducted into the Rogallo Hall of Fame in 2011.

"Richard Boone is a man-about-hang-gliding. At least thats how Hang Gliding Magazine described him. A quick look into his past proves the description is spot-on. Richard's passion for flight and penchant for innovation have helped secure him a place among the hang gliding industry's pioneer elite.

As a student at the University of Washington, Richard studied mechanical engineering and worked in the university's aeronautical laboratory. During the summers, he worked in Boeing's composite fabrication facility in Wichita, Kansas. With graduation in striking distance, Richard got an offer he couldn't refuse a chance to work for Bill Bennett test flying hang gliders in California. Within six months, Richard was vice president of research and development for the largest hang gliding company in the world. Currently, he's a senior project engineer at Cessna Aircraft Company.

Richard has been involved in the design and flight-testing of more than 100 glider designs, including the Delta Wing Phoenix and Skytrek. On top of pioneering the floating crossbar and radial batten tip, Richard certified the first double surface glider, holds numerous patents in aviation fabrication processes, and is a current 600 hour IFR Complex/High-performance rated pilot with glider endorsement.

No biography of Richard Boone would be complete without mentioning his tireless promotion of of hang gliding in film and on TV. Richard, who once flew a hang glider into Anaheim Stadium as a Donny Osmond lookalike, has appeared on Charlie's Angels, The Hardy Boys, and as a guest on the Mike Douglas Show.

He and Maggi, his wife of 15 years, have two children and live in Wichita, Kansas."